I opened the wrong door: a real locksmith story in Mijas

In short: a client who manages holiday apartments in Mijas Costa called me because a neighbour had got locked out on the terrace. I went to open the door, got the wrong flat… and there were two painters inside. In the end I opened the right door without breaking anything and got the lady out. Here's the full story and what I learned.

A call from a holiday-apartment manager

In Mijas Costa I work a lot with people who manage holiday rental apartments. With one client in particular we have a well-oiled routine: she gives me the keys, tells me the block, the letter and the floor, I go up, open the door and change the cylinder between guests. Quick and painless.

That day the call was different. She told me: "A neighbour has got locked out on the terrace, can you go and open up?" She gave me the block and the floor, and off I went, like so many other times.

I got the wrong door… and there were two painters inside

I arrive, go up and open the door without forcing it or breaking anything, as always. I step in… and find two blokes painting the walls. They were the painters working on the flat. They stared at me, and inside my head: "oh no, I've got the wrong door."

I reacted as best I could: "Sorry, I'm here to let in a lady who got locked out on her terrace." And they, totally calm: "No, no, that's the flat next door." I'd got the wrong door by one number.

Just as well it was the painters inside and not the owners sprawled on the sofa in their underwear… because then the story would be very different. We had a laugh, I apologised and headed straight for the right door.

The neighbour was locked out on her own terrace

This time, the right door. I opened it just as cleanly, without a scratch, went in and freed the lady, who had been stuck on the terrace for a good while, unable to get back into the flat. A huge relief for her and a happy ending for everyone.

Getting locked out on the terrace or balcony is more common than it sounds: a gust of wind slams the sliding or patio door shut, the latch drops and you're stuck outside, often with no phone and in full sun. That's exactly why the 24-hour door-opening service exists.

The lesson: open without damage… and always double-check the door

I took two things away from that day that sum up how I work:

• Opening without damage comes first. In a door opening I use non-destructive techniques: the idea is that the door and the lock stay intact. If the door stays perfect even when I get the wrong flat, imagine when it's yours.
• Confirm the block, the letter and the floor before opening. Since then I double-check the exact address. One number off and you end up greeting the neighbour's painters.

If you get locked out —of your home or your terrace— in Mijas Costa or anywhere in Mijas, call me: I come, open without damaging anything and, if needed, advise you on how to stop it happening again. And if you manage holiday lets, a smart lock with a code saves you a lot of these dashes.