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Hiring a Good Locksmith: The Steps You Need to Take

Are you looking for a locksmith you can trust? Are you curious about what you should look for to make sure you get the best deal for any services you done? When it comes to hiring any kind of repairman or service, you want to make sure to only hire the best. This is especially true when it comes to hiring a locksmith. Personal security is something that should be taken very seriously. Working with the right locksmith will not only guarantee the safety of yourself and your family, but will also give you peace of mind knowing you are working with a trained expert. Locksmiths should uphold a certain standard for how they treat their customers and go about their requests. The following article will help you to not only find the right locksmith to work within your area, but signs to look for that may indicate that you should not work with a particular locksmith.

Check Multiple Online Review Websites

When in need of a locksmith, the first place where most people will start looking is online. A quick search in your area of local locksmiths will likely bring up a variety of options. Choose a few that are near you and look up various reviews for each locksmith. It is important to check out several different reviews sites in order to get a well-rounded picture of how a given locksmith operates. Some websites may have more generic reviews while others may give you a more realistic representation of their services.

Ask Family and Friends for Recommendations

Chances are, someone you know may have hired a locksmith in the past. Finding a trustworthy locksmith may be as easy as asking neighbors or coworkers that live in your area for their recommendations. Through the grapevine, they may have also heard of a locksmith that has a good reputation in the area. A lot of locksmiths, particularly local ones, rely on word-of-mouth in order to grow and gain new customers. Ask family, friends, or anyone who lives near you if they know of a locksmith that is local and can offer excellent services.

Double-Check for Insurance and Proper Certification

No matter where you find your locksmith, you will need to make sure that they have the proper certifications and carry locksmithing insurance. Both certification and insurance help protect you as a customer, as well as the locksmith themselves. Each individual locksmith is required to be certified. 

Locksmithing certification is done on a state-by-state basis where prospective locksmiths receive hands-on training in order to learn how to repair, replace, install, and work with locks and keys of all types. The Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) is the most notable organization that handles the training, testing, and certification of locksmiths. 

There are various certifications levels for locksmiths. The first certification a locksmith will receive is known as a Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL). This certification gives a locksmith the ability to handle basic locksmithing tasks, in addition to a small set of specialized skills. The second level of certification is a Certified Professional Locksmith (CPL). This type of locksmith will have basic locksmithing skills and will also have received training or advanced knowledge in certain areas of locksmithing. The last and highest level of certification a locksmith can achieve is known as a Certified Master Locksmith (CML). These types of certifications allow a locksmith to perform just about any task related to locks and keys, as well as security. A CML is usually needed if a locksmith intends to be proficient in electronic locks and other electronic security measures.

Be sure to inquire about the level of certification the locksmith you hire has achieved. This will be important to know if you are intending to install smart locks or electronic security devices of any kind.

Beware of Potential Scams

Unfortunately, locksmithing scams happen all the time. Untrustworthy individuals may fake credentials, lie to potential customers, and cause intentional damage to one’s property upon being hired in order to increase the amount on one’s final bill. Before you make an appointment with a given locksmith, be sure to call them to ask questions, check out their website, and see what people have to say about them in their online reviews. A major red flag to look for is a locksmith that lacks a phone number, website, and other identifying information. A locksmithing scam on a website like Craigslist may only include an email to request services from, rather than a clear company name, phone number, and other business information. Also, be sure to call the number provided by a particular locksmith to make sure the line is active and to get a feel for how you will be treated as a customer by the locksmith on the other line.

Contact a Trustworthy Locksmith Today!

After reviewing the important factors to keep in mind when it comes to hiring a locksmith, you should be ready to pick the right locksmith to meet your needs. Remember to ask questions over the phone and get a feel for how a given locksmith goes about customer requests. If at any point you do not feel comfortable or feel you are not being treated well, decline their services and try a different locksmith. When it comes to your security, you can never be too careful. You will want to make sure you hire only the best locksmith to tend to your safety.