Did you find yourself here after desperately googling “what to do when locked out of house?”
If that’s the case, never fear. It can be stressful and overwhelming to lock yourself out of your own home, particularly if time is of the essence. However, the most important thing to do is stay calm and assess what your options are.
You might find that there is an easy solution to your quandary. No matter what, there should be a way for you to get back in after getting locked out.
Let’s take a look at what your options are when you’re locked out of your home.
Call Someone You Live With
If you live with other people and they aren’t also locked out, your first step is to call your spouse, roommate, kids, or another household member. There’s a good chance one of them has a key and they can help you get back inside. This is definitely the simplest way with dealing with getting locked out of your home.
Find a Family Member or Friend With a Spare Key
Have you ever given someone else a key to your house? Maybe someone who you hired to take care of your houseplants when you were out of town? Or maybe you’ve given a family member a key just in case a situation such as this occurs.
If this is the case, call or text someone else who has a spare key. So long as they are not too far away and not terribly busy, you can likely convince them to come and let you back in your home.
Call the Landlord If You’re a Renter
If you are renting an apartment rather than a homeowner, you can also call your landlord. They will definitely have a key to your home so that you can get back inside.
Check for an Open Back Door or Window
Ideally, you would never leave any windows or doors unlocked when you’re not home. This is because you are leaving yourself at risk of burglars seeing an opportunity and taking it. However, if you are locked out of your house with no key, it never hurts to make sure that there isn’t another point of entry.
If you do find that there is an unlocked door or open window, it will definitely serve you in the situation. However, you’ll want to talk to your home and make sure that nothing is amiss considering that you left a way for an intruder to get into your home.
Call a Locksmith
One of the most foolproof ways to deal with getting locked out of your house is by calling a locksmith like AAA lockout service. They will be able to get you back into your home in just a few minutes. They will be able to do this without causing any damage to the lock or your door.
While this method will cost you some money, it avoids the extra time and stress of trying to come up with a more creative option.
Break In
If you are unable to find a locksmith and have no other resort, breaking into your own home might be your only option. You should really avoid this at all costs, but if it’s your only choice than you have to work with what you have.
Depending on the type of doorknob and lock you have, you might be able to break in using bobby pins or a credit card. Once you get back inside, you’ll want to prioritize coming up with a plan for how to deal with this in the future. For example, consider hiding a key in a creative spot.
What You Shouldn’t Do If You’re Locked Out
Now that we have looked at what to do when locked out of the house, let’s take a look at what you shouldn’t do. You definitely do not want to try and kick down the door or do something like throw a rock through the window.
This will cost you quite a bit of money in repairs and also it puts you at risk for injury. It would definitely be better to call a locksmith.
You also should not call 911 if you are unable to get into your house. Of course, this does not apply if there is an actual emergency occurring at the same time. In general, though, the fire department or the police department won’t help you in this instance.
Lastly, don’t try to access an open window upstairs by climbing onto the roof or using a ladder. This is a way to make an already bad situation worse. Rather than opening yourself up to the risk of hurting yourself, it is much better the patient and wait for a professional locksmith was someone with a spare key.
Locked Out? Stay Calm and Consider Your Options
Getting locked out can be super stressful, but the most important thing is to stay calm. If you have your phone with you, there’s a good chance you can call a housemate, someone with a spare key, or a locksmith to come to your rescue. If you don’t have your phone, you’ll want to consider how you can contact someone to help you out.
Maybe you have a friendly relationship with your neighbor and they will let you use their phone. Or, perhaps you live nearby to a business that has a payphone or that won’t mind you making a call.
No matter what the solution ends up being, stressing out and panicking will only make the situation worse. Take a moment to take a few slow, deep breaths. It’s all going to be ok!
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