Locked out of your house in Raleigh

Before you call anyone

• If a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is inside in the heat, or something is on the stove, call 911 first.
• Try every way in: back and side doors, the garage keypad, a basement door. Don't climb through a window you can't reach safely.
• Find a spare. A roommate, a family member, or a neighbor who holds one.
• Renting? Call the leasing office or property manager. With 36% of households in the Wake County ZIP codes we cover renting (Census ACS), this is often the fastest fix. Many complexes keep a spare or have maintenance on call, though some charge a lockout fee after hours. Check your lease.

What a lockout costs

These are published national figures, not Raleigh quotes. The real price depends on the time of day and how far the locksmith drives. Ask for one number that covers the trip and the labor. One Durham renter posted that a same-day house lockout cost about $180. That is one data point, and it sits inside the published ranges.

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. In 2010, WRAL filmed a Raleigh-area homeowner quoted $35 to get in whose bill passed $400 after her locks were drilled.

Check the license while you wait

North Carolina requires locksmiths to be licensed by the state board. Ask for the business name on the phone and look it up on the board's Verify License page while the locksmith drives over. It takes about two minutes. How to check.

What to have ready

• A photo ID with the address. If your ID has an old address, bring a lease or a utility bill. The ID might be inside, so say so when you call.
• The kind of lock, and the brand if you know it. Say if it is a keypad or smart lock.
• 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.