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Episode 33 – August 20, 2019 Today we chatted with Bill Bath about his specialty, Mergers & Acquisitions. If you’ve ever wanted to sell your business or acquire one, we have several tips from Bill that can help you in the process. Bill is a Managing Partner of Legacy Mergers and also Charlotte Chairman of 12 Mavens; an invitation only community of CEOs and entrepreneurs that meet together to grow and challenge each other in a confidential community setting. 12 Mavens has chapters all across the country and helps  CEO’s operate at their highest level. 2 Simple Tips Before you bring your Business to Market: Tip 1: Make sure your Books are Clean! You want to make sure no-one is running personal expenses (like a home, yacht, or vacation) through the company. Tip 2: Figure out what are you going to do next? Do you want to retire and live that beach life? Are you selling to fund your next venture? 3 Tips to Aquire Someone Else’s Business: Tip 1: There will be risk. Know what risk you are willing to take and where you draw the line. Tip 2: Look for clean books – or cleanish. Tip 3: Know your strategy. You have to know what will be beneficial to your business 3 Risks to Look For: Quality/ Stability of Financials – How much debt do they carry? What type of cash flow do they have? Culture – Does theirs mesh with yours? Synergy – Will absorbing them produce a greater effect? Have you ever acquired a business? We want to hear from you! Tell us any tips or takeaways you learned in the process. You can connect with Bill on Linkedin  or Legacy Mergers website  and check out the 12 Mavens site!

The business owners and citizens of the NoDa neighborhood in Charlotte are facing a huge dilemma as the rate of break ins have been increasing, with criminals growing bolder in the area. According to reports, the local ice cream shop Popbar was broken into on Monday Aug 19 by two teenagers at approximately 11:25pm. Fox46 wrote that “It took only three minutes for the teens to shatter the front glass door with what appeared to be a cinder block.” The store was equipped with camera footage that they were able to distribute to the police, however there was a lack of footage outside which, among other things, has been a deterrent to investigation attempts. As the article continues, “The store owner] told FOX 46 that construction in the area hasn’t helped the situation. Without the nearby bank there’s no current surveillance outside. More lights eventually will be added to the area to make it more visible at night, she said. Lyons said the ice cream shop will remain closed for the next couple of days.” A few businesses in the NoDa neighborhood recently have been broken into, and thanks to the footage we have from surveillance systems, the same group appears to be involved in several of them. This series of events is very concerning for us as a company in the security industry. The good thing is we have footage in most of these incidents that can greatly assist in identifying the criminals. However, one pattern we have noticed is that outside the stores the camera visibility is minimal, which means that in the event of a break-in police do not have much to go on in tracking down the criminal. If you are a business owner reading this, there is one question you must ask yourself when you read this article: what am I doing to stop this crisis? Do you have cameras outside your business? We must come to the realization that it is not only OUR security that we should consider, but the security of our community. The cameras outside your business can protect your neighbors, and if every business in NoDa invested the time and money into cloud based security cameras, this problem could be resolved! Eagle Eye Cloud Based Camera Systems gives you the value not just of footage, but of real time event tracking, and access from any device. This is the future of the security camera industry, and can be the future of your business as well. Have you considered the costs of repeated break-ins to your business and your community? Have you considered the benefit of immediate and continual access to view your store or office? This rise in crime in NoDa is a dilemma, but a solvable one. We need more businesses to take the first step towards innovation and security, not just for themselves, but for all of us. If you are interested in getting or upgrading your camera system, you can meet with one of our Security Professionals for a free evaluation too! It’s quick, easy, & convenient to your schedule. Just go to locdoc.net/sales and pick a time that works for you!

