Top 10 Locksmiths in Niles, IL
Frequently asked questions about locksmiths
Hiring a professional locksmith to change your locks is the best way to make sure your house is secure. Though some people attempt a DIY job, it can result in a poorly installed lock that doesn’t fit well. It can also result in a lock that doesn’t function properly or damage to the door frame due to unnecessary drilling or other errors.
Having a professional change your locks is beneficial for many reasons:
Your local locksmith will have specialized tools to get the job done, which you may not have on hand. For example, if your lock needs to be picked, they might use a rake, tension z-wrench, a hook, or even a half-diamond.
A locksmith employs trained techniques to ensure the lock is long-lasting and to prevent damage. They use skills like bumping to nudge out a pin tumbler lock or a drill to remove old locks and install a more heavy-duty system.
A professional locksmith can install a new deadbolt to increase the security of your home.
A locksmith can also rekey or replace your current lock system if necessary. They can repair broken locks, install high-security lock systems like deadbolts or touch pads, and get into a locked car, safe, or shed. If your locks need to be replaced or updated, your local locksmith can do that too.
In many cases, a rekey is a better idea than changing the locks. It’s just as efficient and is much more economical. Some locksmiths may try to convince you to get a whole new lock when it is just the internal lock system that needs to be changed.
When you speak to a local locksmith near you, ask them if it’s possible to rekey your existing lock first. It’s possible to have the lock rekeyed without having the original. That means if you lose the keys to your house or safe and don’t want to risk having the keys compromised, your locksmith can rekey your current lock to have a whole new fit.
The locksmith can get into your current lock by doing the following steps:
- Use special tools to pick and shim the lock.
- Remove the lock cylinder, pins, and tumblers.
- Adjust the pins inside the lock, rendering the current set of keys useless.
- Replace the locks with a different combination
- Reinstall the lock.
- Give you a new set of keys that will fit into the newly structured lock.
There are ways to tell if you’ve found a reliable locksmith. A locksmith company will likely have reviews and information on their website, while a private local locksmith may give an estimate specific to the job.
When you start making calls to find your new go-to locksmith, ask them about their experience, references, and credentials. If they’re upfront with you on the phone and willing to produce the paperwork you ask for, you’ve probably found a trustworthy locksmith.
Here are some more specific tips for finding a trustworthy local locksmith:
- Research - Do an online search for “locksmiths near me” to see what your options are. Usually, the ones that come up first are the most popular, but they also charge more.
- Examples of work - Check to see if they have examples of previous work done.
- Reviews - Read what others have said about top-rated locksmiths.
- BBB rating - Ask the locksmith for their business credentials and ratings to ensure they are up-to-date on their licensing.
- Their estimate - While it’s fine if a quote is in the lower range of the average, if the estimate is much lower than estimates from other locksmiths, be aware there might be a reason for it.
It costs on average between $100 and $250 to change the locks on your home. The price of the lock varies depending on the style, manufacturer, and material. The cost of the new lock itself can range from $70 to $225 or more, and the labor will cost between $70 and $100 per hour.
The cost to rekey a lock is between $30 and $60 per lock, which will come to between $80 and $160 with labor. This is a great option that many people don’t consider, as it is less costly than changing the lock. In some cases this doesn't work, like if the existing lock is too old or if you want a new system, such as a bolt or keypad installed.
Common factors that will affect the cost to change locks:
The type of work that needs to be done. If your internal lock system needs to be swapped out, it won’t take as long as if the whole system is removed and replaced. If the lock is rusty or hard to get at, your costs will increase if additional tools are needed. Your local locksmith will include specific information about all this in the initial estimate but expect to pay an extra few dollars an hour.
High-security locks cost more. If you want to have a deadbolt installed, prepare for it to take longer as there are more intricate parts to the locking system.
Depending on where the locksmith is coming from, you may have to pay a trip fee of $50 to $100. This is why it’s a good idea to specifically search for a “local locksmith near me.” They may charge a flat rate within a radius or a rate per mile driven.
If the locksmith has to come late at night or on the weekend, there may be additional charges for after-hours services.
The national average people spend on a locksmith is about $150, with an average range of $85 to $250. The cost to hire a local locksmith depends on the job that needs to be done, how experienced the locksmith is, and how far they have to travel.
To hire a locksmith to get into your house, the basic rate will start at $65. The rate could go as high as $185 if there are other factors, such as a complicated lock, a far traveling distance, or an after-hours call. If you have to get your lock rekeyed or replaced, the cost will be higher than if you simply need to have the locksmith let you into your house because you forgot your keys.
Notably, the cost to get a locksmith to open a lock on your house is less expensive than having them open your car lock. You may get the locksmith to do more complex jobs such as replacing your door, making copies of your key, or installing a safe, which all have their own pricing for the job. Keep in mind locksmiths will often charge by the hour for basic, routine jobs but may charge more for complicated tasks or jobs that need special equipment or skills.
