I’m Locked Out of My Home. What Do I Do Now?

We’ve all been there at some point: a moment of not paying attention and the next thing you know is you’ve locked yourself out of your home. It happens more often than you’d think; a lost key, a faulty lock, or even just one bad move can be the reason why people find themselves in this situation every day. It’s not so much of a problem if there is a family member you can call who will swing by right away and swiftly let you in. However, more often than not, this incident happens at the most inconvenient of times and you find yourself in a jam. Here’s what to do in case this happens.Stop and thinkWhen you find yourself locked out, you might panic and not see possible solutions clearly. So first, before you resort to drastic measures, it’s a good idea to just stop for a moment and think. Ask yourself if there is a spare key hidden somewhere around your house. While it’s not recommended practice, most people hide a spare key under a potted plant, doormat, or other unimaginative places. Think about whether you might have one you’ve forgotten about – it’s entirely possible if you’ve hidden it a long time ago.

Call a friend or family member

If you were unable to locate a spare key around your entrance, the next step is to try and locate one elsewhere. Most people have friends or family members who possess a spare key to their home, so all you need to do is give them a call. But it might also happen that you lock yourself out while not having your phone on you. See if there is a friendly neighbor you can ask for help or walk to the nearest phone booth if there are any within a reasonable distance.

Call your landlord

If we’re talking about a rented apartment, you don’t have to think too hard to figure out that you should call your landlord. Needless to say, you should always have their number on you in case of such an emergency. Since they will have a key to your apartment, you will get in in no time and can figure out the rest of the solution later. However, your landlord might not be available when your lockout happens, so this is not a 100% foolproof solution either.

Try to break in

When you’re locked out of your own property and no one’s available to help you out, one of the first things that might cross your mind is breaking in. Now, when we say break-in, we don’t actually mean breaking anything – forcing the door open or damaging the lock in some way while trying to break in will ultimately result in costly repairs you can easily steer clear of if only you think first. Rather, think about whether there might be an alternative entry point you can leverage in this situation. A window you have left open, a back door that can never be locked properly... Needless to say, you should get these fixed eventually so that other people can’t get in as easily as you.

Call a professional

As mentioned, trying to DIY your way into your home by forcing a faulty lock or breaking in will cause damage that will be heavy on your wallet. In fact, the best course of action you could take if you are locked out of your home is calling a professional. Don’t worry about the time of day; emergency locksmiths operate 24/7, so they will be able to help you out even in the middle of the night. And you will be surprised just how fast they will get you inside your home. In addition, the lockout services will probably not cost you as much as the repairs would.

Change your locks

Just because this time, you managed to get back inside, it doesn’t mean the problem has ceased to exist. In the future, you should not only make sure you always have a spare key in a safe place but also replace any faulty locks that might cause you similar issues down the line. If you tend to lose your keys, consider installing keyless locks that will completely eliminate this issue! This will also improve the safety of your home, giving you peace of mind.

Locking yourself out of your home might seem like a big deal at that moment, but you don’t need to panic. Even if you can’t get a hold of a spare key or get inside through a window, a locksmith will be able to help you out.