Losing your mailbox key except of posing a risk can be very frustrating and you might wonder are what the best steps to get a new key retrieve your mail or. There are several solutions depending on the type of mailbox you have and whether you live in an apartment or in your own home with a private mailbox.
Measures to take in order to get a new mailbox key
Whether you live in a rental apartment or a rental house, you can contact your property manager as they usually have a spare key just for moment like this. If your mailbox is operated by the United States Postal Service pay them a visit and ask for assistance and they will instruct you on how to proceed. If all else fails you can hire a locksmith to help you open the mailbox and replace the lock.
Apartment Mailbox Key Replacement
If you lose your apartment mailbox key call immediately to your property manager as most of them have experienced this situation before and may have a spare key you can copy. Some property management charge a small fee for a key replacement.
Private Residence Mailbox Key Replacement
If you own a private standalone mailbox and lose its key then its up to you to replace the lock. You can easily find a new lock at any hardware store and many mailbox locks are very simple to install even by yourself, but if you’re uncomfortable or don’t know how to do it you can always get help. In case of cluster mailboxes managed by the USPS you’ll need to visit the post office and request a new key.
Call a Locksmith
The fastest solution is to call a locksmith who will come and open your mailbox. After you collect your mail he will change the lock for you and give you a new pair of keys. The cost to replace a mailbox lock ranges between $70 to $150. The lock itself cost between $20 to $50 depending on the type of lock and the labor fee is about $50 to $100 and to the total you also need to add service call fee that cover the locksmith travel costs.
