Milwaukee Home Security Systems Milwaukee, WI

Miwaukee locksmiths open up about their businesses

As a locksmith, what are some of the services you provide?

Cayo: "Anything to do with security with the exception of monitored alarms. We also offer door and hardware replacement."

Bradley: "We install new hardware; we rekey, open and repair locks and safes and install push-button, card swipe and security camera systems. We're a 24-hour mobile service."

Boyea: "We provide rekeying of locks, opening of safes, new lock installation, car openings, and access control systems. We're the only company I know of that routinely dials safes open. Everyone else drills them."

How do you charge?

Cayo: "Minimum one-hour service call and labor, which includes the trip charge, then hourly. Hardware and parts are additional."

Bradley: "Most of the time we're able to give people a free quote over the phone. We have a service call fee, a labor fee and a parts fee."

Boyea: "We charge a trip charge and then in one-quarter hour increments. If we're doing a rekeying service call, it's so much per lock."

What's the average fee for customers locked out of their house, their car or their safe?

Cayo: "For a house, $115. Our minimum for safe work is $135."

Bradley: "For a house or car, it's $59. A safe really varies depending on the year, make, and model of the safe and what the situation is."

Boyea: "For a house or car, usually about $44. Safes are hard to say. There's no average, but probably less than $200."

What happens if the customer's ID is locked up and they can't get to it?

Cayo: "Then they need to prove ownership once we enter the house. We require ID and usually a copy of the deed with the homeowner's name on it."

Bradley: "That's fine. We just make them show it the minute the door is open. If they don't, we'll just lock it up again. If we're concerned, we call the police to meet us and verify what's happening."

Boyea: "When somebody calls to be let into a house, it's hard to know. Everything needs to be in order. If we have a questionable opening, we'll sometimes ask the police department to meet us."

What makes you stand out from your competition?

Cayo: "Superior customer service and complete honesty. We're not going to sell you more than you need."

Bradley: "Customer service. Look at our Angie's List awards. That really speaks volumes."

Boyea: "Our honesty. We've never ripped off a customer. We have an exceptionally large number of people that we keep as customers for life."

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