The real cost of losing your keys & how to prevent it happening
We have all been there at one time or another, hearing the sound of the lock shut in the latch knowing that you haven’t got your keys with you. The sinking panic you get when all the searching in your pockets and bag doesn’t produce a key… At some point in our lives most of us will lose a key, some of us will find it again and unfortunately a large number won’t. Often losing a key isn’t such a nightmare, you have a spare somewhere or there is a way of entering your home without doing too much damage.
For those who can’t get in there is typically a fairly long list of things you will need to address, most of which will leave your wallet a fair bit lighter. Most of us know we should take better care of our keys or in fact have back-ups or a contingency plan in place. However the simple fact is that the majority of us don’t think it will ever happen to us. This article provides a breakdown of the costs and hassles involved with losing your keys and simple solutions to help prevent it in the first place.
Lock smiths
Calling out a locksmith to your home can be one of your biggest expenses. It can cost anywhere from $50 to $300 depending on the scale of the job and how urgently you need it done. If you are unfortunate enough to need assistance on a public holiday be sure to get a quote before the locksmith arrives as charges can be doubled. Women need also take caution; as studies show women are on average charged twice as much as men!
Calling out a locksmith to your home can be one of your biggest expenses. It can cost anywhere from $50 to $300 depending on the scale of the job and how urgently you need it done. If you are unfortunate enough to need assistance on a public holiday be sure to get a quote before the locksmith arrives as charges can be doubled. Women need also take caution; as studies show women are on average charged twice as much as men!
Changing your locks
Changing your locks is typically only advisable when your keys are thought to have been lost in a public location alongside any personal information. Changing locks is something you could do yourself and locks can be purchased from most DIY stores for as little as $10. If you don’t feel capable or haven’t got the time to install the lock/s yourself you could be looking at around $100 in labour.
Changing your locks is typically only advisable when your keys are thought to have been lost in a public location alongside any personal information. Changing locks is something you could do yourself and locks can be purchased from most DIY stores for as little as $10. If you don’t feel capable or haven’t got the time to install the lock/s yourself you could be looking at around $100 in labour.
Keys cut
Getting new house keys cut isn’t particularly expensive (although the ones for your car might be a different matter); typically you can expect to pay around $3-10 per key. This cost is then multiplied by the number of family members or friends which will need them. Be sure to get a couple of extra cut to give to neighbours.
Getting new house keys cut isn’t particularly expensive (although the ones for your car might be a different matter); typically you can expect to pay around $3-10 per key. This cost is then multiplied by the number of family members or friends which will need them. Be sure to get a couple of extra cut to give to neighbours.
Property damage
Unfortunately there are sometimes times when waiting for the locksmith to arrive simply isn’t an option. Examples such as a small child left alone or the gas turned on will undoubtedly result in entry being gained through whatever means necessary. This typically means smashed windows or a door of its hinges, which unfortunately result in even more expenditure (anywhere from $50 to $500).
Unfortunately there are sometimes times when waiting for the locksmith to arrive simply isn’t an option. Examples such as a small child left alone or the gas turned on will undoubtedly result in entry being gained through whatever means necessary. This typically means smashed windows or a door of its hinges, which unfortunately result in even more expenditure (anywhere from $50 to $500).
Solutions
The majority of these costs can be avoided if a few simple and common sense steps are taken, below we list just a few:
The majority of these costs can be avoided if a few simple and common sense steps are taken, below we list just a few:
Install keyless locks
Keyless entry systems are no longer the thing of sci-fi movies and luxury homes. There are a number of affordable options available on the market which either utilise a remote keyfob (similar to a car alarm) or a keypad. Keyless locks can also be installed on the majority of front doors from hardwood to composite for roughly $250 dollars, which is a whole site cheaper than the cost of losing keys. There are also locks in development which work with smartphones!
Keyless entry systems are no longer the thing of sci-fi movies and luxury homes. There are a number of affordable options available on the market which either utilise a remote keyfob (similar to a car alarm) or a keypad. Keyless locks can also be installed on the majority of front doors from hardwood to composite for roughly $250 dollars, which is a whole site cheaper than the cost of losing keys. There are also locks in development which work with smartphones!
Utilise your friends and neighbours
We all offer our friends a safe place for their spare set of keys, but not a very large proportion actually supply them. Even if you have never lost your keys in the past; give a spare set to a friend or neighbours as you never know when you might need them.
We all offer our friends a safe place for their spare set of keys, but not a very large proportion actually supply them. Even if you have never lost your keys in the past; give a spare set to a friend or neighbours as you never know when you might need them.
Have a stash spot
Only advisable if your location is SECRET and as far removed from obvious as can be! Ensure that as few people as possible know its whereabouts as possible and if you do have to inform someone change it straight away.
Only advisable if your location is SECRET and as far removed from obvious as can be! Ensure that as few people as possible know its whereabouts as possible and if you do have to inform someone change it straight away.
This article was written by Nick Williams. Nick works for the composite door manufacturer Yale Door. All Yale Doors are U-value compliant and comply with the toughest security codes.
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