Standing on your front porch at 11pm staring at a closed door is a pretty bad feeling. Before you call us, run through a few quick checks. Most of the time we still need to come out, but occasionally one of these saves you the call-out fee.
Check every door
It sounds obvious, but it's worth a careful walk around. Back door, laundry door, garage internal door, even the garden gate to a sliding door. People often lock the front when they leave by the back, then walk around expecting both to be open.
Check windows you might have left open
This isn't about climbing through, it's about reach. If a window is unlocked and within arm's reach of an internal door handle, you can sometimes flip the latch without breaking anything.
Phone a neighbour or family member with a spare
If you've left a spare with someone, this is the moment to call. Even at 11pm. The cost of a locksmith callout is more than enough to justify the awkwardness.
Check if you actually need to be in tonight
If you've got a partner inside who's just asleep, the cheapest fix is sometimes a phone call and a knock on the bedroom window. If you've got somewhere warm to stay and the dog's fine, waiting until morning saves the after-hours premium.
When to just call us
If you've got young kids inside, pets that need attention, medication you need access to, or you're in a vulnerable area at night, don't muck around. Call us. Most Bendigo addresses we're at within 30-60 minutes regardless of the hour, and we'll quote the price before we leave. Non-destructive entry on most door types, so you won't be paying for a new lock unless absolutely necessary.