Keys might be necessary, but they’re also easy to forget. In fact, over four million people lock their keys in their cars every year.

And that’s just cars. The lock on your front door can be even more troublesome. If you find yourself struggling with your home or car lock, the best thing to do is hire a professional locksmith.

But is there a right and wrong time to do this?

If you’re browsing search engines with the phrase, “hire a locksmith near me,” we’ve put together this guide to steer you in the right direction.

You’re Locked Out of Your Home

Did you accidentally lock yourself out of your home? Calling a locksmith is the best (and fastest) way to get back into your home in this case.

Don’t resort to breaking a window!

This is both dangerous—you could end up severely hurting yourself—and much more expensive. Replacing a window will cost a lot more money than hiring a professional locksmith.

But before you call a locksmith in your area, give your home a quick once-over. Are there any open windows you can climb through (safely!)? Is there a spare key hidden under the mat?

If not, go ahead and call a locksmith.

And locksmiths aren’t just reserved for homes. They can also help you get back into your car if you locked your keys inside by mistake. Since towing companies often charge by the mile, hiring a locksmith can save you a lot of money in the long run.

You Just Moved Into a New Home

If you just bought a home, there are probably a lot more people who have a copy of your key than you think. For example, your realtor might have one, the home stager might have one, the previous owners might have one, etc.

Unless you want all these people to have access to your home, you should change the lock on your home as soon as possible.

There are a few different ways to do this.

You can find a lock changing kit at a hardware store and do it yourself. However, if you don’t have the right tools or the right experience, you shouldn’t try this on your own. Otherwise, your home might end up being less secure than it was to begin with.

Hire a locksmith instead. They’ll be able to change your lock and give you a set of keys that belongs only to you.

You Lost Your House Key

Can’t find your key? While it might be lost inside the house somewhere, there’s a possibility you dropped it while you were out and about. In other words, someone else could have picked it up.

While this person may not be able to find your home, it’s a risk that’s not worth taking. If you lost your key, you should call a locksmith to change your lock.

Leaving the lock alone puts your home and your family in danger. After all, whoever found the key could just walk into your home if they wanted to.

Your Lock Is Broken

As the lock on your home wears down and ages, it can end up breaking. When this happens, you should call a locksmith right away. Leaving your home unlocked for several days—or even just overnight—puts your property at risk.

A locksmith can replace or repair your lock quickly, so your home and your family stay safe.

But what about if your key breaks?

Should you call a locksmith for this, too?

Well, you can, but you might not need to. If your key broke and you have another one, you can use it to make new copies.

However, if your key snapped while you were trying to unlock the door and got stuck inside the lock, you should call a locksmith. They can get the broken key out of the lock and give you a new key.

You Want to Improve Your Home’s Security

If you travel a lot or spend a lot of time away from your home, your home might turn into an attractive temptation for potential burglars. It’s a good idea to improve your home’s security to keep these risks away from your house.

Not sure how to do that?

A locksmith can help. They’ll be able to improve the locks on your front door, install locks in new places, and recommend other security measures.

Many burglars won’t approach a home that has these types of security measures in place, or if they do, they will give up quickly. Having a locksmith help you with security will protect your home from these types of threats.

“Should I Hire a Locksmith Near Me?” Yes!

Are you tired of asking yourself the question, “When should I hire a locksmith near me?” First of all, don’t panic. Stay calm and think about your situation.

Use this list as a guide. Did you lock your keys in the house? Did you recently move into a new home? Do you just want to improve the security of your home?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should get in touch with a locksmith in your area. Not sure who to call?

We can help! Don’t wait to contact us if you need help getting into your home or your car. You can also dial 1 (206) 887-1277 to learn more about our services or to get a quote today!