Take hiding a spare key at your residence, for example. 

Many people hide a spare key under a mat or in a fake rock at their homes. But is this a good idea in today’s technology-enriched world? Was it ever a good idea? As a professional locksmith company, we have our opinion on the matter.

A Tradition of Convenience

First, let’s briefly discuss why someone would hide a spare key at their residence. Homeowners have been doing this for years, hiding them under doormats, inside fake rocks and even beneath flower pots. This was a convenient practice in the event of getting locked out of the house, as an extra key was always close by. But this comes with risks as well. 

The Security Risks

While many people have hidden a spare key without any consequences, there are more than a couple of problems here when it comes to your home’s security:

• Predictability: Burglars these days are well aware of the classic hiding spots. In fact, one of the first places they’ll check is under the doormat or in any obviously fake decor. 
• Lack of innovation: There are more advanced solutions to the spare key, so not using today’s technology keeps your security in the past. This makes it easier for intruders to gain access to your home.
• Increased vulnerability: When you have a spare key close to an entry point, it makes your home a target. It’s difficult to have peace of mind when you know that unrestricted access to your home is just a found key away. This is even worse if you don’t have an alarm system.

Better Options

There are a few modern alternatives to the hidden spare key these days. Whether it’s a small or big change, however, upgrading the security of your home is always a wise strategy if you can budget for it. Here are some modern solutions to consider:

• Smart locks: These let you enter your home with a code, fingerprint or smartphone app instead of a physical key.
• Key safes: These are secure, combination-locked boxes that can be mounted outside your home, offering similar benefits as spare keys but without the risks.
• Home security systems: Modern systems include features like remote access, meaning you can unlock your doors using a smartphone app, even when you’re not home.

If you have any other questions about home security, don’t hesitate to call A-1 Locksmith or visit one of our Dallas-Fort Worth-area locations today.

This is especially true when it comes to your house, vehicle or business. Even the best of us can get locked out on occasion. Fortunately, there are several ways to fix these situations (and prevent them from happening in the first place). Here are a few tips for the next time you’re locked out.

Tips for When You’re Locked Out of Your Car

Getting locked out of your car is a stressful situation, so we won’t distract you with details about why this happens, how often and so forth. Let’s get straight to the tips:

• Call 911 if anyone is in danger. This includes people in and out of the car. If everyone is safe, move on to these other tips.
• Make sure you can’t access the vehicle. Check all doors, the trunks and any possible access points.
• Think of backup key locations. Are they with a friend, family member or at home?
• Attempt a DIY access. This isn’t a recommendation as it can often make the problem worse, but attempting to enter your car while locked out in a DIY manner is possible. The difficulty varies by vehicle make/model and can often cause damage that will have you regretting the decision. With that said, this is an option we wanted to keep on the list and one that is worth considering depending on your situation and experience level.
• Call roadside assistance or a professional locksmith. Professionals can travel to your location to tow your car or unlock your vehicle.

Note: breaking in whether via a window or destroying a lock is not an option we’d consider.

Tips for When You’re Locked Out of Your House

We’ll do the same thing for getting locked out of your house. Here are some tips for when this happens to you:

• Call someone you know. For both safety purposes and to help find a spare key.
• Utilize technology. Open the door or garage remotely if you have an app connected.
• Look for access points. Just be aware you will look suspicious to onlookers.
• Remove the door knob – Other DIY: If you can get your hands on tools, you may be able to remove a door knob and certain locks. Given your familiarity with your home, you may explore other DIY options here as well, but as with the auto DIY access, this is on our list of tips more because it’s an option than recommendation.
• Call a professional locksmith. While you may not want a surprise cost from having been locked out of your home, you may be surprised how much you’ll save in terms of time as well as cost to just pay professionals to do their job. 

Tips for When You’re Locked Out of Your Business

Lastly, here are some tips for when you’re locked out of your business:

• Think through solutions. As a business owner, you likely have several backup and alternate entry options. Also consider how several of the above tips might apply here.
• Call a locksmith. You might want to do this earlier than other scenarios on this list, as downtime affects your bottom line.
• Prevent future lockouts. Install a master key system, access control system or another security solution to prevent lockouts.
  

If you have any other locksmith-related questions, be sure to give us a call or stop by any of our DFW-area locations and a professional team member will help you.