Getting locked out of your home can be a frustrating situation, especially if you have kids and pets inside. If this ever happens to you, you’ll need to act swiftly to ensure everyone’s safety. Here’s what to do if you ever get locked out of your home:
1. Ask for Help
If you are with a roommate, partner, or anyone else, call them to check if they can come home and let you in. It might cause inconvenience for them, but your safety will also be at risk the more time you spend stranded outside, especially if it’s late at night.
If you have rented your house, try calling your landlord. They’re likely to have a spare set of keys for your house. If you live in an apartment complex, try to contact the manager. If there’s a manager’s office in the building, stop by and request them for access to your unit.
For this, you’ll probably need to show your ID or some proof that you indeed live in the apartment. However, keep in mind that some apartment complexes charge a lockout fee if the staff has to help you unlock the door.
2. Call a Locksmith
If no one is around to help you get in, then it’s best to call a residential locksmith. Though this isn’t the cheapest option, you’ll be inside your home in no time. Depending on the situation, locksmiths can charge you anywhere from $20 to $50, but they are undoubtedly the most reliable option in an emergency.
Whether you forgot your keys inside your home, broke them inside the lock or lost them, you can count on a locksmith to solve this issue. Moreover, many locksmiths are available 24/7, so time shouldn’t be an issue.
3. Look for Unlocked Doors or Windows
Leaving your windows or doors unlocked is like an invitation to invaders. But if you’re lucky enough to have forgotten to close a door or window on the same day you got locked out, it can get you out of a tough situation. So make sure to check all entrances to your house.
For entering through a window make sure to remove the window screen and lift it as high as possible. You’ll probably need to squeeze through so you’re likely to be off-balance when you land. Make sure there’s no furniture or items where you land or else you can get yourself injured.
4. Improvise Tools
If you can’t find a 24 hour emergency locksmith then you’ll probably need to take the matter into your own hands. However, picking locks is not as easy as movies make it seem. Look for any paper clips or bobby pins as these can be used to open locks. Ideally, you should have two paper clips or bobby pins, but if you only have one, break it into two.
Insert the back end of the pin into the lock and bend it. Leave about 1 cm inside, then fold the rest until it’s flush with the knob. This forms an angled tip to manipulate the lock’s pins.