Every year businesses have meetings to discuss and develop a budget for the next year. All healthy businesses must choose how much of their resources need to be allocated to which areas. Security in particular is a very important concern in budgeting, because the investment you are making is in protecting your company, your employees, and even your customers. How high a priority is it to protect the people, or the things you value within your company? A greater emphasis on these things will help establish a sense of trust and comfort among your coworkers, as well as your customers. More often than not the security budget discussion is limited to one thing: locks and keys. However this is just one small component to a competent security package. One of the most overlooked areas is visibility: the ability to keep an eye on your property to ensure that it is safe, and the ability to react quickly to security threats, such as break ins or theft. With the recent innovations and technologies available through our cloud based camera systems, the benefit provided to visibility is astronomical. Here are three areas in which visibility can greatly improve the security of your business. Recording: This is the most basic need of every business. When an event like a break in occurs, it is crucial to have footage of the evidence for  many reasons, such as assiting the authorities with investigations, and presenting evidence of loss or damage of a propety for insurance purposes. Not only that, but the mere presence of a camera will help to deter many would-be perpetrators from ever commiting a crime. Remote Access: On top of having recorded footage, ensuring your camera has remote access is a tremendous boon to your ability to keep your business safe and secure. You not only want to have a record of what has happened, but you want to be able to pull up the camera footage and see, in real time, what is happening on your property. This is the very definition of visibility: you cannot protect what you cannot see. Event Recognition: Lastly, event recognition is a much more recent but very helpful area within the camera systems industry. Multiple technologies have come into play which will recognize “events” in the camera and react to them. This is implemented in several ways, such as alerts that send out when a specific line or area within the field of view is crossed, or even the pan-to-zoom feature which detects movement and then zooms in on it. This capability in visibility can be the difference between reacting to a break-in attempt before it is successful or after; or in identifying a suspect by getting a focused view of them or their vehicle. These three areas, among many others, provide a myriad of resources which can help us to improve security through visibility. Visibility through camera systems plays a vital role in protecting your business, and therefore should be included in the conversations for next years budget. The question is, how valuable is your business, and the people within? Are you willing to invest the resources to protect them? If so, we’d love for you to meet with one of our Security Professionals for a free evaluation! It’s quick, easy, & convenient to your schedule. Just click here and pick a time that works for you!

Save the date! The ASSA ABLOY MSC Conference is headed to Denver, Colorado in 2020! You’re invited to attend the 2020 ASSA ABLOY MSC Conference scheduled for June 3rd – 5th at the Denver Marriott Tech Center in Denver, CO! This year’s theme is Open What’s Next. The conference will officially kick off at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, June 3rd with ASSA ABLOY leadership team presentations, the tradeshow and awards banquet. The conference will adjourn at 12:00 pm on Friday, June 5th. You should plan to arrive at the hotel any time before 1:00 pm on Wednesday, June 3rd and should plan to depart from the hotel any time after 12:00 pm on Friday, June 5th. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Dean Paulsrud at Dean.Paulsrud@assaabloy.com

The holidays are a time of joy and laughter, of fellowship and celebration, as family and friends come in from all over to be together. As we often find around this time of year, the devil is often in the details. In order to make it a relaxing and special time, we often ironically get caught up in planning, worrying, and stressing about how it will all come together. With all of the family coming in and out of the house, and all of the shopping trips and errands to run, there arises a need to give your family members an option to get access to your home while you are gone, but with this need also comes security risks. You could make copies of your key, or leave the key under the mat, but these options greatly increase the likelihood of a key getting lost or misplaced, and especially in the holiday season, many trespassers are looking for these kinds of opportunities. This is a concerning problem, but thanks to the innovation of keyless entry technologies, this problem can be solved very easily and efficiently. A Keypad lock provides a homeowner with the ability to completely eliminate the need for a key. With a code, or even with a bluetooth enable smartphone, one can enter their home without turning a key at all. What’s more, codes can be passed out on a temporary basis, which means you are in control of your lock at all times. This is a solution that not only relieves some of the stress and worry of the holidays but it also provides better security by eliminating a physical keying system. At Loc Doc Security one of our values is Refined Quality; therefore we want to provide only the best parts and materials, that you can truly trust to protect you and your things. This is one of the reasons we install the Yale nexTouch lock. It is a keypad lock which can store up to 500 user codes, and also has zWave technology to connect with your smartphone. It is ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 Certified and weather resistant, meaning it is durable and long lasting for your outdoor application. Imagine now a last minute shopping trip to get Christmas presents and stocking stuffers. While you’re out you start getting phone calls: your plumber is on his way to look at your leaky faucet, and your grandparents flight landed early and will be home before you. Normally you start stressing about having to drop everything, right? Instead, your plumber and grandparents both have a separate code to get in. They both get access to your home which expires whenever you decide it will. Your life just got a little more stress and care free, and your holiday just got a little better. If thats the kind of freedom and security you want for your home, click here to purchas a nexTouch on your home It’s a great way to support local small business, have peace of mind during the holiday season, & it’s super easy to DIY and Install yourself!

