Locksmiths are not one of those services that people require every day. This is true regardless of where you are located in the world. However, whenever the need for this service arises, it is almost always an emergency. At least this is the case with most folks.
It wouldn’t be surprising that some folks do not know that these guys offer services that do not fall into the emergency category. Whether your need for a locksmith qualifies as an emergency or you need them for their other services (which will be listed later), one thing most folks want to know is what it will cost them.
In this article, we will be looking at some factors that affect the cost locksmith services in Aurora, Colorado. Though we are specific about the location, these same factors will apply anywhere else as the factors are not unique to locksmith in Aurora, Colorado.
Understanding Locksmith Pricing in Aurora, CO
The cost of hiring locksmiths in Aurora, Colorado, is determined by the following factors:
Required Service
As with any other city in the country, locksmiths in and around this part of Colorado offer a wide range of services. These can be classified as standard or specialized. The type of service that you require will therefore significantly affect how much it will cost you.
For example, while key duplication is a typical standard service, the industry considers master key system setup a specialized service. The rule of thumb is that specialized services cost more than standard services. Prime examples of standard locksmith services include:
- Lock Rekeying
- Lock Repair
- Lock Installation
- Key Duplication and Cutting
- Key Extraction
Specialized services, on the other hand, require more expertise and/or tools and equipment. Options that belong to this category include:
- Installation and Repair of High Security Locks
- Installation and Maintenance of Access Control Systems
- Safe Opening and Repair
- Design and Implementation of Complex Master Key Systems
- Forensic Locksmithing
- Advanced Commercial Locksmith Services – Such as installation and maintenance of panic bars, commercial-grade hardware, and door closers
- Advanced Locksmith Services – Such as transponder key and key fob programming, as well as ignition repair and replacement
- Cross-Security System Integration
- Key Cloning and Origination
Urgency and Time of Service
There are moments when clients need locksmiths on an emergency basis. This could mean that these professionals have to put aside other work to attend to these customers. Well, the urgent need usually comes at an additional cost.
Besides emergency services, the time you require these professionals also impacts service cost in some situations. Although some indicate that they operate on a 24-hour and 7 days a week basis, there are still standard business hours.
As a result, requesting these services outside of the standard business hours comes at an extra cost. This could be during weekends, holidays, and even after standard business hours.
Job Complexity
Some locksmith jobs are more straightforward than others, and pretty much any locksmith, even inexperienced ones, can handle them. Cylinder lock replacement and lock rekeying are some examples. Locksmiths usually charge less for handling such tasks compared to some other tasks.
On the other hand, there are complex tasks that even some locksmiths are not capable of handling or handling properly. Having a capable professional handle such tasks would usually cost a lot more than the other simpler tasks.
Using specialized equipment, in addition to requiring more professional expertise, increases the cost of some complex tasks. It’s important that such specialized tasks are handled by experienced and capable hands, so perform your due diligence while hiring. You can click here for tips on choosing correctly, especially for complex locksmith tasks.
Distance
Settling for local locksmiths is a strong recommendation because of the benefits, like the distance advantage. What this means is that a locally based professional’s travel time is relatively short, and this positively impacts service cost.
In essence, the distance between the professional and the client’s base will affect the service cost. This is even true for emergency services. As a result, ensure your locksmith includes your location within their broad service area. By the way, other advantages of opting for local locksmiths include:
- Faster Response Time
- Personalized Service
- Feasibility of Post-Service Support
- Easier Licensing and Credential Verification
All these and more buttress the need to choose local professionals over distance options. However, one must also consider other important selection yardsticks besides proximity.
Material and Hardware Quality
Some locksmith services require purchasing and installing materials and/or hardware. This could be as part of a repair or even replacement project. Regardless, the quality of the material and/or hardware purchased and installed will impact the cost that you will bear.
Locks are a good example, as there are various security level grades – ANSI Grade 1, 2, and 3, among others. A superior quality option like Grade 1 deadbolt is more durable and effective at securing assets than Grade 3 locks. However, the former costs way more than the latter and this can significantly affect your overall cost for the job.
Conclusion
Aside from everything that we’ve looked at above, there is also the human resource factor. Hiring established and competent locksmiths will usually cost more than hiring new and inexperienced ones. No matter which professional is hired for these tasks, ensure you consider certain things before hiring.
These include:
- Certification
- Licensing
- Insurance cover
- Expertise
- Reputation
These are very important factors to consider as it can be the difference between having a great job done and ending up with a terrible job.
