What To Do When You Get Locked Out Of Your House

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.

Ask For Professional Health

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.