Rekey or Replace Locks

All over the world, people need property protection. People need locks, and they need locks that work. In some cases, you will end up needing to change out your locks with brand new ones, whether it’s because you had a break in, or because the locks are just completely malfunctioning to the point that they are unsafe to use. It can be difficult to know, in certain situations, if it is a better idea to rekey your locks or to completely replace them. But don’t worry, because this is where Reliable Locksmith & Safe has offered their expertise. They service the Downtown Miami, FL area but this information will still be useful for anyone. Have a look if you are in the midst of considering replacing or rekeying your locks. Hopefully, this will offer the guidance you need to make the appropriate decision for your property. Remember, security should always be at the top of your to-do list, no matter how busy you might be. You always need to have locks that work, whether you have a residential property or commercial property. And of course, your vehicle needs to stay protected as well. 

If your locks are falling apart, replace them.

Look for signs that your locks are failing to function correctly. Worn out locks could mean that your key must be inserted at numerous different angles to get it to work. A piece of the lock can break, causing the entire thing to malfunction. If you can see that the lock is falling apart, just have it replaced. New lock installation tends to be an affordable service offered by locksmiths everywhere. 

Did you move into a new house? Consider lock replacement. 

If you’re moving into a new property, even if it is one that wasn’t previously occupied, it is a wise idea to replace the locks. Just think about how many people likely had access to this property. Contractors might have been in and out. Realtors might have been in and out. And they could have brought other people with them. If you won’t replace the locks, then certainly have them rekeyed. If in doubt, ask an expert what they recommend based off of your specific situation. If they tell you that rekeying the locks is okay, then this is an affordable solution you should definitely take advantage of.

If someone new is moving in, consider rekeying the locks. 

Do you happen to be a landlord who rents your property out, or a room? Think about rekeying your locks. Basically, this will entail having the pins and springs removed in the lock cylinder. They will then be replaced with new springs and pins, and these will work with a different key. If you have given your spare key out to a tenant who is leaving, imagine how many people could have ultimately gotten their hands on that key. Maybe the tenant made a copy of the key so that they would have more than one, too. Just be sure to rekey your locks so you are still able to maintain control, but you can know that the property is safe to use.  

Have new locks installed if someone broke into your property. 

There are so many reasons to have your locks replaced after a break in. For one, the lock might never work correctly again if it was tampered with. But if a person made their way into your property, who knows what they could have done. In addition to stealing from you, they could have grabbed a spare key that you forgot was sitting around. It is always a good idea after a break in to replace your locks completely. 

Did you lose a key? Rekey those locks!

Don’t let a person have the chance to find your key and lose it, if you happened to misplace it. Rekey your locks so that no one is able to get back in. Rekeying your locks will mean that the inside of the locks are different, and they will no longer work with the old key. 

If you are ready to rekey or replace your locks, call a locksmith!

If you have made the decision that you are ready to take action and have your locks changed or even rekeyed, find a reputable expert in your area to do the job. The average person won’t know how to rekey a lock, and they won’t have the expertise to properly install a new lock so that it is fully functional. If you’d prefer to not have to worry about locks that require the use of physical keys, then you can look into other options such as keyless entry. Again, this is something that an expert will be able to help you out with. 

It is important to hire a service provider that you know you can count on. Keep in mind that if you make the decision to hire a locksmith in Downtown Miami, Florida to rekey your locks, they will also be able to see the condition of the locks. If they see that something is really wrong with your lock upon closer inspection, heed their advice when they say that a replacement is the better option. Remember, they work with locks and keys on a day to day basis. 

There are some brands out there that make locks which can be rekeyed by the property owner, without the expertise and professional/specific tools. But you should bear in mind that if you decide to buy a lock that can be rekeyed by a novice, it might not provide the same level of security that another lock would. Reliable Locksmith & Safe rekeys and replaces locks on a regular basis and can answer any questions that locals in Downtown Miami, Florida might have. If you are living elsewhere in the country, reach out to a local locksmith in your area for guidance. Remember that if you are thinking of rekeying or replacing your locks, then you likely need to do one or the other. If the thought is there, that might mean that there is a problem. So make sure to take care of your locks!

