Guides · 2026-10-08 · 4 min
Locked out: what to do and what to avoid
Steps that help and a few common mistakes when you are standing outside your own door.
First, check the easy options
Try every door and window you control. Call anyone who has a spare key, such as a roommate, a super or a landlord. If you rent, your landlord or super may be able to let you in, which costs nothing.
Avoid forcing it
Kicking the door or prying at the frame can wreck the frame and cost much more than the lockout would have. Credit cards and tools on a deadbolt rarely work and can damage the latch. If you must call a locksmith, it is better to leave the door intact.
When you call a locksmith
Ask for the full price before they travel and again on site before they start. Be wary of anyone who will only give a low number on the phone and a larger one at the door. Expect to be asked for ID or proof you live there. That is a good sign.
Once you are in, think about rekeying the lock if keys were lost, since someone else may now have one.
From Montrose Locksmith, a mobile locksmith and intercom company based in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Questions about your door or entry system? (929) 249-5806.