What happens when a locksmith comes to your home?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What happens on a lockout call?

A legitimate lockout visit has a predictable shape, and knowing it makes a bad one easier to spot.

1. The phone call. You describe the door and the lock. Washington's Attorney General says that in a lockout, most legitimate locksmiths will give you a phone estimate for the total cost. Expect a business name when the phone is answered, and an address if you ask for one.
2. The arrival. The office says most locksmiths come in a vehicle clearly marked with the business name, though some legitimate ones use a plain car for quick or emergency jobs. ALOA, the locksmiths' trade association, says to check that the company that turns up is the company you called, and to look for a uniform, name tag or permanent signage on the vehicle.
3. The identity check, both ways. Ask for identification and a business card. Washington's office says a legitimate locksmith should also ask for your identification and make sure you are the property owner before doing any work. Being asked is a good sign, not an insult.
4. The estimate, before work. Connecticut's consumer protection department advises getting a written quote before anything is done. If the price now differs from the phone quote, the Better Business Bureau says you can have the job done by someone else. Connecticut says you have the right to refuse service.
5. Opening the door. Ohio's Attorney General says most skilled locksmiths can open locks without destroying them. The BBB says it is not routine to insist on drilling. If the locksmith says the lock has to be drilled and replaced, you are being offered a second, larger job, and you can decline it or ask for its price in writing first.
6. The invoice. Washington's office says to demand an invoice when the work is done. The BBB says it should be itemized, showing parts, labor, mileage and service charges, with the business name and address.

No source read for this guide says how long a lockout should take, so a promised arrival time is the locksmith's estimate, not a standard.

What happens on a scheduled visit?

Rekeying a house, adding deadbolts or fitting smart locks is planned work, and it should come with more paperwork than a lockout.

Before the day. You should have a written estimate that names the work. Pennsylvania's Attorney General says locksmiths who do repairs, replacements or installations on homes must register as home improvement contractors, and registered contractors must print their PA registration number on estimates and contracts. For a job of more than $500, the law requires a written contract signed by both sides, with a description of the work, approximate start and completion dates, the total price and notice of your right to cancel. The Attorney General says the state Supreme Court has confirmed you can cancel within three business days by phone, in writing or in person.

The assessment. For a rekey, the first question is whether your current locks are worth keeping. ALOA says that depends on their condition and suitability, and that older houses often have a mix of lock types of varying quality. A locksmith may recommend rekeying some and replacing others. For new deadbolts, expect questions about the door and frame, since ALOA says those, the level of security you need and how tightly keys must be controlled all affect which lock fits.

The work. Rekeying keeps the lock but makes former keys useless, which is why ALOA recommends it after a move; replacement swaps the hardware. If you asked for police-style door hardening, the King County Sheriff's Office in Washington State describes the target: a deadbolt with a one-inch bolt and a heavy-duty four-screw strike plate with 3-inch screws into the wooden frame. You can ask the locksmith to show you the screws before the plate goes on.

The handover. Test every lock with every new key, from both sides of the door. Count the keys. ALOA's reason for rekeying is control over who holds a key, so you should leave the visit knowing exactly how many exist.

What else can a locksmith do while there?

ALOA lists a wide range of locksmith services: installing locks and other door hardware, cutting duplicate keys or making keys when they are lost, rekeying, repairing doors and frames, servicing locks, and electronic access control and video surveillance. Since the cost surveys price a service call separately, combining jobs into one visit means paying that fee once.

What if something goes wrong during the visit?

Stop the work and ask. Washington's office says that if you are not comfortable with the provider, refuse service. Locksmith scams to avoid describes the patterns to watch for, questions to ask a locksmith gives the exact questions for each stage, and what Pennsylvania requires of locksmiths covers your contract rights. Local businesses are on the locksmiths directory page.

Sources

1. Keys to avoiding locksmith fraud, Washington State Office of the Attorney General
2. Consumer Alert: Locked Out? Be Wary of Scammers Posing as Locksmith Technicians, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
3. Beware: Searching for Local Locksmiths May Lead to Faraway Call Centers, Ohio Attorney General
4. BBB Scam Alert: Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam, Better Business Bureau
5. How to Spot a Scammer Locksmith, ALOA Security Professionals Association
6. What Services Does A Locksmith Provide?, ALOA Security Professionals Association
7. Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House?, ALOA Security Professionals Association
8. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
9. PA Supreme Court Upholds Consumer Right-to-Cancel Home Improvement Contracts Within Three Days Regardless of Medium, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
10. Doors and locks, King County Sheriff's Office