Getting locked out of your house is easier than you think. You might have left your keys on the hallway table before swinging the door closed behind you. Or leave your keys at work just before the office is locked up for the night. Or just plain lose them.
However you manage to do it, if you find yourself locked out of your house, take a look at our seven tips for regaining entry:
Check for Open Windows
Open windows provide a variety of options for regaining entry into your home. If they’re big enough and you’re small enough, you could climb through. Upstairs windows would obviously require you to borrow a ladder from a neighbour. If the window is too small, you could still try to reach your arm through to a door handle or to the spare set of keys you left on the countertop. A wire coat hanger borrowed from a neighbour can be really useful for these kind of endeavours.
Check Other Doors
Who’s the dummy who called the locksmith to unlock the front door only to find the back door swinging on its hinges? Go around the perimeter of your home and see if you’ve left any other doors open. The back door, the garage, the cellar – all great places to try before you attempt anything more drastic.
Call the Person Who Has Your Spare Keys
Granted, this one requires a little forward planning and wouldn’t be much use if you hadn’t anticipated getting locked out one day. But it’s always a good idea to leave a spare set of house keys with a trusted neighbour or a friend who lives locally. That way it’s a short walk or a quick taxi ride to pick up your spares and gain access to your home.
Get Your Spare Keys from the Hiding Place in the Garden
This one is a little risky, particularly if you live in a heavily populated area. But if you can get away with it, hiding a spare front door key somewhere in your garden – under a plant pot or behind the shed – can be a godsend when you’re locked out.
Try to Pick the Lock
Easier said than done, picking a lock requires years of practice. But, sometimes you get lucky and hit upon the sweet spot right away. Commonly found lock picking tools include hair pins, paper clips and credit cards. However, to use them successfully, you’ll need to know the type of lock you’re dealing with. Credit cards will only work on spring bolts. If you do manage to get through your front door using any of these lock picking methods, upgrade your locks. If you can do it, a burglar can too.
Send a Courier
If your spouse, partner or housemate is due home soon, just wait it out on the front step. If, however, you know they’re in meetings until late and then out in town for a birthday party and then maybe staying over at a friend’s house, you could find yourself waiting for a very long time. Send a Zoom2U courier to collect their set of keys and zoom them back to you.
Call a Locksmith
Looking for a sure-fire and minimally disruptive way to gain access to your home? Call a locksmith. Many are available 24/7 and will guarantee to pick your lock to perfection. Some charge a visit fee on top of a service fee, so it’s a good idea to call around for the cheapest quote.
The likelihood is, after getting locked out once, you’ll put some systems in place to avoid the same happening again. Leave a spare key with a friend or install an electronic keypad and you can rest easy if you ever lose your keys in the future.
