What to Ask Before Hiring a Locksmith

Most people only hire a locksmith a handful of times in their life, and often at a moment when they are stressed, standing outside or worried about a break-in. That is exactly when it is hardest to think clearly about who you are hiring and what you are agreeing to.

This guide gives you ten questions to ask, and explains why each one matters. They work for urgent lockouts and for planned work alike. A good locksmith will answer all of them without hesitation. If someone avoids them, that tells you something too.

1. "What is your business name, and where are you based?"

This sounds basic, but it is the most revealing question on the list. A genuine local business can tell you its name and address straight away, and both should match its website and its Google Business Profile.

Be cautious of generic names, numbers answered by a call centre that will "send someone out", or addresses that cannot be found. You want to know who is coming to your door.

For reference, we are Locksmith Hornsby Service, 14 Hunter St, Hornsby NSW 2077, phone 02 4404 0445.

2. "Is the person attending licensed?"

Locksmiths in New South Wales are covered by security industry licensing. The person who arrives should be able to show you a current licence, and you can check it through the official NSW licence check service. We explain how in How to Check a Licensed Locksmith in NSW.

3. "What do you need to know to give me a price?"

A careful locksmith asks questions before quoting: what kind of door, what kind of lock, whether a deadlock was locked with a key, whether keys are lost or stolen. Those details genuinely change the job.

A firm low price given before anyone asks about your lock is a warning sign. It is often the opening of a conversation that ends with a much larger bill.

4. "Will you tell me the full price before starting?"

This is the most important question for avoiding surprises. You should know exactly what the work is and what it will cost before anything is opened, drilled, rekeyed or replaced. If the plan has to change partway through, for example if a lockout cannot be opened without drilling, the locksmith should stop and ask you before continuing.

5. "Are travel and timing included in that price?"

Some quotes leave out travel or a late-evening component, which then appear on the invoice. Ask whether the price you are given is the price you will pay, and what, if anything, could change it.

6. "Will you try to open it without damage first?"

Many lockouts can be opened without drilling or damaging the door. Drilling has its place, for example with a failed cylinder or a key-locked high-security lock, but it should not be the default. Ask what method they expect to use and why. Our lockout service page explains how we approach this.

7. "Do you need proof that I live here?"

The right answer is yes. A locksmith who checks that you are entitled to enter a property before opening it is protecting you as well as everyone else. If someone is happy to open your door without any check, they would do the same for a stranger.

Photo ID with the address, a lease, a rates notice or a utility bill are all reasonable. If your documents are inside, a careful locksmith checks them once the door is open.

8. "Do I need to replace the lock, or can it be repaired or rekeyed?"

This question saves people more money than any other. Many locks that seem broken are fine; the door has dropped, the strike plate is out of line, or the cylinder needs servicing. Many people who want "new locks" after moving house really want the old keys to stop working, which rekeying achieves for less.

A good locksmith will explain which option suits your lock and why. Our guide Rekey or Replace Locks? How to Decide covers this in detail, as do our lock repair and lock rekeying pages.

9. "What hardware are you fitting, and why?"

If new hardware is being supplied, you should know what it is, why it suits your door, and whether it can be keyed to match your existing keys. Ask about safe exit too: a lock that needs a key from the inside can trap people during a fire. Our article on deadlocks and deadlatches explains the trade-offs.

10. "Will I get a written invoice?"

You should receive an invoice that names the business, describes the work, lists any parts and shows the price. It is your record if anything goes wrong later, and it is useful for landlords, agents and insurance.

Questions for specific situations

Depending on the job, a few extra questions are worth asking.

After a break-in:

• Can you make the door secure today, even if full repairs take longer?
• Should I rekey or replace the other locks too, if keys may have been taken?
• What other weak points did you notice?

After moving into a new home:

• How many locks should I rekey, and can they all use one key?
• Are any of the existing locks worn or weak enough to replace?

For a rental property:

• Do I have the consent I need under NSW tenancy rules? Our guide to landlord and tenant lock change rules explains the basics.
• Can the screen door and main door be keyed alike?

For a business:

• Can the work be done before opening or after close?
• Can you key our doors so managers have access to more doors than staff?

See our commercial locksmith service for how we handle business work.

What a good answer sounds like

You are not looking for a sales pitch. Good answers are short, specific and honest about uncertainty. "It depends on whether the deadlock was locked with the key; if it was, it will take longer, and here is the likely range" is a much better answer than a single confident number. "I will not know until I see the door, but I will tell you the price before I touch anything" is a perfectly good answer too.

Be wary of answers that dodge the question, promise everything, or rely on urgency: "We need to replace all the locks today for your safety" is rarely true.

You can always say no

If you are not comfortable with the answers, or the price changes on arrival without a good reason, you are entitled to decline before work starts. If you feel a business has misled you, NSW Fair Trading handles consumer complaints.

Questions to ask yourself before you call

Some of the most useful preparation happens before you pick up the phone. Spending a minute on these makes the call faster and the quote more accurate.

What exactly is the problem? "The lock is broken" covers a dozen different faults. Is the key not going in, going in but not turning, turning but not moving the bolt, or is the door simply not closing? Each points to a different cause.

What kind of lock is it? Look at the door. Is there a knob or lever, a separate lock above it, a rim lock on the inside face, a sliding door latch or a security screen in front? A photo of both sides is ideal.

How urgent is it, really? A lockout with a child inside is urgent. A deadlock that has been stiff for a month is not, and booking it as planned work is usually cheaper and less stressful.

What do you want the outcome to be? "Old keys stop working", "the door locks properly" and "the house is harder to break into" are three different goals that lead to three different jobs.

Do you have the right to authorise the work? If you rent, check your lease and speak with your agent first. If it is a strata building, check whether the door is common property.

Phone versus online requests

For anything urgent, call. A conversation lets the locksmith ask follow-up questions and tell you straight away when they can attend. For planned work, an online quote request is often more convenient: you can include photos and details at your own pace, and get a reply during operating hours. Our contact page asks for the service, urgency and property type, so we can reply with a useful answer rather than a generic one.

After the job

Before the locksmith leaves, take a minute to check the work. Operate every lock that was touched, from both sides of the door. Try every new key. Make sure the door closes and latches properly. Ask any question you still have. Then keep the invoice somewhere safe, along with a note of how many keys now exist.

If something does not feel right a few days later, such as a lock that has started to stick or a key that feels rough, call the business back straight away. A reputable locksmith would much rather adjust their own work promptly than have a customer quietly put up with a door that does not lock properly.

How we answer these questions

We are happy to answer all ten before you book. In short:

• We are Locksmith Hornsby Service, based at 14 Hunter St, Hornsby NSW 2077.
• We ask about your door and lock before quoting.
• We agree the price before starting and stop to ask if anything changes.
• We try non-destructive methods first.
• We check proof of entitlement before opening any door.
• We recommend repair or rekeying when that is the honest answer.
• We provide a written invoice for every job.
• We are open 7 days, 7:00am to 12:00am, and we do not promise arrival times we cannot keep.

Call 02 4404 0445 and ask us anything on this list, or send a quote request if your job is not urgent. You can also browse all of our locksmith services first.