Locking yourself out of your apartment or car can be one of the most stressful situations, particularly if it's during the middle of the night or on a holiday. But with a 24 hour locksmith you'll have the security of knowing you're only a phone call and short wait away from resolving your problem.

Before hiring a locksmith, here's a few things you need to know:

24/7 Service

The most obvious benefit to a 24 hour locksmith is having the peace of mind of knowing that no matter what time of day or year, you'll always be able to access your home, car, office, and any other devices that require a key. While it's never encouraged to lose your keys, you can rest assured that an experienced locksmith will be able to find the best solution for your situation and rid you of any ongoing stress.

Experience and Knowledge

With a locksmith you'll want to be sure that they have experience and knowledge working with a system like yours. The last thing you would want is to lose your keys, call a professional locksmith, and risk further damage to your system because they are not familiar with the locking mechanism on your car or home security system. The best way around this is research, research, research.

Yes, you are likely in a lot of stress and would simply like access to your property. However, it is important that you take your time and thoroughly research your prospective locksmith contractor. If none of your family or friends has a recommendation, look up reviews on the locksmith online using your smartphone.

Call and ask questions. Share details about your system or the make and model of your car, being sure to ask if they've had experience working with a similar lock. If so, when was the last time they worked on the lock? Locksmithing is a skill and like most skills, requires constant use and development of muscle memory. If they haven't worked on a similar system in a while, you may want to consider another service provider if possible.

Speed and Reliability

Ask about the contractor's guarantees and policies. Are you covered if damage is done to your locking system? How quickly can you expect to regain access to your property? You'll want a contractor who works quickly but who also is going to pay attention to detail, protecting your property in the process.

Be mindful of this in your conversations with the contractor before you choose to hire them. Speed and reliability must go hand in hand and you should always be protected should they make a mistake.