We’ve all seen Home Alone and chuckled as Harry and Marv are scoping out the neighborhood looking for the perfect heist: a family going on vacation. As entertaining as the movie is, this scenario is not so farfetched as we would think. Many burglaries happen during the holiday season when it is well known that families are traveling for long periods of time. Unfortunately, not all of us have a brilliant and lucky Macaulay Culkin to defend our property and belongings. This is not only a concern for residential properties but business owners have to worry about their commercial properties as well! So how do we protect our property while we are gone? How do we keep an eye on things and ensure that they are taken care of? There are many solutions that can improve the security of your home or business during times of extended leave, but one particular solution stands out that offers great peace of mind for families traveling abroad: Cloud Based Camera Systems. Using a Cloud Based Camera System like the Eagle Eye system allows you not only to see in real time what is happening at your front door (or any other exits), but also allows you to set parameters to be notified when events occur. For example, you can set a line across your front porch step that, when crossed, alerts you. You can then open the Eagle Eye mobile app and check to see if Santa has finally arrived with the presents, or if it is someone more nefarious. You may be 500 miles away, but you are fully prepared to protect your home from potential burglaries before they happen, rather than coming home to a disaster. The holidays are a time for fun, food, family and laughter. Installing a camera system in your residential or commercial property will allow you to rest easy knowing that you have control over your house no matter where you are. That constant nagging in the back of your head, wondering what might have happened while you are gone, is now gone, and you can now enjoy your holidays without distraction. Click here now if you are interested in receiving a free quote for installing a camera system for your home or business!

As we continue our series on improving security for the holiday season, there is one important area which is the door strike. The standard strike is held to the door with 2 screws, and it is the hole in which the latch will catch and stay. The problem is that often enough these 2 screws can only withstand so much pressure. For this reason, most doors with the standard strike set up can easily be kicked in, meaning that the security of your home is at risk. Watch the video below to see how quickly a door can be kicked in and what you can do to prevent this from happening to you! As burglaries increase for the holiday season, and our homes are being filled with lots of valuable gifts, the residential property becomes a prime target for criminals. So how can we prevent break- ins like this? With door armor. Door Armor is a product that was designed to strengthen the weak points on your existing doors. By reinforcing the frame, hinges, and area around the lock, as well as longer screws to create a firm anchor, it makes the door nearly impossible to kick in. At Loc Doc Security we want to provide you with the best tools and solutions to protect yourself and your things. Door Armor is one of the easiest decisions to make in this area. It is so simple yet provides tremendous value in security. We always encourage our customers to consider the value of what they want to protect, not just of the items you own but of your life and the lives of your family. With this decision you dont have to sacrifice much in the way of cost to achieve the comfort and peace of mind of a safe home. This holiday season, we can help you make that choice. Click here for a free estimate on installing door armor in your home.

