Asking the right questions should be a top priority when hiring a locksmith. Locksmiths are professionals that can take your security to the next level. A true locksmith professional will not mind answering any questions that you may have. The following are a few examples of questions that you should be asking a locksmith:

• Are You Really a Local Locksmith?

A lot of people feel better about choosing a local locksmith within their community. It can become worrisome and frustrating when dealing with a call center or company that is based in a distant community. Choosing a local locksmith can be comforting in knowing that it is someone actually in your community and that you can count on them if you are dealing with a lock and key security situation.

• Are You a Licensed Locksmith?

It is extremely important to only work with locksmiths who are licensed. It is required to be licensed in the State of Texas to be a locksmith, but it is not required in all states. Even though it is not required in all of the states, doesn't mean that it is not something that should be looking or asking for.  When it comes to your security you should feel free to raise your own standards and qualifications.  Only choose locksmith professionals that you are 100 percent comfortable and confident in.

• What Are Your Rates?

You should always ask about rates and pricing upfront. Honest professional locksmiths should be able to give you at least a ballpark quote on what the services will cost you. Even if your situation is unique, they should tell you what it will cost to come out and evaluate your situation and give you pricing before you agree for them to do the work. Some locksmiths have rates that go by the hour while other locksmiths base their fees off how complex or straightforward your locksmith need is. Be sure to ask about any additional hidden fee charges so that you're not surprised at the end.

• Can You Tell Me About the Services You Offer?

There are locksmiths out there who specialize in different aspects of the locksmith industry. There are locksmiths who specialize in digital security safes, panic bars, deadbolt installation, electronic locks, home lockouts and vehicle lockouts.  There are locksmiths who change out locks. There are locksmiths who rekey locks. Locksmith services range from residential locksmith needs to more complex commercial business locksmith needs and everything in between. Make sure to find out if the locksmith you are hiring provides the specific locksmith service that you need.

​Misplacing your keys does happen and it can happen anytime.  This is when you have to call for locksmith services. Many people wonder the tangible benefits of hiring a professional locksmith. There's always the option of getting an untrained practitioner for the job.

Most professionals hold a valid license and are ready to answer emergency calls.  They help people who locked themselves out of both residential buildings and commercial businesses.  As UptownDallasProperties.com points out, you can be sure that they have all the necessary equipment for providing quick solutions.

In this article, you'll learn all about the benefits of hiring professional locksmith services.  Compared to casual service providers,professionals may have a higher rate.  In turn, you'll save time, stress and worry.

Here are the benefits of professional locksmith services:

Higher Availability
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Lock issues may hit you at any time.  You can get locked out or you might break your key.  Many professional locksmiths work on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week.  Bigger companies have locksmiths on rotation to ensure that no emergency is ignored.

If you can't enter your home in the middle of the night , you don't need to panic.  Calling a reliable service provider means that you can enter you home as soon as possible.  Even if you are locked out on a Sunday night.  Around  the clock availability is a real life saver!

Correct Tools
While some locks issues have an easy fix, some situations require complicated diagnosis and repair.  A professional locksmith has all the modern tools for delivering an efficient service.

Qualifications and Training
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Not all lock emergency situations are the same.  There are many nuances and details connected to every lockout.  That's why professional locksmiths rely on a mix of training, qualifications, and experience.

Qualified providers come with teams of technicians who can take care of any problem.  You'll find practical solutions in replacement, installation, and repair.  Their prior training means that the technicians have seen a variety of locks.  They understand the intricacies and minute details of how these locks work.

Save Money On Further Issues
In the long run, opting for professional services may save you money.  While you may get a lower quote from a casual technician, the inexperienced worker might end up costing you more money.

Unprofessional locksmiths may use the wrong tools, causing serious damage to your lock.  In many cases, people have to replace the door and get a new lock installed on it.

Reputation Is Important
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Professional locksmiths have a reputation to protect.  They deliver excellent customer service and would never resort to criminal activities.  That's because their whole brand and income depend on their reputation as service providers.

