Questions To Ask a Commercial Locksmith Before You Hire Them

Since commercial businesses can be vulnerable and targets of theft, security should be high on your priority list as a business owner. It’s with a professional commercial locksmith in Toronto, such as Lock-Up Services, that you can receive the highest quality commercial locksmith services that lead to high security.

But knowing which professional locksmiths in the Toronto area are experienced enough for the job can be a challenging process. You’ll need to complete the right research to ensure you receive a reliable and trustworthy service. In our article below, we’ll list the seven most important questions to ask a commercial locksmith before hiring them to increase the security of your business premises.

Question 1: Have You Got a License and Are You Insured?

For legal compliance reasons, commercial locksmiths in the Greater Toronto Area need a license to complete and offer their services – as stated by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario source, . But, beyond this, a license offers credibility and reflects the training and qualifications they have earned.

It’s really worth asking whether a locksmith has insurance, as well. This can play a role in protecting your business, specifically because there is a risk of damage being done to a commercial property. If the locksmith has general liability insurance, this will cover the potential costs of any damage that could happen to your commercial premises when they complete their work.

How to Review Licensing and Insurance Documents

If you aim to look closer at licensing documents, you’ll need to keep an eye out for their license number, the expiry date of the licensing document that proves they are licensed under the Locksmiths Licensing Act, and a signature. These items will tell you that the license is legitimate and has not expired.

To review their insurance documents, you’re looking for information about the policy details. This can include the type of insurance and effective dates to confirm it has not expired.

Question 2: What Are Your Areas of Expertise?

You’ll notice that various types of locksmiths are available, and they each specialize in different areas, including, but not limited to, installation of door locks, lock repair, and lock maintenance.

What may complicate your choice is knowing whether your locksmith has specialized experience for specific security requirements, and what you’ll need to do is determine if their skills match your business needs.

How to Review a Locksmith’s Area of Expertise

Doing this may require you to find out if they are a member of an association specifically focused on locksmith services for commercial purposes. For instance, they may be part of The Association of Ontario Locksmiths (which features a section for commercial locksmiths), or a similar association that ensures they constantly develop their capabilities.

Check, also, whether they can provide references from businesses they have provided services to, and review their website carefully to check whether they have a specific page dedicated to commercial locksmith services. For instance, if you are looking for services related to barrier free system maintenance, consider whether they have a section related to this on their website.

Question 3: Can You Provide References or Client Reviews?

With testimonials and previous client reviews on Better Business Bureau and Google, you can learn just how reliable and skilled a commercial locksmith is. A review may positively reflect a locksmith’s services. For instance, it may provide five star ratings on Google. But you’ll need to know how to verify the authenticity of these testimonials.

How to Verify the Authenticity of Reviews & References

The authenticity of reviews and references is best done by looking for patterns of ‘black and white’ reasoning in each review. If a client has only provided a one-sided, overly positive review of the commercial locksmith, you may need to take a closer look to verify the authenticity.

You may also consider whether the pattern of reviews spans multiple posts on different topics. For example, if you see that the same six clients have reviewed the commercial locksmith in Toronto and provided similar-sounding reviews for an unrelated service in other locations, such as hotels in New York, this may indicate that the reviews they have provided are not believable, .

Question 4: What Is Your Response Time for Emergencies?

The faster the response time of 24 hour locksmiths, the more convenient this is for you in terms of emergency lockouts. But it also means the security of your premises is not compromised in situations such as where you have lost an office key. You’ll want to find out if the locksmith offers emergency locksmith services in cases like these, and knowing the typical response times and their availability can help.

Now, a typical response time for an emergency locksmith service can vary between locksmith companies, but it can range from between 15 and 30 minutes, with an average response time of 20 minutes. Generally, an acceptable response time would be 30 minutes in an emergency and up to an hour in non urgent situations.

How to Determine a Commercial Locksmiths’s Availability & Emergency Services

With the right questions, you’ll be able to determine a commercial locksmith’s availability and emergency services. For example, you may consider asking about their punctuality in an urgent situation, or ask about their typical response time.

You may ask questions such as ‘What is your emergency response time?’ to clarify their availability, or ‘What counts as an emergency service?’ to learn which services are included in their emergency services.

Question 5: Are there Any Security Solutions that You Recommend for My Business?

Plenty of security solutions are available to enhance the security of your business. A commercial locksmith should know that customized security solutions should align with the business type and size.

For instance, access controls may be ideal for large hospitals or warehouses since they provide access to specific areas to authorized individuals alone. Smart locks may be ideal for hotels and office buildings, providing activity monitoring and remote access control to the building.

But, before a commercial locksmith recommends a security lock for your business, you can expect them to complete a security assessment of the premises. This security assessment should be thorough, with the locksmith auditing the vulnerabilities of entry points or the physical security and technology currently installed in the building. They can then implement the tailored solutions accordingly.

Question 6: What Rates Do You Charge and What Does Your Service Include?

A commercial locksmith will either have a flat rate or an hourly rate for different circumstances. A flat rate may apply to emergency callout services, while an hourly rate may apply to specific services and when the service takes place. For instance, a commercial locksmith may charge $95 per hour during their regular hours and $148 per hour after hours.

In some cases, other costs can apply, including travel fees and emergency service fees. Fees for travel can be anywhere between $45 and $125, while emergency service fees can vary from business to business, so it makes sense to get prices by getting a quote and a contract from the locksmith for their services, so all costs are transparent.

Question 7: Do You Offer Ongoing Maintenance and Support?

Once a security system is installed, maintenance is fundamental to minimize security risks – this can include lubricating a lock, checking the electric components of a keypad lock, or making adjustments to mechanisms, and you may want to know if your locksmith can offer support with this after the service.

In that case, ensure you ask a few questions such as ‘What does your maintenance service include?’, ‘How often do you offer lock maintenance services?’, or ‘What is the recommended maintenance frequency for this type of security system?’.

Must-Ask Questions when Hiring a Commercial Locksmith: The Takeaways from Lock-Up Services

Hiring a locksmith, such as Lock-Up Services involves knowing as much as you can about the services, experience, convenience, and response times, and whether these match your business. In posing these must-ask questions, you’ll be able to find out all the information you need before selecting a trusted professional commercial locksmith.

Lock-Up Services is one example of a trusted Toronto commercial locksmith, offering reliable professional services and ensuring you avoid issues such as risks to security. If you need high-grade commercial locksmith services, hire our commercial locksmith to receive the best service that suits your requirements. We’re here to answer your questions and deliver commercial locksmith services that match your needs. Contact us today.