The type of lock will affect the cost to get into a house. Locks can range from simple turn systems to more complex, high-security systems. Older locks may require a special technique or tool. Some locks are difficult to access because of accumulated rust or a complicated design, like mortise, high-security, or locks with an interchangeable cylinder core lock design. Simple designs like bored cylinder or tubular chassis locks are straightforward to change and therefore cost less. Some more expensive designs are locks with sidebar pins, mortise style, or case locks.
If you lose the keys to your safe, or if someone has a key that you don’t want to access the safe, you can hire a local locksmith to open the safe and change its lock. They’ll do this by installing a new one or rekeying the existing one.
You’ll need a professional who specializes in opening safes. Not every locksmith offers safe-opening services. An experienced safe locksmith will probably cost more, but you know they can effectively open the safe.
If the safe at your home or office is remote and your locksmith needs to travel any significant distance for the job, you’ll have to pay extra. Sometimes locksmiths charge a flat rate for a given radius, and anything outside that radius is added on per mileage. Additional fees will be charged for emergency service after hours, such as on the weekend, late at night, or early in the evening. If immediate service isn’t needed, it’s wise to wait until the next business day to make the call to avoid these extra costs. This service would be helpful if you were locked out of your safe and needed to get in immediately.
A locksmith’s work ranges greatly, so if you have a simple job like a jammed lock, you don’t need someone specialized. If you’re installing a complicated lock system or need a car locksmith, you’ll likely have to pay more than a standard rate.
It’s a good idea to read the reviews and call around for some estimates before hiring any particular locksmith. Be sure to ask about all additional fees and costs upfront.
Recent reviews for Niles Locksmiths
We needed our locks changed in our new house and this company's expert came out the same day and rekeyed every lock to one key for the price quoted. I'll definitely call them again in the future!
I manage an office building and needed to replace the door closers. I called your company for advice and was impressed with the options that your staff presented. Your installation costs were also very reasonable.
It was urgent to repair one of the door locks at home as soon as possible. I couldn't lock the door. Trusting this locksmith company was an excellent idea. I found this team online and was impressed that the technician helped me so fast. He was a happy gu...
After I moved into my new house, I wanted all door locks replaced and this local locksmith company gave me the best quote. They did a brilliant job with helping me choose the locksets and with the installation too.
I lost the key to a padlock on my shed and this company's specialist opened it really fast, and then cut me a new key on the spot. The cost was very reasonable and I highly recommend their services.
My house was broken into and it was a wake-up call that my locks weren’t strong enough. I called your company to replace them and thanks to your technician, I have solid deadbolt locks now.
We didn't think finding help would be so easy! This company was the first we called to help us open our old cabinet. The price was really reasonable and the process was over in a moment. Great stuff!
This morning my car door got tangled in my raincoat and slammed shut with the keys inside. A friend said this company helped himlast year when the same thing happened to him, and he was right. In about 20 minutes a service tech was there and had my door o...
The key turned without locking the door. This was urgent. A friend told me to call this company. The technician promised to help within the hour and he did. I was satisfied by the overall service. I kept their number.
I had a dispute with my tenant and wanted them out of my apartment as soon as possible. I called your company for help. Thank you for your prompt service in rekeying the locks.
This locksmith service provider answered my call immediately and I got help within minutes. The technician fixed my front door lock and made sure it was working ok. Really great service at a fair price!
The technician this company sent us unlocked my door so fast it was incredible! A perfect gentleman and really knowledgeable. Excellent service and I will definitely recommend their services to friends and family alike.
Everything You Need to Know About Niles Locksmiths
Can I browse unscreened Locksmiths in Niles?
We do our best to screen all of our locksmiths. However, there are still some locksmith professionals in Niles that have not been pre-screened. This means that their licenses may not be up to date to operate in Niles or IL. Always be sure to pre-screen them yourself before hiring. Here are some unscreened professionals offering locksmithing services:
- Hoffman Estates Locksmith:
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
- International School In Singapore:
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
- Locksmith Cicero:
- Active/Verified License: No, current status is inactive
How do I know I am getting a fair price for Locksmithing Services work in Niles?
Every Locksmithing Services job has different requirements. Remember that the price will differ depending on the scope of your project. However, that doesn't mean you have to go in blind. Check out our tips for getting a fair price for Niles work from Locksmithsbelow:
- Talk to a few different Locksmiths and ask for quotes to compare. We have around 50 professionals and companies in Niles for you to compare.
- Before contacting a company, check out the ratings and reviews from previous customers to learn what others have paid, how long the Locksmiths took on the job, and how satisfied they were.
Who should I hire if I need Locksmithing Services in Niles?
Right now there are about 50 companies in and around Niles ready to help you with your locksmithing services project.
Below we've listed a few of the top Locksmiths on Porch:
- Palatine Locksmith
- Fox Locks Inc.
- Hoffman Estates Locksmith