Regardless of which camp you fall into, it’s not too late to improve yourself or set some goals for improving in the upcoming year. Security is one area many people don’t think about, but peace of mind is something you can’t replace. Since this area is our specialty, here are five security-related New Year’s Resolutions to consider.

1. Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Car or Locked Out of Your Home

We humans can be forgetful people. Whether it’s your house keys or your car keys, it just takes one mistake to cause an unfortunate, stressful, and potentially dangerous situation. Fortunately, there are several ways to ensure that you are never locked out of your home, car or business. 

Here are a few ideas to help with this resolution:

• Get a duplicate key made, and keep with a trusted friend or family member.
• Upgrade to smart locks that let you use a combination or code to access.
• Buy a wireless key fob that won’t lock inside a car.
• Set up reminders for when you leave to include a reminder about keys.

2. Create an Emergency Plan

Another low-hanging fruit in the world of resolutions, an emergency plan can give you peace of mind about your loved ones, and employees in the event of an incident. Consider creating an emergency plan for fires, thefts, shootings, and other adverse situations. Document that plan and go through training with your family or employees to ensure everyone knows what to do.

3. Security Monitoring

If you don’t have a security system or video doorbell, a new year is a great time to invest in one. Security monitoring is becoming more, and more affordable while packing on new features. It’s never been easier to monitor your home or business when you’re on the road or out of town. 

4. Find a Locksmith You Trust

Many people search for “locksmith near me” without knowing who is reliable, and who’s not in an industry that’s known for having its share of fraudulent operators. Having a professional local locksmith that you trust is an easy security-related resolution. Just as you have numbers for doctors, plumbers, and electricians, a “best” locksmith number should be easily accessible. At A-1 Locksmith, we guarantee our customer satisfaction and will do our best to ensure we’re your ideal security partner.

5. Upgrade Your Security System!

If you’re already set with the different types of security solutions that make sense for your home, business or vehicle, an upgrade might be all you need. There are likely better or newer versions of every piece of security equipment you own, so at least look into your options.

If you’re looking to improve the security of your home, vehicle or business, contact A-1 Locksmith or visit any of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations today. 

Here’s a list of all of our locations and the areas closest to them.

Addison/ Carrollton

• Address: 2001 Midway Rd. #110 Carrollton, TX 75006
• Phone: (972) 284-7585
• Reviews: 4.8 Stars – Based on 653 User Reviews

Located close to the Dallas North Tollway, this location is ideal for residents of Addison, Carrollton and Far North Dallas.

Greater Dallas / East Dallas

• Address: 1551 South Buckner Boulevard, Dallas, TX, USA
• Phone: (214) 884-4886
• Reviews: 4.8 Stars – Based on 560 User Reviews

Just off Buckner Boulevard, this A-1 Locksmith location is perfect for residents of the Greater Dallas area, which includes East Dallas, South Dallas, Buckner Terrace, Riverway Estates, the Piedmont Addition and more.

West Dallas / North Dallas

• Address: 2685 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas, TX 75229
• Phone: (214) 363-0400
• Reviews: 4.8 Stars – Based on 1,041 User Reviews

Closest to Interstate 35W, our West Dallas location serves North Dallas residents, as well as those close to Dallas Love Field.

Frisco / Prosper

• Address: 3031 Preston Rd #200 Frisco, TX 75034
• Phone: (972) 284-7525
• Reviews: 4.9 Stars – Based on 1513 User Reviews

On the north end of DFW? Located in Stonebriar Mall, this A-1 Locksmith facility serves Frisco, Prosper, Little Elm, Hackberry, and surrounding communities.

Plano / Allen

• Address: 1100 West Parker Road Plano, TX 75075
• Phone: (972) 284-7522
• Reviews: 4.9 Stars – Based on 1647 User Reviews

Our Plano location is close to Allen, Parker, Murphy, and other communities on the northeast side of Dallas-Fort Worth.

Arlington

• Address: 1715 South Cooper Street Arlington, TX 76010
• Phone: (817) 701-4475
• Reviews: 4.9 Stars – Based on 680 User Reviews

Centrally located in DFW, this location is perfect for residents of Arlington, Pantego, Irving, Grand Prairie, and Euless.

Colleyville / Southlake

• Address: 5600 Colleyville Blvd. Suite A Colleyville, TX 76034
• Phone: (817) 701-4450
• Reviews: 4.8 Stars – Based on 366 User Reviews

Southlake, and Colleyville residents will appreciate this location, as will those living in Trophy Club, Roanoke, Keller and Flower Mound.

