Almost everyone has faced the dilemma of being locked out at some point. This is not fun, especially when you stepped out in your bathrobe to get the morning paper and the door locked behind you. When you are in this situation, it can be confusing as to what your options are. If you have ever faced a lock out, you know the first thing you usually do. You search all the flower beds and above the door frames hoping someone happened to hide a key. When these efforts fail, you start checking windows, just hoping someone left one open or cracked.
If all of these attempts to get back into your house fail, the next step may be to call an emergency locksmith. However, there are certain things to consider. A professional locksmith is never going to let you in without proof that you belong inside. You must be able to present proof of whom you are and that you are allowed to be inside. This can be a hard thing to do, especially when you aren’t even wearing your pants. It can be hard sometimes even when you are.
During a lockout, it may be frustrating to hear that no one will let you in to a house or business you own. There is, however, a method to what seems like total madness at the time. A licensed locksmith services company will require proof because they don’t want to let just anyone in your home. Consider how unhappy you would be to find that someone had been let in and had burglarized your home.
Most NY locksmiths will accept a driver’s license with the current address on it for proof of residency or a utility bill with your name and address. A piece of junk mail with your name and no form of ID will not work. They will also take an original copy of your lease agreement, with verification from your landlord that you indeed belong inside the home. Some of these items may seem almost impossible to produce, but these guidelines are often governed by local and state laws.
The best thing you can do is prevent a lock out to begin with, but this is not always possible. When and if you do finally get back inside, you should make some precautions for the future. Consider making that duplicate key and giving it to a neighbor. You can also consider putting together a set of documents that prove who you are and keeping them in the car in case of another emergency. The best thing you can do is try to understand what the emergency locksmith will require and prepare for an emergency in advance.