If you’ve ever locked yourself out of your house in New York City?

If you’ve ever locked yourself out of your house (and come on, most of us have at one point or another) you’re familiar with the mad dash to find a locksmith to come and bail you out of trouble. It’s easy to go with the first locksmith who pops up in your Google search, but just because his or her Google search results are high doesn’t mean they’re hands-down your best choice. So, what’s a locked-out person to do? Educate yourself, of course! You need a list of questions for locksmiths and that’s where we come in. Questions for Locksmiths Type of Work The first question after the hellos should be, “What type of work do you do?” There are many types of locksmiths out there, and just because they’re certified in safe locks doesn’t automatically mean they can handle door locks. It’s important to ask this before you let them know what kind of work you need. Too often we hear stories about locksmiths who simply tell every customer they can handle anything. It’s just not true. Your questions for locksmiths should include those that dig deep into what kind of work they do. Licensing and Insurance Not all states require locksmiths to be licensed, but insurance is a different ballgame. Every locksmith should be insured. So on your list of questions for locksmiths should be, “Are you licensed in this state?” and “What kind of insurance do you carry?” If they aren’t licensed or insured, politely tell them to the hit the road. (Not really, but I would certainly ask why they’re not licensed or insured.) Rates As with any independent contractor, rates vary from locksmith-to-locksmith. Add to your list of questions for locksmiths how they charge. Some charge a set amount per task, while others charge an hourly rate. If you have a locksmith who charges per task, you’ll pay for every lock replaced/repaired instead of by the hour. How they charge doesn’t necessarily indicate whether or not they’re a qualified locksmith, but it gives you an idea of how much it will cost. Background Checks Because I’m a natural worrier, background checks are a biggie for me. You’re entrusting a lot to your locksmith. They’ll have full access to your entire house or building. This isn’t something I would trust to any Joe Shmoe off the street, so on your list of questions for locksmiths, ask if the company runs background checks on their employees. Of course, if you’re a facility owner and need someone to find a locksmith for you, I may have an insider connection to a place that can do that. Locksmiths NYC