Reducing Touch Points can help your customers and your Team stay healthy! Think about everything you touch just walking into your office, the door handle, light switch, coffee machine, countertop, office door, desk, laptop…the list goes on and on. Everyday, these touch points collect their fair share of micro organisms. However, when someone is infected with a virus, these seemingly harmless touch points become a source of infection and transmission. By removing frequently touched items, you can help reduce the amount of pathogens in the environment and reduce the chance of passing a virus around your business. Here are 7 Top Spots for Germs at Work! #7 Number 7, The Copier Machine. This hot spot is one of the top touched items at work and can easily transfer germs if someone sick touches the buttons. With everyone touching it daily, You won’t be able to look at the Start button in the same way! It’s easy to stay safe, just leave some disinfectant wipes nearby or hand sanitizer to clean your hands after touching. #6 Number 6, The Water Cooler. You won’t only weigh in on if Carol Baskin killed her husband (she definitely did), but you could pick up the latest virus going around if you touch this hot spot for germs! Bring a disinfectant wipe with you before pushing the buttons and use a paper towel against the rim of your cup to prevent the transfer of bacteria from someone else's cup to yours! #5 Number 5, The Fridge. You can’t wait to dig into those leftover enchiladas, but watch out for the fridge handles! They harbor a ton of bacteria so after you take a peek inside to make sure your redbull is still in there, (I’m looking at you Karen) wash your hands for at least 20 seconds! A daily wipe down of the door handles with disinfectant and weekly interior clean out of the fridge can help stop the transfer of germs. #4 Number 4, The Microwave. Just 30 more seconds until your mom’s Lasagna is ready but before you chow down, take 20 seconds to wash your hands and wipe down those buttons you just pushed with disinfectant! Think about it, everyone touched those buttons and then their food. According to a study by Kimberly Clark, the microwave buttons and handles are a top breeding ground for bacteria. #3 Number 3, The Coffee Machine / or coffee pot. If your office runs on coffee like ours does, everyone is frequently touching the machine. This is why it’s number 3 on the list! According to an Arizona State Study, the coffee pot is a hot spot for spreading germs. In this experiment, a synthetic germ spread across an office of 80 people in just 4 hours because everyone touched the contaminated coffee pot. We love java but you might start eyeballing the coffee machine as one of the germiest places you can touch. Make sure to wash your hands after using the machine and wipe the handle with a disinfecting wipe! #2 Number 2, Keyboards. Do you share a workspace? You might want to think twice about letting Jan from Accounting borrow your keyboard to show you that funny cat video. Keyboards and desk tops can harbor so many germs especially if it’s a shared workspace. An Arizona State Study showed the level of Bacteria on Keyboards is 400 Times Higher Than on Public Toilet Seats. Yes, public toilet seats. A good tip is to clean your keyboard and desk regularly with disinfectant wipes. But also it wouldn't hurt to wash your hands or use some hand sanitizer after touching those keys...at least before you touch the coffee machine! #1 Number 1, Door Knobs and Handles. They look innocent but contamination of just a single doorknob can spread viruses and germs throughout office buildings, hotels or health care facilities within hours. Washing your hands for 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer after opening a door, and frequently wiping down the handles with disinfecting wipes can help to reduce the amount of germs but not eliminate them entirely. But you don’t have to touch the number one germiest spot at work if you Use Automatic Door Openers! These can be installed on High Traffic Exterior or Interior Doors and opened by using Motion Activated Buttons or a mobile app! Reduce those touch points and please, wash your hands!

