It’s important to hire the right locksmith for your safety, security, and peace of mind. Whether you need a locksmith to unlock your car when you’ve left the keys inside or you are looking to change the locks at home after a series of break-ins in your neighbourhood, it’s imperative that you trust the locksmith you choose. In this article, we’ll look at five things you should think about when hiring a locksmith.

1. A PROFESSIONAL LOCKSMITH WILL PROVIDE A FREE ESTIMATE

Any locksmith service that is professional and reputable will give you a free estimate of the cost of work, replacement parts, and time spent. If they don’t give you an estimate at all or charge you for one, they are not the locksmith service for you. This is especially important because scam companies can slip in unexpected or hidden charges when you’re not paying attention. An good estimate should let you know exactly what to expect.

2. CHECK ONLINE TO SEE WHAT OTHER CUSTOMERS SAY

The Internet is your best friend when hiring any company and certainly when hiring a locksmith service. Sites like Yelp should give you a good idea of the quality, customer service, professionalism, prices, and so on of any given locksmith service. Keep an eye out for any red flags like hidden fees, surly attitudes, other unprofessional behaviour and, of course, a straight-up scam. Checking with the Better Business Bureau is also a good idea.

3. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOCKSMITHS

You may be surprised to learn that locksmith services aren’t a ‘one size fits all’ sort of operation. There are almost as many locksmiths as there are locks. Car locks, home locks, industrial locks…there’s a locksmith for whatever your need may be so make sure you do some research to find out which locksmiths in your area will suit your unique needs. Again, the Internet is a great help in this area.

4. YOUR CHOSEN LOCKSMITH SERVICE SHOULD ARRIVE IN A TIMELY MANNER

Most, if not all, professional Toronto locksmith services will have several locksmiths that can be deployed at a moment’s notice so you don’t have to wait in the cold because your car is locked or you misplaced your house key. If you don’t have a speedy response to your urgent need, it’s time to look for a new locksmith service that can provide better customer care. Whatever locksmith you go with should have emergency service for any difficult situation you find yourself in.

5. THE LOCKSMITH SERVICE OF YOUR CHOICE SHOULD HAVE A LOCAL ADDRESS THAT IS EASILY VERIFIABLE

Locksmith services that are more of a scam than anything often have no actual, physical address near you. They advertise online and then, when you call their number, outsource the locksmith work to locksmiths that are usually not well qualified. You’ll end up spending more money than you want for service that is sub-par, at best. Definitely make sure that the locksmith company you hire is located in your area – maybe even drop by their offices at some point.