It’s happened to all of us. We go out to run an errand and lock our door, only to realize that we’ve locked ourselves out when we get back. Or maybe we’re coming home from a long trip, and our key doesn’t seem to fit the lock. In any case, you need the help of a locksmith to get into your house. But how do they know it’s your house? After all, there are probably several houses on your block with the same locks.
The way locksmiths know it’s your house is by checking for a unique identifying feature on the front of the property. This could be anything from the address number to a special design element on the door or window trim.
Locksmiths have a variety of ways to identify the property they need to service. In addition to looking for a unique identifying feature, they may also use a lock picking tool to try and open the door or knock on the door to see if anyone answers. If there’s no answer, they may try calling the customer to see if they can get more information about where they need to go.
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Different Methods Locksmiths Use To Identify A Property
When you call a locksmith, they might not ask for your address, but they always need to know where the house is. Without this knowledge, it would be impossible for them to find or visit your home and make an assessment or perform any work. Because every street and road in the world has a unique address (in most cases), a locksmith can ask for this.
However, where there are “more than one” house with the same or similar address, even an important fact like knowing your address becomes inadequate.
As far as identifying which property belongs to you goes, there are several possible routes that a locksmith might take.
- Door-to-Door (one of the most common) (Areas like Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Newmarket)
- By phoning, emailing, or messaging you to ask which property belongs to you
- Asking your neighbors, perhaps knocking on their door directly for help too
- Using any information given to them by yourself or anyone else (for example: a third party)
- Basing their judgment and evaluation on nearby signs and/or landmarks around your house. For example:
– Your address might be printed onto a sign attached to a wooden post near your front garden staked into the ground.
– Your house number might be painted directly outside your property (or even on the gates).
– The name of your street or road might be printed onto signs or boards at all ends of it.
Most locksmiths typically go door-to-door. When one house doesn’t answer or receives a negative response from a household they knock on, they then move onto another property and try again. If there’s still no luck after going to every house in the street, they usually phone the client to ask for more help.
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Locksmiths can also use their initiative and pick up on clues around your property that suggest it’s yours by using their eyes and ears.
- Exterior style of the house
- Number of storeys
- Windows
- Fence
- Yard
- Condition of the door
Don’t be afraid to ask your locksmith “how do you know which house is mine?” either when they first arrive or over the phone after they’ve quoted for their service. This can be a very helpful question, especially when other houses in the area have similar addresses.
How Do Locksmiths Verify Ownership?
The average locksmith must be able to verify ownership of a property and key at any given time, and there are several ways to do so.
- Requesting service for their driver’s license or state-issued identification card. This will provide the necessary information such as name, birth date, and address.
- Asking for a bank statement or utility bill with the person’s name and address on it.
- Walking around the outside of the unit being serviced, looking for gutters, mailboxes or door numbers to verify ownership. They also check if there are any other locks on the door, such as an auxiliary deadbolt or security bar.
- Getting a written authorization for service (also known as an “authorization to access”) from the person requesting service. The property owner can complete and sign this form and leave it with someone at the unit eighteen years of age or older. For an added measure of security, the authorization should be notarized and signed in front of a witness.
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Your Trusted Emergency Locksmith in Toronto
When you need to get in your house, it can be frustrating when the keys are lost or stolen. Locksmiths have ways of figuring out what type of lock is on a door, so they know how to open it without damaging anything. But first, they need to find which home belongs to the people who called them.
At Emergency Toronto Locksmith, we value our client’s security and comfort more. Therefore, when they call us for a service, we ask for the required information and provide security prerequisites to verify ownership.
When it comes time for a locksmith, you need to be sure that you are working with someone qualified, reliable, and experienced. For many years, Emergency Toronto Locksmith has been the trusted choice for anyone in the Greater Toronto Area. We have been providing quality service, and our team of experts knows how to handle any lock-related emergency. So if you find yourself locked out of your home or car, don’t panic – call us instead! We will be there to help in no time at all.
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