Locking yourself out of the house can be an incredibly inconvenient experience at the best of times, and a downright dangerous one if it happens during winter or at night.
If this happens to you, and it likely will at some point in your adult life, instead of panicking, try and stay calm. Everything will be okay; you just need to keep your wits about you and follow these five steps below.
Try The Other Doors
Before losing your mind, take a few deep breaths. Just because the door you have just locked is on the other side of where you should be, there is still hope. The first thing to establish is whether or not there is a different door that might be open.
Chances are, especially if you were on your out, the time you get locked out of the house will be a chilly day when no other doors are open. If you’re a stickler for always having locked doors, then this step won’t help you – but otherwise, it might be worth a try.
Try A Window
If you’re in a hurry to get back inside, then take a look at each window that is within reach – depending on the layout of your house. If it’s winter, then they’re probably all tightly shut – but if you get locked out during the warmer months then you could be in luck.
Depending on what state you live in, your windows could have a mesh screen over them – that can just be pushed out so you can climb through and let yourself back in. If possible, you may even consider trying to squeeze through the doggy poor – if you are small enough or the dog is big enough, it could work.
Call The Professionals
If your neighbors are away and there is no one around to help you, barring the sweet old lady down the road – now is the best time to call for help from a reputable and trustworthy team like American Best Locksmith in Philadelphia, PA.
An experienced locksmith can have your door unlocked in a matter of minutes, and often it’s just not worth wasting your time when you can call in the pros.
Call Your Wife or Husband
Provided they aren’t locked outside with you, your wife or husband should have a spare key for your house. This step only works if they are close enough to make the trip worth it – if they are busy at work and can’t assist, then you are on your own!
It’s worth trying, especially if you can handle the mockery. These things happen more often than you’d think so don’t feel bad.
Implement A Spare Key System
If you live alone and don’t want this to happen again, now is the perfect time to consider who should have a spare key to your place. Consider a responsible and trustworthy friend or family member who lives nearby, or better yet – a friendly neighbor willing to help in a pinch.
Provided the person is decent and trustworthy, they’ll make a solid backup plan for future incidents. If you don’t have anyone like that nearby, you’ll have to take your chances – but keep the locksmith’s number handy, just in case.
