You knew it the minute you heard the door close, or maybe
you got a ride home with a friend or colleague, and your keys are on your desk.
You are locked out of the house. Don’t panic. As long as you are in a safe area
you have a number of options, ranging from do it yourself to calling a professional.
Before you begin, just take a deep breath and survey your best course of
action.
Hide and Seek
First, do you have a hide a key stashed away in a potted
plant, under the welcome mat or behind your garden gnome? If you do, simply
retrieve the key and let yourself in. Instead of returning the key to the
original spot, find a new hiding place. It should be easy to remember, but hard
to find. Alternatively, maybe you swapped keys with a neighbor. This is a good practice and a great way to
get to know your neighbors!
Phone A Friend
If you have your smart phone, you have a number of options.
Is there a friend, roommate, spouse of significant other who has a key? Give
them a call and have them come by and let you into your home or apartment. If
your home is protected by a security company, they may be able to remotely let
you in or send someone by to open you door.
Breaking and Entering
If you have a flair for the dramatic, you can try picking
your lock with a credit card, just like in the movies. You simply slide the
card through the space, and this should release a spring lock. It won’t work
with deadbolts, however. If you left a window open or unlocked, you can also
open these from the outside to gain entry into your home. If you have older
windows, the screens may simply “pop” out. Newer, sturdier windows will be
harder to pry open.
If all else fails, it may be time to utilize a
professional. Once you are in a safe
place, you can call locksmith services in houston
for help. You can do a quick internet search on your smart phone to find a
local locksmith company. After explain the situation, which may include information
about the types of doors and locks in your home, your locksmith should be able
to offer you both a quote for services as well as an estimated time of
arrival. You will need to provide proper
identification once your door is open. Depending on where you left your keys,
you may want to consider changing the locks. You don’t have to make that
decision immediately.
Everyone has locked themselves out of the house at one time
or another. Hiding a key, installing an electronic, programmable lock, or swapping
keys with a neighbor, are good ways to make sure you can access your home in
the event of losing your keys inadvertently
locking the door behind you.
While a locksmith may be costly, it is less expensive than replacing
windows, doors, or a trip to the emergency room.
