Bill’s DIY series
Do I really need a locksmith?Maybe not. Let’s find out.
You’ve got a screwdriver and a hunch you can handle this. Good — you probably can. Bill shows you the real fix, and tells you straight when it’s time to call a pro.
Fix it myself · Protect my home
What’s wrong with your lock?
Fix the problem. Skip the guesswork. Most lock trouble is a worn key, a door that sagged or a strike plate that moved — stuff a confident DIYer can absolutely handle.
- 01
Figure out what changed.
Key, door, weather or lock? Start with the symptom.
- 02
See it in the field.
Watch Bill do the real fix on real doors.
- 03
Choose the right next step.
Do it yourself, grab a guide — or call a pro.
Key won’t turn
Start with the symptomYou’ve got thisRekey my locks
Keep the lock. Change the key.You’ve got thisDeadbolt not working
Check the door and alignmentYou’ve got thisDoor won’t latch
Find what is catchingYou’ve got thisSmart / Kwikset / Schlage
Match your lock firstYou’ve got thisReplace or upgrade
Plan a deadbolt installationYou’ve got thisTools and parts
Only what your repair needsMaybeSafe problem
Key, keypad or stuck lid?MaybeKey stuck or broken
Stop before the key snapsMaybeCar key or lockout
Fob checks and service optionsOften a pro jobLocked out
Choose a safe next stepYou’ve got thisFree lock checklist
Know what to check before you spendHere’s where DIY ends
When it’s time to call a pro.
- You’re locked out and every way in means damage.
- A key snapped deep inside the cylinder.
- Car keys or fobs that need programming.
- A safe or lock you’d have to drill.
No shame in it — even pros call pros. Just make sure you get an honest one.
Bill’s most-watched video · 4 min
Why did this antique door handle suddenly start locking people out? I open it up on camera. Watch to the end for what was really wrong inside.
Want more full-length jobs? Open Bill’s Video Library · Watch on YouTube
Every step, start to finish · 10 minutes
No deadbolt on that door? Here’s how to add one, start to finish. Stay for the no-tape-measure trick at 2:03.
Want more full-length jobs? Open Bill’s Video Library · Watch on YouTube
Printable guides from Bill
Buy for the fix.
$4.99–$12.99 printable guides for doing it right yourself. Instant download through Gumroad.
Free · by email
Get my free lock checklist.
Know what to check before you spend. Enter your email and confirm with the link Kit sends you. Unsubscribe anytime.
For realtors, brokers & inspectors
Closing gifts for agents & home pros.
Hand your buyers something they’ll actually keep: a New Homeowner Safety Packet with your personal note printed inside — rekey reminders, a move-in lock checklist and security steps, written with a working locksmith.
Personalized closing gift
Your note, printed inside every packet.
$9.99per packet
- Your personal message on the inside page
- Move-in lock & key checklist for your buyers
- Buy just one, or save with an optional pack
Want to become a locksmith?
How to become a locksmith in your state.
Licensing, training and how to start a locksmith business — state by state, most-searched first.
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- New York
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Illinois
- Ohio
- Washington
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
All 50 states →Start a locksmith business →Learn Locksmithing →
The median is for wage-and-salary employees (SOC 49-9094) and excludes self-employed owners. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. The $150K and $250K figures are Bill’s firsthand observations of people he knows, not typical or promised results. Earnings depend on market, skills, licensing, hours, pricing and business decisions. How much do locksmiths make?
Who’s behind Locksmith Blueprint
Written with a working locksmith.
More than ten years and more than ten thousand jobs at Kwikpick Lock and Safe — rekeys, lockouts, safes, deadbolts and car keys across Arizona’s West Valley.