It goes without saying that, when you join one of our many locksmith training courses, you’ll be in the best place possible to learn either the skills you need for your new career, or some additional locksmithing skills in specialised areas. Both experienced locksmiths and young locksmiths that are new to the industry can learn everything they need to know, from auto-locksmithing to lock-picking, and even to uPVC door work, courtesy of our professional instructors.
But on top of that, we share valuable business skills and lessons that will help you hit the ground running once you graduate. After all, there’s no use in being able to unpick any residential lock in the United Kingdom if you don’t have any customers!
That being the case, we’ve put together 5 of the most common questions related to locksmithing. You may want to browse these questions before you join one of our courses, or you may explore the question so that you can help a customer when the question is inevitably asked of you.
With the answers in mind, you can reassure customers, quickly acquire the information you need, and make sure that you can complete your jobs in a timely and cost-effective way.
How Long Does It Take to Fix a Broken Lock?
How long is a piece of string? In all honesty, this is a difficult question to answer – but that won’t stop it becoming a regular question.
The length of time it will take you to fix a broken lock depends on the type of lock, the damage inflicted upon the lock, the conditions, and even the lock’s location. Take our word for it when we tell you that some locks are easier to repair than others.
Yale locks will usually take anywhere between 20-30 minutes. Mortice locks take slightly longer to repair, and you can usually aim to repair them within an hour. Auto locks and more complicated locks may require even more time – you’ll learn about all of the most common lock types and how to repair them quickly on our locksmith training courses.
You will also learn how to quickly inspect the lock upon arrival and advise the customer regarding how long the repair could take.
Should You Change the Locks When You Move into a New Home?
Yes! This is one of the simpler locksmithing questions to answer. Don’t be surprised to find that you receive calls from many homeowners that have recently moved into a new property and are concerned about the new locks and keys they’ve inherited.
We would always recommend changing the locks on the front door, as you never know how many copies of the original lock are still in circulation. It simply isn’t worth the risk – change the locks and give yourself some peace of mind.
Thankfully, this can often be a very simple job by re-keying the lock instead of changing the lock completely. By changing the cylinder of the existing lock, the lock has a new key, with much of the original apparatus remaining. This will make for a happy customer, and your work life will be considerably easier too.
Are Locksmiths Available 24/7?
This one is entirely up to you and your business desires. Often, locksmiths are required round the clock, and when the unthinkable should happen, customers understand that there are costs to addressing a lost key or broken lock at anti-social hours.
However, you may decide that you would rather work more comfortable hours instead. If you’re operating as a sole trader or own the business you’re working under, then it’s a matter of choosing the hours that work for you.
What Are the Front Door Lock Requirements for Insurance?
We’re written about this in the past (*link to insurance article), and this is something that both customers and locksmiths should be aware of.
Many insurance providers will require that British Standard Kitemark locks (BS3621) are fitted to the front door of UK homes. These locks are known for their durability and security, and will reduce insurance premiums. It’s important that you learn how to answer this common question – many customers will be interested in purchasing locks that help them settle insurance policies. The additional security is a bonus as well.
“My Key Has Snapped in My Lock. What Should I Do?”
As an accredited locksmith, you’ll come across every situation imaginable. One of the more common scenarios is a panicked customer that has snapped a key inside their lock.
It’s important that you know how to stay calm, reassure your customer, and set about your work in an orderly way. Approaching customers and maintaining a sense of calm are valuable skills that you’ll learn on our locksmith training courses.
As for fixing the lock, there are a few options here, but it will depend on the severity of the snap and the type of lock. It may be possible to remove the split key, but with more severe snaps, the lock itself may be damaged beyond repair, and lock replacement may be required.
