Locked Out of Your House? What to Do — and What a Locksmith Actually Does

Standing outside your own front door is maddening, but a lockout is almost always solvable without damage. Here is what to do, in order, and what to expect when a locksmith arrives.

Before you call anyone

Try every door, including the one from the garage into the house — if you can open the garage with a keypad or your car remote, you may already be in. Check with anyone who holds a spare key. Renters should call the landlord or property manager first, since many keep copies and some leases require it. Resist the window: glass repair costs more than professional entry, and climbing through broken glass is how lockouts become ER visits.

What a professional locksmith actually does

Professional entry is mostly non-destructive: picking, bypass tools, or decoding the lock. A trained technician opens the majority of residential locks without damaging them. Expect to show ID or otherwise prove you live there — a locksmith who does not ask is a red flag in itself. Drilling is a last resort reserved for high-security cylinders or damaged locks, and a good locksmith tells you before drilling, not after.

Avoiding lockout scams

The classic scam: an unbelievably low price quoted by phone, then a technician who 'discovers' the lock must be drilled and replaced, and the bill multiplies. Protect yourself by asking for the company name, a clear explanation of what will be done, and confirmation of the price range before work starts. Legitimate locksmiths arrive in identifiable vehicles, ask for your ID, and try non-destructive entry first.

After you're back inside

If the lockout happened because keys were lost or stolen, rekey the affected locks — whoever finds the keys can find the address on the other items lost with them. Consider a keypad deadbolt or smart lock on one entrance so this never happens again.

MS Facility Solutions provides residential and commercial locksmith services — lockout assistance, rekeying, and lock replacement — across 36 states and Washington, DC, with 24/7 emergency dispatch. Automotive locksmith work is not offered. Call 855-557-5454 or email info@msfacilitysolutions.com.