Standing in front of the door to your home and realizing you've lost your key is an awful feeling. As stress rises, you begin to panic and feel unsure about what to do.
Don't panic in this situation. Here is what you need to do when you find yourself locked out of your house, apartment, or condo in Charleston, SC and the surrounding areas.
Check the Perimeter of Your Home
Do you have windows or other doors that are easily accessible? Sometimes, especially in Charleston, that option isn't always readily available if you live in an apartment or condo.
If you do have windows or doors you can get to, try those first to see if they are unlocked. If you can't get in that way, there are other things you can do.
Call a Locksmith to Get Your Door Unlocked
So long as you're not in an emergency situation, the first thing you should do is grab the nearest phone and call a locksmith.
If you're renting, your landlord or property management office may have a spare key but will more than likely charge you for letting you into your home, and they may not even be reachable if you find yourself locked out in the middle of the night.
A locksmith will charge you, but they can replace your lock and give you new keys if you've completely lost your keys. Replacing a lock is important for your homes security, especially if your keys are lost. You don't want someone finding your keys and being able to gain access to your home.
By calling a locksmith, you can get all of your needs taken care of at one time--and your door won't sustain any damage as it would if you tried to break in on your own.
How to Prevent Door Lockouts
Once you're back in your apartment, condo, or house, there are things you can do to ensure this doesn’t happen to you again. One option is to explore installing a smart lock.
A smart lock can be controlled via your smartphone, as well as access codes. You can create multiple access codes for family members or other guests, and those codes can even be temporary if you just need one for a babysitter to enter.
If you don't want to use a smart lock, you can also install a keypad. If you choose this option, make sure the keypad has a memorable passcode.
If neither of those options are available to you, you can find a trusted friend or neighbor with whom you could leave a spare key. And remember, if all else fails, you can contact a locksmith any time.
Call King Locksmith Charleston when you're locked out of your home because we can help you any time, day or night.
If you're located within Charleston area, we can assist you when you get locked out of your home.