When you a pick a locksmith with a questionable background and credentials, you'll never know what you sign up for.  There have been cases of ranging from ruined locks to planned burglary.  It's better to play it safe!

Numerous Specialized Services
Sometimes you need more than just opening and repairing a simple lock mechanism.  Choose a professional locksmith and the chances are they can help with complicated situations.
Here are some of the possible services:

• Master Key Systems
• Electronic Locks
• Rekeying Locks
• Lock Installation
• Complex Lock Replacements
• Forensic Locksmithing

Insurance Protection
Professional locksmiths have the proper insurance.  If there's any loss or damage to your property, you know that the situation will be taken care of.  Otherwise, you have to worry about the potential damage that won't get covered.  Amateurs may walk away and fail to answer your calls later.

High Security
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Professional locksmith companies care about your security.  When you discover that your prior lock system isn't secure enough, they can help you find reliable technology.  The locksmiths can answer all your questions because they are well-versed in the latest lock and security technologies.

You don't have to worry about the security issues after receiving services from reputable providers.  Compared to unqualified and unknown locksmiths, there's little risk of any dishonest plans.  These people are professionals.  They make enough money to support themselves. Plus, as we mentioned before, recognized locksmiths have a brand and reputation to protect.

The Bottom Line: Benefits Of Hiring A Professional Locksmith
Locking yourself out or breaking any part of the lock mechanism is a common issue.  You can choose between professional locksmiths or unqualified service providers. The former comes with a higher initial price tag for their service.  Still, opting for the latter may result in greater total expenses.

In short, professional locksmiths provide you with the following value for their services:

• Right Tools For The Job
• Round-The-Clock Availability
• Various Specialized Services
• Experience, Qualifications, and Training
• Insured Services
• Good Customer Service

These are the main reasons you should pick a qualified locksmith over the amateur service providers.

​A.C.R. Lock & Key provides property and automotive locksmith services to customers throughout Plano, TX, Prosper, TX and surrounding areas. In business for more than 10 years, our locksmiths are dedicated to enhancing the security of your home, office, or vehicle.
Whether you’ve been locked out of your car or you want to change the locks in your home for added safety, A.C.R. Lock & Key offers 24/7 emergency service to solve your lock issue as soon as possible. Our company installs everything from sliding door locks to reliable dead bolts. We stand behind the quality of our work and the peace of mind it will bring.
While you want the lock on your car or in your building to be of the highest quality, there are other valuables that need protection as well. If you have a traditional safe or a gun safe in your home that needs opening or service, our locksmiths will provide assistance as soon as possible to protect and retrieve your belongings. 

A.C.R. Lock & Key informs you of our prices upfront without any surprises and allows you access to professional licensed locksmiths. 

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Did you know that one American home falls victim to a burglary every 13 seconds? With that being said, 66% of all yearly burglaries are home break-ins. The police only manage to solve around 13% of all reported cases of burglary. At this rate, 3 out of 4 homes in the Unites States will be broken into in the next two decades. World wide identity theft is also on the rise.
The following tips could help you if you believe that your home could benefit from more or better security measures.  Close to 35% of burglars use the front door to break into a home, and 23% sneak in through a first-floor window, these are the first places you should start enhancing the security of.

TIP #1:  UPGRADE (ALL) YOUR LOCKS
Burglars look for properties that are easy to break into. Sturdy locks are excellent deterrents because potential intruders will incur the risk of getting caught in the act and will most likely move on to their next victim.

• If you can not remember when the last time was that you had your locks properly inspected, you are highly advised to fix that.
• You can either watch an online tutorial and learn how to install a lock on your home or call a locksmith professional in your area.
• If your exterior doors do not have any deadbolt locks installed, install single or double cylinder deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
  
• Make sure that you have the proper type of locks on your sliding patio doors or pet doors. You should opt for keyed locks or twist-in action locks.
  

