Been down that road, too. I always think I’ll outsmart the lock with one of those kits, but somehow I end up with random screws left over and a door that still won’t budge. Honestly, after one too many scratched doorknobs, I usually skip straight to calling a locksmith now. Sometimes you just gotta admit defeat and let the pros handle it. At least there’s a story to tell later...
I hear you on the leftover screws—my last attempt at “DIY locksmith” ended with a doorknob that spun like a roulette wheel and a very confused cat on the other side. Still, there’s something oddly satisfying about trying, even if it means eating humble pie and waiting for the locksmith to show up. Ever tried the ol’ credit card trick? I swear it only works in movies, but I keep trying anyway...
- Tried the credit card thing once—ended up bending my library card and still locked out.
- There’s a weird pride in at least giving it a shot, right?
- Ever thought about hiding a spare key somewhere? I keep meaning to, but then I worry I’ll forget where I put it...
Hiding a spare key always sounds like a good idea until you actually need it and can’t remember if you put it under the flowerpot or in that fake rock you bought off Amazon. I’ve seen people do the magnetic box under the car thing, but honestly, those get knocked off or just collect grime. Personally, I’d rather give a spare to a neighbor I trust—less chance of forgetting where it is, and way less obvious to anyone snooping around.
The credit card trick never worked for me either. I tried it once on a rental property and ended up scratching the paint on the door. Locksmiths are expensive, but sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle or risk of damaging something.
If you’re worried about hiding keys, maybe look into one of those keypad locks? They’re not perfect, but at least you don’t have to worry about losing your keys or remembering where you stashed them... unless you forget the code, which has definitely happened to me before.
Keypad locks are a solid upgrade, but I’ve run into issues with batteries dying at the worst times. If you go that route, I’d suggest picking one with a backup key option—just in case. I’ve also seen folks use lockboxes (like realtors use) mounted somewhere discreet. That way, you can stash a spare without it being obvious or easy to swipe. Giving a key to a neighbor is great if you trust them, but not everyone has that option. Honestly, there’s no perfect solution... just gotta pick your poison and hope for the best.
