If it hasn’t happened already, the day will come when you will need a locksmith. What is the cost of hiring a locksmith when you are locked out of your home? How much is the locksmith going to charge you to replace the old locks of the house you just bought? Are you nervous about the cost of a lost car key?
Locksmiths are, by nature, required to work their magic on many tasks: they need the right know-how to open car doors of any model, make, and year, home doors, garage doors, office doors, and storage doors. They have to work under stressful conditions and many times during emergencies, late at night or very early in the morning.
While it might seem to our customers that they can get the job done and unlock a door in a few minutes, it has taken years of experience and practice to reach this level of expertise.
Let’s take a look at all the hard work locksmiths are required to deliver, to better understand what you can expect to pay when you hire a locksmith. Remember that at Pop-A-Lock we offer the most affordable and professional locksmith services for cars, homes, and businesses!
Specialized Training and Skills
Did you know that there are more than 35,000 different keyholes used across homes, businesses, offices, and any type of building? A commercial or business locksmith must have the right know-how and experience to pick and open all these keyholes.
Locksmiths undergo extensive training to learn their trade. They must be skilled in working with all these various types of locks and security systems, from traditional mechanical locks to modern electronic key systems.
What’s more, locksmiths must learn to unlock doors without damaging the lock itself, to minimize the cost and damage to the door. To achieve such precise workmanship, locksmiths must be experienced and skilled.
Modern Locks
Modern locks are becoming more sophisticated. Cars have transponder keys, key fobs, and smart keys; homes have high-security locks. While a few decades ago, cars had the traditional car key, there are now so many different types of advanced keys that locksmiths have to constantly get updated and acquire new skills and new key-cutting techniques. Modern residential and commercial locks require extensive know-how to install and unlock in case of a lockout.
Availability
Locksmiths often provide 24/7 emergency services. This around-the-clock availability means they must be ready to assist at any hour. A locksmith shop has to be prepared for all-day service, which is costly. If you want the certainty that a locksmith can help you in the middle of the night, then it makes sense that you will have to pay a little bit more for this convenience. Otherwise, you will have to wait for normal business hours — which might be unpleasant.
Also, locksmiths are required to travel to various locations: if you lose your car keys at a remote location, the locksmith has to reach you there, often after normal business hours.
The convenience and necessity of immediate service, especially in emergencies like being locked out of your house or car, contribute to the locksmith’s cost. Remember that most people lose their car keys early in the morning before going to work and late in the afternoon when returning home. That’s when locksmiths are at their busiest and they have to respond to multiple calls simultaneously.
Tools and Equipment
The tools required to repair or replace locks are specialized and often expensive. Locksmiths must invest in high-quality tools and regular updates or replacements to handle different types of locks and home security systems, including those with advanced technology.
A few years ago, there were no smart keys in cars; nowadays, they are becoming more common. For a locksmith to help a stranded car owner, they need to have the right equipment for a smart car key lockout.
Security and Trust
When you hire a locksmith, you are entrusting them with the security of your property. Locksmiths must be trustworthy and often require licensing and bonding, which involves background checks and other security measures to ensure they are reliable and safe to work with. Locksmiths at Pop-A-Lock are all fully vetted, trained, and insured. They offer you peace of mind along with their services.
These requirements, along with the need for insurance to protect against damage or liability, add to the operating costs.
Service and Parts
The cost of locksmith services also includes the physical components used, like new locks, keys, or electronic systems. These parts can be expensive, especially if they are for high-security or technologically advanced systems. If a homeowner wants to upgrade their broken lock to a high-security one, they are getting a better performing and safer lock but it is more expensive than regular locks — and that includes both parts and labor.
Mobile Service
Many locksmiths offer mobile services, coming to your location to provide emergency locksmith services. If you want to avoid having your car towed to the locksmith shop, you will want a mobile crew to come to your location. This convenience factor includes the costs of travel, vehicle maintenance, and carrying a full set of tools and parts to various locations.
Our Pop-A-Lock vans are fully stocked so we can help homeowners, business owners, and car owners on the spot, at their location.
Locksmiths Carry Workmanship With Them
Most people appreciate professional, experienced, and reliable locksmith service when they can’t find their home or business keys or when they get locked out of their car. The service of having an expert locksmith at your location and opening your door within minutes and with absolute security is something that most people marvel at.
For a locksmith to deliver exceptional service, it means they have invested in knowledge, training, insurance, tools, and equipment, and of course, they have dedicated their time to your lock problem.
While locksmiths can seem expensive, consider how much work they do and how much responsibility they carry. When you think of how hard-working and honest people they are, you’re likely to realize that their services don’t cost so much after all!