TIP #2: FIX/RE-KEY YOUR LOCKS
While upgrading your locks is good for households with outdated locks, you may also simply need to repair or re-key some of your locks that are still good but need a few quick fixes.
Most homeowners have a hard time figuring out whether they should replace their locks or have their locks re-keyed.  This is usually a decision that a professional licensed locksmith at ACR Lock & Key should have no problem making.
Schedule an appointment with a professional locksmith and have them assess the lock on your home. They will let you know whether or not you need to replace your locks or just have them worked on. The locksmith should have no problem fixing a broken lock, removing the cylinder and changing the pins, or installing a new lock, if necessary.

TIP #3: NEVER LEAVE THE DOORS UNLOCKED
Never leave your home without properly securing all locks and windows, no matter how short of time you will be gone. Smart lock systems that allow you to control your locks from a remote distance come in handy when you are forced to leave in a hurry or when you just can't remember whether or not you locked the door on your way out.

TIP #4: MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK OCCUPIED
Create the illusion that you are always home. Leave the lights turned on at night(use a random timer) and do not forget about the exterior, senor lights as well.

TIP #5: HIDE YOUR WIRES
Phone lines and electrical wires should be hidden from burglars who might try to disarm your alarm by cutting the wires. 

TIP #6: GET A HOME ALARM SYSTEM
If you do not already have one installed, you should get one. You should be able to find a great variety of options that fit your needs and budget. Don't forget to arm the alarm!

TIP #7: SECURE THE GARAGE DOOR
If your home is connected with your garage via a separate door, you have even more reasons to properly check and strengthen the security on it. Always leave your car parked in the garage to make burglars think you are home.

TIP #8: USE KEY LOCK BOXES
Never keep your spare keys in the mailbox or under a potted plant. Install a key lockbox similar to the ones used by real estate agents. These locks rely on combination locks that will make potential burglars' job even more difficult. The keys will come in extremely handy in case you ever find yourself in need of a backup key.

​LOCKSMITH SCAM!!! PLEASE BEWARE!!!!!
We want to let our customers know that there is a company that advertises to be affiliated with us and they are NOT! We have not given them permission to use our name and just hang up on us every time that we call to have them remove it. The company name is 24/7 Locksmith and this is the link that they use: https://www.247locksmiths.io/
ACR Lock & Key is not affiliated with them and they are a scam company! BEWARE!!

​A first priority in buying a new home is rekeying the locks that are existing from the previous owner and/or the building company that built your home.  Countless times when arriving to a job such as a rekey for example, many homes are master-keyed meaning that whoever built the home or whoever owned the house previous to you has multiple keys that can still work your locks and worse come into your house whenever they want! Realtors as well get homes that they are listing master-keyed to their company key so that they don't have to carry around multiple keys when showing homes.

At A.C.R we strongly and firmly believe in peace of mind.  The feeling of going to sleep at night in your home knowing that nobody but you has a key is important.

Being a family owned and operated company is what gives people a basis of honesty and trust.

When deciding on your new home keep in mind that your locks can deceive you.  Just because they work perfectly fine and the builder or previous owner hands you a set of keys doesn't mean that it's the only set of keys.  Keep your family and peace of mind safe by getting your new home rekeyed.

Difficulty in turning a key, improper latching, and knob problems etc. are all lock problems most of us believe.  Have you too experienced any of these? Wondering what the problem could be other than a problem with your lock itself?  You might be surprised to know that 80 percent of the time, these problems have no link to the lock.  Here are a few issues that may be the cause of the problem:

​KEYS
The pins within a lock are matched with the keys for a smooth operation.  Thus, you might experience problems if you have lost your original key and are now operating the lock with a duplicate one.  Any variation can cause a huge difference, therefore when duplicates are made, the key can become nonfunctional.  Additionally, when duplicates are made from duplicates, the variation increases and the problem persists and prolongs.  A better idea would be to get your lock rekeyed, and have the locksmith make as many keys as you need.  Professionally-made keys are identical and do not vary in any manner.

STRIKES
Even if the door is installed and hung properly, careless installation of the strike will cause problems.  Bolts and latches should be centered with their respective strikes.  Additionally, the strike for the entry lock latch needs to be positioned so that the dead latch plunger does not fall in the strikes opening.  The strikes should also be installed with screws long enough to anchor the strike into the framing behind the jamb.  The screws should be at least 3 inches long.

