Why do you Need a Good Locksmith?

Finding a good locksmith is goes further than simply calling them the first time you need them. Once you have a reliable service, it is imperative that you hold onto their number just in case you end up needing them in the future. In this post, we will discuss how to find a locksmith in Cheektowaga, NY and why it is so vitally important to keep them on retainer if you are a real estate professional.

The Best Way to Find a Locksmith

The best way to find a locksmith is undeniably through Google. You can either find a list of local locksmiths, or call individual companies and inquire about their services. Be careful when doing the latter however, as there have been a recent upsurge in false locksmith listings posted on the web. Calling these services will direct you to a call center, who will then send you a local contractor to do the job. The issue with these types of services is that the contractors are usually not trained, and sometimes not even licensed. There have also been cases where the price quoted over the phone is up charged by up to ten times the going rate of services by the contractor, leaving customers feeling cheated and understandably disgruntled. Locksmith directories are a great way to quickly find a reliable service, and there are a number which show statewide providers. A simple search can give you a list of the locksmiths in New York, for example, and then you can weed down the results to your specific area from there.

Below is a video showing what a locksmith scam can look like:

How do you Tell if a Locksmith is Reliable?

Locksmiths are required to get certified in the State of New York, and it is important to get their credentials before you have them work for you. They will often also be verified by reputable organizations such as the BBB, Yelp, and others so make sure you check their online profiles to insure you are getting someone on the up and up. Another great way to verify is to check if they have a physical location and, more importantly, if that location actually exists. Scammers will make false listings at a bogus address, in an attempt to fool clients into believing they are local. This again will lead to potentially unsavory characters showing up to do the work for you. Unfortunately, when you are locked out of your car or home, you may not have the time to go through all these checks. In this case, you will want to verify their authenticity when they arrive at your location. If they show up without a name tag, in an unmarked car, or seem unprofessional, this is usually a bad sign. If this is the case, simply tell them you do not need their services and do not pay them. Hiring a bad locksmith can not only cost you more, but also give criminals the chance to copy your keys, scope out your home, or intentionally extort you for more money.