Protecting your family most often begins with the
locks and keys you use to secure your home.
However, sometimes the very thing that is meant to keep your family safe while
inside your home may backfire and lead to a lockout. Lockouts happen to the
best of us, but luckily there are several things that you and your family
members can do to prevent them. Follow some of the steps below to help you
prevent lockouts, as well as some helpful advice for what you can do if you
find yourself locked out.
·
Communicate with Each Other
Regardless of whether or not you
live with roommates or family, it will be important to make sure good
communication is practiced among everyone who you live with. Keeping everyone
on the same page in terms of security measures that must be taken, as well as
alerting others to any concerns you may have is important. Discussing certain
aspects of your security with those you live with on a periodic basis will help
everyone to stay more alert and on top of any potential problems. You may find
that an extra key must be cut for one of your family members, or that one of
your roommates is concerned about getting locked out for one reason or another.
Good communication is important
when it comes to preventing lockouts. Be sure to check in with your housemates
every so often and see if everyone still has a working house key and a back-up
plan in place if there are ever any problems.
·
Create a Household Calendar
A shared calendar is a great way
to keep everyone in your household on the same page. The members of your family
can either participate in using a physical calendar that is on the wall or
refrigerator of your home, or you may opt to try a digital calendar through
your smartphone. With a digital calendar or application, your family members
can see each family member’s schedules while on-the-go and update any schedule
changes remotely. Sometimes lockouts happen because we assume someone in our
household will be home and then they are unexpectedly not. Knowing where your
family members are throughout the week and about what time they leave and
arrive home is helpful when it comes to preventing lockouts.
·
Hide-a-Key Somewhere
This is the most popular option
you can use to hide a key somewhere on your property, without the risk of it
falling in the wrong hands. While some homeowners and household choose to hide
an extra house key under their doormat, under flower pots, or other nearby
hiding spots, this is not always the best idea. Criminals and home invaders are
aware that a vast majority of homeowners opt for easy to find hiding spots. It
is recommended to purchase an inconspicuous hide-a-key device to place
somewhere on your property. That way, you can still have an extra key close by,
but it will not be as obvious. Hide-a-key devices are shaped like all kinds of
different lawn objects, such as rocks or other items, in order to deter
criminals from finding the extra key easily.
·
Have a Friend or Neighbor Hold a Key
If you have a trusted neighbor,
friend, or family member that is in your area, you can always decide to leave
an extra key with them. This can be helpful since you can easily call someone
that you already know to help you out of a jam.
What to Do if You are Already Locked Out
Sometimes, despite our best intentions and even
taking every preventative measure possible, we may still find ourselves locked
out. If you are past the point of prevention and know you need additional or
professional assistance of some kind, the best expert to call is a local
locksmith.