HINGES
Poorly mounted or lose hinges can cause a lot of problems.  Three hinges with four screws are usually attached to a standard door jamb.  When these hinges are not attached properly, it creates a problem. At least one screw attaching the hinge to the jamb should be of sufficient length.
If you fail to securely mount the hinges, the door will sag and will interfere with the alignment of the strikes and lock. Calling a locksmith for help in such a case is recommended.  The first thing they will do is check the gap between the jamb and the door.  This will help the locksmith to identify the problem and make the necessary repairs and adjustments.

Most people who need a locksmith in an emergency situation are the people who are vulnerable to fall prey to nonlocal scam so called locksmiths. These are the companies that are at the top of the ad lists and they have no company reviews. These companies are able to pay for ads on Google and other sites without providing any type of documentation about their company because they are willing to pay the big bucks for these ads. Seems a bit unfair not only to legitamate local locksmiths but also to consumers as well. Legitamate local locksmith businesses who want a place on the map must prove who they are, verify their address and numerous other things. Practically they are put through the wringer so to speak before they are allowed a place on the map.  All the while locksmith scam companies that are not even local or have the appropriate licensing are paying to be on the top of these ads on search lists when looking for a locksmith without any type of validation. These companies are scamming and taking advantage of customers who are locked out in an emergency situation and pick the first listing that pops up on their phone. There is not anywhere for these customers to go back and leave negative reviews or comments about these companies either so they just keep getting away with it. Customers need to do themselves a favor and only pick a local locksmith company that they are able to read reviews about.

The following is a list of tips from the Better Business Bureau that they recommend you use when choosing a locksmith:
Tips for Choosing a Locksmith:

• Ask For Recommendations.  Contact friends, family members, and neighbors for recommendations of reputable locksmiths in your area. Be sure to confirm the physical address of any locksmith you find and make sure the address is actually local. Visit bbb.org/indy for a listing of accredited locksmiths, to read BBB Business Reviews and Customer Reviews from previous customers.  Make sure the business does not have any unanswered/unresolved complaints.

• Call the Business.  Be wary if the business answers the phone with a generic expression like “locksmith services”.  Ask what their legal business name is and if they are unable to give it to you, look elsewhere for a locksmith. Look for a business that answers the phone with their specific business name. 

• Request an Estimate.  Before having the locksmith come to your home or car, be sure to get an estimate that includes the cost of all labor and the replacement parts for the lock. Reputable locksmiths will be able to give you an estimate over the phone. Ask about additional fees including: if you will be charged extra for services in the middle of the night or weekends or if there is a charge by the millage they must travel. If once the locksmith arrives they are charging a greater price than on the phone, don’t allow them to begin working. Be careful to never sign a blank document to authorize work.

• Check Credentials.  Be sure that the locksmith you hire is insured so you will be covered in case the repair leads to damages. Upon arrival, ask the locksmith to provide identification and/or a business card. It’s also important to check if the business name and logo on their business cards match the name and logo on the invoice and vehicle. A reputable locksmith will also request to see your identification to make sure it’s actually your property they are doing work on.

• Save Their Information.  After the locksmith has completed the job, get an itemized invoice that includes: parts, labor, mileage, and other fees and save this document for future reference. If you believe you have found a reputable locksmith, you should keep the business’ name and information stored in your wallet or cell phone in case their services are needed in the future.

Possible Scam Scenarios

• Providing a low price for the fix and then raising the price on the labor or adding mileage expense to the job. 
• Claiming a lock is unable to be picked, then drilling it off and replacing it with a costly replacement lock.
• Using a local, legitimate locksmith business information such as an address and/or a similar sounding name when the business is actually located in another city or state.
• Spoofing any local phone number, when your call is really directed to a call center who then issues a "mobile technician."

Whether it’s for a planned home improvement, or an emergency lock-out situation, using a trustworthy locksmith is important. Do your homework before hiring a locksmith for non-emergency situations and have a locksmith’s contact information that you have already researched handy for those emergency situations.