If you’ve ever had the pleasure of vetting your very own lock technician for a repair job, you may have wanted to pull your hair out by the end of it.
Let me back things up with a quick comparison.
Have you ever been to the Cheesecake Factory? (Yes, I’ve used this comparison before. Just roll with it. I find it applicable to many things.) The menu has approximately 87 billion choices. If you’re like me, this leaves you paralyzed because you cannot choose just one. Most of the time I blow it and get something such as, “Noodles with butter” and then immediately curse my decision. (Much like Ralphie from A Christmas Story in this clip.)
That’s how I feel people react when they Google “lock technician” and are met with a multitude of choices, with little information to tell which one is the best one for your situation.
Lock technicians aren’t all qualified to do the same type of work even if they claim they are and there are a few ways you can narrow down your choices and get the best one for you.
Finding the Right Lock Technician
Dependability
Whether or not the locksmith shows up is a pretty big deal, so I would do a little research on this first.
Thankfully, the internet is a wealth of knowledge and, with dependable websites such as the Better Business Bureau and Google Reviews, you can get a good idea of who is good and who is not. If the lock technician you’re reviewing has a Facebook page, you might be able to glean some reliable information from there if people have left reviews.
Qualified
So many locksmiths out there will readily accept any job available if it gets them in the door and presents them with an opportunity to make some cash. Just because a technician can handle an issue with a certain lock on a door doesn’t mean he or she is qualified to handle a safe lock.
Before you hire a locksmith, make sure you know what areas they’re skilled in. Also, have a list of questions ready for them when you call.
Some examples might be:
- What is your rate for this type of work?
- How long do you believe this particular job will take?
- Have you worked on this particular issue before?
These questions will give you a general idea of their skills and give you a better grasp on whether or not this particular technician would be good for this job.
Trustworthy
You’re literally giving this person the keys to your kingdom so you want to be able to trust them with your belongings.
Ask the company if they run background checks on their employees. A lot of companies do and that’s one thing to set your mind at ease. You can also find out if there are any licensing requirements in your state.
Not all states require technicians to be licensed (it is a nice bonus), but they do require them to be insured, so keep that in mind.
If finding a lock technician is on your to-do list, I may know a few people who can help. We’d love to answer any questions you might have. Contact us today!