Locked out of your house in Omaha

Before you call anyone

• Is anyone in danger? A child, a vulnerable adult, a pet in a hot or freezing house, or something on the stove: call 911 first.
• Try every entry. Back and side doors, the garage keypad or opener, a basement door. Don't climb through a window you can't reach safely.
• Find a spare. A roommate, or a neighbor who holds a spare.
• Renting? Call your landlord or property manager. Many have a spare or a maintenance person, though some charge a lockout fee. Check your lease.

What a lockout costs

These are published national figures, not Omaha quotes. The real price depends on the time of day and how far the locksmith drives. Ask for one number that covers the trip fee and the labor.

How a locksmith gets you in

For a standard knob lock or deadbolt, a trained locksmith usually picks the lock or bypasses it with a tool, and the lock keeps working afterward. Drilling is for high-security or broken locks. The Associated Locksmiths of America warns that a locksmith who goes straight to drilling is often a sign of a scammer.

If the lock does have to be drilled, ask why, ask what the new lock will cost, and ask whether you can supply your own. A drilled lock has to be replaced, so that is where a cheap call turns expensive.

What to have ready

• A photo ID with the address. If your ID has an old address, a lease or a utility bill works. The ID might be inside, so say so when you call.
• The kind of lock, and the brand if you know it.
• Where you are, and a way to pay. A card leaves a record if there is a dispute.

After you are back in

If the keys were lost rather than locked inside, think about rekeying. Anyone who found them may know the address. Rekeying costs far less than new locks.