Avoid an Online Locksmith Scam

If you have to rely on the services of a local locksmith, you should know about a locksmith scam that is taking place all over the United States. It is not a new thing for people to disguise themselves as service providers, gain your trust and then rob you blind. If you do not want this to happen to you, listen up. There are unscrupulous people who pose as locksmiths who do shoddy work to collect money from unsuspecting victims. Don’t become one of them. Here is how the scam operates.

There are hundreds of websites created that mimic authorized and legit locksmith services. The website looks just like any other service provider on the Internet. It is hard to determine whether or not they are authorized locksmith services with the qualifications to handle your lock and key needs simply by looking at their website. Once the website is listed on Google, they begin to write their own reviews that place them in a favorable position so that you will want to rely on their services and not their competitors.

These scammers go as far as opening up call centers outside of the country to answer your service request inquiries. Once they gather your information, they then route your request to a sub-contractor in the area. They do not actually have their own locksmith company. When you are given a quote, it is usually a low estimate. This is how they draw in the unsuspecting victim. When a locksmith arrives to perform the job you have for them, you may or may not have a real locksmith show up.

They might call themselves fixing the problem but in actuality what they are really doing is creating a bigger problem that will cost you more in the end. They actually damage the lock further instead of make the necessary repairs. They claim the job was more difficult than they first suspected and this is how they are able to get more money out of you. They sometimes get more than triple the amount that you were quoted. While the customer is upset, they generally will not dispute the charges. 

Lookout for Locksmith Scams

When you are in a hurry or simply need a resolution quickly, you may not consider what you need to lookout for but if you can keep only one or two of these signs in mind, you can then look elsewhere for the help you need. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

• When contacting the locksmith, if you are being routed to a fake service provider, the dispatcher will not answer with the exact name of the company. If you ask them what locksmith service you have reached, they will not be able to tell you because they probably work for hundreds of fake locksmith companies.
• When they quote you a fee for the job that needs to be performed it will usually be an extremely low rate. This is alarm enough, especially if you are getting much higher quotes elsewhere. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Instead of the low cost of the service that you have been quoted, you may end up spending hundreds of dollars.
• They may promise to respond to your service requests in 15-minute or less. In actuality it may take them up to 2 hours or longer. This is because the service provider has not been contacted yet. Remember, you are not dealing directly with the actual locksmith service and therefore it may take time to find the closest one to you. The closest locksmith may be more than an hour from where you are, despite what Google Maps indicates.
• If you are being scammed, the locksmith will likely arrive in an unmarked vehicle. In some cases, they may have a magnetic sign on their car or truck that they can simply take off. Most reputable locksmith companies advertise their company with permanent advertising, clearly marked on their vehicles. They may also have out-of-state license plates if they are not legitimate.
• They will not have a uniform on and will not be able to show you and ID.
• They will claim that you have high security locks or commercial grade locks and begin drilling into the door, enabling them to destroy the lock itself. At this point, they will usually replace your good lock for a cheap one but still charge you more claiming that it took them longer to pick the lock because they had to drill a lock.
• When you need an automotive locksmith, the locksmith that shows up may claim that since the car is older, it will cost more or if it’s newer they might claim that job will cost more because its newer.
• A fake locksmith will ask for cash payment. Fake locksmiths do not want to accept credit card payments. In most instances, they are not authorized to do so. Credit cards make it possible for them to be discovered.
• They cover their tracks. It’s not possible for you to locate them once they have already scammed you. If you make contact with the actual locksmith, they will say that you have to speak to dispatch. When you contact dispatch, they direct you to another number. When you call that other number, either it doesn’t exists or the phone just rings and no one every answers. Finally, if you do make contact with someone, they will say the locksmith no longer works for them but they will not offer to give you any money back or fix the problem.

Always be aware of scammers when you are trying to find a service provider. There are plenty of decent Downtown Miami, Florida locksmiths, like Reliable Locksmith & Safe, who are eager to assist you with your lock and key needs. You don’t have to become a victim if you just stay calm and think about what it is that you are looking for and be aware of the tactics of locksmith scammers.