Fort Worth

• Address: 5408 S Hulen St Fort Worth, TX 76132
• Phone: (817) 701-4485
• Reviews: 4.8 Stars – Based on 753 User Reviews

Close to Downtown Fort Worth? This is the A-1 Locksmith location for you.

Carrollton

• Address: 2508 Highlander Way Suite 230 Carrollton, TX 75006
• Phone: (972) 341-5440

Our Carrollton location is our headquarters, and is easy to reach from Coppell, Addison and other close towns.

Downtown Dallas / Design District

• Address: 1622 Market Center Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207
• Phone: (214) 866-6350
• Reviews: 4.8 Stars – Based on 224 User Reviews

If you’re in the hustle, and bustle of Downtown Dallas (or the nearby Design District), this location is convenient and accessible. 

Park Cities

• Address: 4506 Lovers Lane, Dallas, TX 75225, USA
• Phone: (214) 691-6161
• Reviews: 4.8 Stars – Based on 448 User Reviews

Also on the Dallas North Tollway, this location has Highland Park, Lower Greenville, and Northeast Dallas neighborhoods in its vicinity.

Garland

• Address: 2218 S. Jupiter Rd #101-B, Garland, TX 75041
• Phone: (972) 526-0287
• Reviews: 4.9 Stars – Based on 416 User Reviews

Garland, Zacha Junction, Rowlett and Lake Highlands citizens will find our Garland location convenient.

Irving

• Address: 1335 N Belt Line Rd, Irving, TX 75061, USA
• Phone: (972) 526-0299
• Reviews: 4.7 Stars – Based on 156 User Reviews

Also, centrally located, our Irving location is ideal for residents of Grand Prairie, Irving and Las Colinas. (It’s also convenient before or after trips to DFW International Airport.)

Mesquite

• Address: 3201 Interstate 30, Suite K-1 Mesquite, TX 75150
• Phone: (972) 526-0283
• Reviews: 4.9 Stars – Based on 75 User Reviews

Mesquite, Forney, Balch Springs, and Sunnyvale are the neighborhoods that will find our Mesquite location ideal.

McKinney

• Address: 4550 Eldorado Pkwy #106 McKinney, TX 75070
• Phone: (972) 578-5180
• Reviews: 4.9 Stars – Based on 773 User Reviews

Melissa, Anna and Princeton are some of the close communities to our McKinney location.

North McKinney

• Address: 1912 University Business Drive #409 McKinney, TX 75071
• Phone: (972) 984-1009
• Reviews: 4.9 Stars – Based on 773 User Reviews

We also have a location in North McKinney, for those who live even further north in DFW.

The Colony

• Address: 5201 S Colony Blvd #160 The Colony, TX 75056
• Phone: (972) 284-7590

Whether you’re in The Colony or Hebron, this location is convenient to this fast-growing suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth.

If you’re looking for a reliable locksmith in DFW, look no further than A-1 Locksmith. We’d love to earn your business, and show you why we’re the best in the industry.

This is especially true for local locksmiths.

If you need to make a copy of a key, but don’t want to travel far for it, it’s important to have the right considerations in mind. Contrary to popular belief, those kiosks at big-box retailers aren’t the best option. You can still have the professional locksmith experience without traveling too far from your home. Here’s how:

Use the Right Search Terms

If you’re looking for “key duplication near me” and it doesn’t return the results you’re seeking, consider switching up the search terms you’re using. “Duplicate keys,” “key copy” and “spare key creation” are a few examples. Also make sure you’re aware that the top listings are usually paid advertisements, so you might need to scroll down a little when you get your search results in order to consider what type of search result is most relevant to your search query.

Be Selective

Don’t go with the first company that has positive reviews, is closest to you or is the most affordable. Be selective! Sure, it’d be nice to find a local locksmith that can do the job well, but it would be even better to find a local locksmith you can rely on for years to come. If the company does have good reviews, make sure they’re legitimate, and be wary of any business with zero or all-positive reviews. Mentions of key duplication in reviews are also a plus.

Ask Questions!

Once you’ve narrowed down a few options for key duplication near you, ask questions to find the best local locksmith for you. Here are a few examples:

• Do you provide up-front estimates?
• Are you licensed or certified?
• What key duplication equipment or experience do you have?
• Do you guarantee or warranty your work?

Do Online Research

If you want some extra reassurance, research the companies you’re considering after your questions have been answered. Do some final checks to make sure the company is legitimate, has a phone number and website, trains its staff properly, and serves your area. If you don’t have peace of mind about the key duplication locksmith you’re considering, you might as well not even do it.

If you’re looking for the best local locksmith for key duplication near you, look no further than A-1 Locksmith. Drop by any of our Dallas-Fort Worth-area locations today!