What Are You Supposed to Do if You Get Locked Out of Apartment?
So you discovered that you got locked out. What now? Getting locked out of apartment or your home is a big hassle. You have to take the time to call your landlord or find other means of entry. The worst part is if you have pets or a baby inside. In this case, you must know what to do to get the door open as soon as possible.
Avoid panicking at all cost. You can follow these tips so you can gain entry to your apartment right away:
Call your landlord
One option that you have is to call your landlord. This is if you haven’t changed the locks of the unit. Your landlord has a spare key that will open your apartment. However, the problem here is if your landlord is out of town or living in a farther place than yours.
Still, you can take a chance in contacting your landlord for help. It’s possible that they can call the maintenance of the building to crack the door open if you’re locked out of apartment.
Contact your roommate
If calling your landlord isn’t a practical option, you can contact your roommate. This is only applicable if you share the unit with another person. You can ask your roommate to lend you the key to open the door.
Look for alternative means of entry
While you’re waiting for your landlord or roommate to respond, you must look for alternative means of entry. There could be an unlocked window where you can shimmy yourself through to get inside.
With this method, you have to be careful and you should always consider the size of the entryway. The last thing you want is getting stuck midway through the small window. Also, watch out for fragile items beneath the window that can get damaged.
Use an old credit card
If your apartment has a standard cylinder lock, you can use an old credit card to jimmy it open. Just slide the card through the tiny slit between the door jamb and the door. After that, try pushing through the cylinder while rotating the doorknob. Do this until the cylinder gives in and you gain entry.
Take note that you should only use an old credit card as there’s a chance that it will break on the process of jimmying the lock open.
Call a professional locksmith
If you’re locked out of apartment and have no other option, you’re better off calling a professional locksmith. A locksmith can pick the lock so you can gain entry. If your unit has high-security locks, a licensed locksmith can also disarm it for you. Take note that professional locksmiths use non-destructive methods.
Although hiring a locksmith costs a fee, it’s better than wrecking a window or smashing your locks. Besides, replacing a damaged lock could be more expensive than the unlocking service.