If you find that you’re stuck outside because you’ve forgotten the most crucial part of your keys-phone-wallet check, don’t panic. Chances are, you’ll be able to get inside before the next episode of your favorite show autoplays on Netflix.
Here’s what to do if you’re locked out of the house (scroll for more details):
If the door lock on your front door won’t budge, or your suddenly defunct key won’t turn in the lock, check the other entry points of your home. You might find that you forgot to lock the sliding door that leads out to your patio or the door that leads from your garage to the inside of your home. Be sure to check all side doors, back doors, and garage doors—and don’t forget to lock them in the future.
If you don’t mind a bit of scrambling, check to see if any of your windows on the first floor are unlocked. If it’s big enough, you may be able to lift the window, pop out the screen, and climb through. Just be cognizant of what’s below the window—you wouldn’t want to fall onto your TV and hurt yourself or crush any of your beloved plants.
If you left things locked up tight, reach out. Someone you live with—a significant other, a parent, or a roommate—or someone close by, like a neighbor, may have a copy of your key. Call them and see if they can let you in or meet you somewhere with the spare key.
If you’re a renter, reach out to your landlord. They should have a copy of your house key, and they may be able to stop by to let you back in. If you live in an apartment complex, you should be able to stop by the property manager’s office and ask to be let back in—then find your keys right where you left them, on the console next to the door.
If all else fails, call a residential locksmith service to open the door and let you in. But be sure you search reviews of three to four locksmiths on a site like Yelp so you can choose a legitimate emergency locksmith service.
Illegitimate locksmiths typically won’t try to work with your existing doorknob. Instead, they’ll drill through your door and go through the process of changing the locks. In the end, you’ll be forced to pay for the locksmith’s services, plus a new doorknob and set of keys for about $350.
Be sure to reach out to auto locksmiths instead of residential locksmith services.
Don’t try to force your way through a locked door. We don’t recommend wedging a plastic credit card into your door frame, picking your lock with a bobby pin, or removing the mounting screws of your doorknob (and we definitely don’t recommend removing your doorknob altogether). With all of these options, you risk damaging your door or your lock. Besides, you don't want to give potential burglars ideas about how to break in when you’re not around.
One of the best ways to prevent future lockouts is to get in the habit of making sure you have your keys with you whenever you leave. But if that’s not possible—or if you’re prone to forgetting—there are a few other ways to get by.
To prevent lockouts in the future, consider keeping a set of spare keys in a lockbox. Most unlock with a combination lock or keypad. Don’t leave these backup keys in plain sight. Instead, put one next to your back door for those moments when you run out to the car to get something, then accidentally lock yourself out.
Have a neighbor you’ve known for years, a friend who works nearby, or a sibling who lives in town? Pay a few bucks to make them a spare key and save yourself the time, hassle, and cost of a locksmith later down the road.
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