Before you pay for a lockout, run this checklist. About 1 in 4 callers gets back in on their own in under 5 minutes.
1. Check every door and every ground-floor window. The back slider and the garage side door are the two most-forgotten entries in Fairfield County homes.
2. Call whoever lives with you. A partner, roommate, or adult child 10 minutes away with a spare is cheaper than any locksmith.
3. Check with the neighbor you gave a spare to two years ago and forgot about. It happens more than you'd think.
4. If you rent, call the landlord or property manager first — most leases require it, and they often have a master on-site.
When to stop and call a pro: it's cold, dark, or you have kids/pets inside; you've been outside 20+ minutes; or the lock is a smart lock with a dead battery (there's a 9V jump trick — we'll walk you through it on the phone for free).
What NOT to do: don't kick the door (frame damage costs $400–$1,200 to repair), don't credit-card a deadbolt (it doesn't work on modern locks), and don't call the first '$15 locksmith' ad — those are almost always bait-and-switch out-of-state call centers.