Charlotte is home to upwards of 800,000 people, and full of sights and sounds that are loved and appreciated for miles around. It’s where we work, play, eat, and enjoy life together. There is no question that we all want to protect our community, to keep safe the people and places which we cherish and hope our children will experience as well. This is why all of Charlotte was grieved by the news that Scott Brooks, co-owner of Brooks Sandwich House, was shot and killed while opening his store. According to Kathleen Purvis of Charlotte Agenda, this makes 103 homicides this year alone in our beloved city. The violence in the city of Charlotte is affecting we all know and love in Charlotte. The increase in crime is not good for our communities, and we need to do something about it. 19th century economist Frederic Bastiat published an essay called “That Which We See and That Which We Do Not See” which pointed out what is now popularly known as the “Broken Window Fallacy.” which claims that destruction and war were good for the economy, using the analogy of a shopkeeper’s window that is broken. After all, if there were no broken windows, how would the glazier make any money from shopkeepers? The problem with this fallacy, as Bastiat points out, is that it only looks at one small side to this multi-faceted issue. That which we do not see, is the many costs of destruction to a business and to society in general. For one, the shopkeeper has to spend money to replace his windows, rather than using that money to upgrade his facility or improve his services to the community. Secondly, the glazier is spending his time replacing a window, when he could have spent it making new ones or upgrading old ones. When a break-in or property damage occurs, and even more so a homicide, the community now feels less safe and secure, and as a result they are not as likely to frequent a business, whereas they are more likely to visit a business where there has been an upgrade to the security of a location. Let’s return to our current situation. In a WBTV article, it was reported that there was some footage that might lead to more clues about the suspects. “Officers said they were reviewing surveillance tape and are currently looking for two people they believe are connected to the case. Police did not release any description of the two people but did say they both appear to be males.” The cameras, wherever they were and whoever installed them, gets us one step closer to finding out who committed this crime and ensuring they never do it again. We have posted two articles this year about break-ins and violent crimes in Charlotte, and in both of them the presence or absence of cameras was crucial to catching the suspect. The call to action in one of the articles was: “If you are a business owner reading this, there is one question you must ask yourself when you read this article: what am I doing to stop this crisis? Do you have cameras outside your business? We must come to the realization that it is not only OUR security that we should consider, but the security of our community. The cameras outside your business can protect your neighbors, and if every business in NoDa invested the time and money into cloud based security cameras, this problem could be resolved!” At Loc Doc we have decided that we are not in business to make money off of tragedy and disaster. We believe in providing lasting solutions that protect people and their property, because we imagine a better Charlotte, in which every business owner sees a security upgrade as an investment into the safety and security of our community. As we reflect on the tragedies of each and every one of the 103 homicides, we can respond by acting now to prevent them from happening. We can increase visibility and decrease violent crime if we are committed to this.  Loc Doc Security is certainly glad to provide services to businesses who have suffered loss or damage. However, we find far more value and benefit in helping these businesses prevent this loss or damage by providing high quality solutions that provide lasting protection. This benefits not only our business, but the economy and well being of our community. This is why we believe that Cloud Based Camera Systems, among other things, are a great benefit to any business. Having the ability to record events such as a break-in, a robbery, or a shooting is one thing, but with Cloud capabilities, you can prevent them with immediate remote viewing access which allows you to react to a situation on the spot rather than after the fact. This helps your business to avoid losing valuable property, it helps your customers to feel safe and secure, and it helps your community by ensuring that criminals are quickly apprehended and any would-be vandals think twice before doing any damage to property. At Loc Doc Security, we value solutions that provide a long term benefit with a wide range. This is why we offer solutions such as Eagle Eye Cloud Based Surveillance. If you have questions about this system or want an estimate for installing it, please call us at 704-554-6121 or schedule a free evaluation with one of our professionals here. Lastly and most importantly, please give and share the gofundme account to help support the Brooks family in their time of need. Proceeds go to funeral expenses and college funds for Scott’s son.

Customer experience is a huge focus at Loc Doc Security, and in our experience, it is a big concern for our customers that manage commercial and residential properties as well. For a property manager, one of their biggest concerns is, can our clients enter and exit the property with ease? This is why innovation with ADA products is a tremendous benefit to property managers, and why it is a central piece to the customer experience. There are many people entering and exiting buildings who have difficulty opening a standard door with a leverset. Especially in high traffic areas it is crucial to ensure that the elderly and those with disabilities can access the property safely and easily. Many commercial facilities have no ADA compliant doors, and therefore cannot be accessed by older or disabled clients. Out mission at Loc Doc Security is to help our customers solve this problem and provide a tremendous experience to all of their customers. So what does and ADA compliant door look like? There are many variations based on the types of issues that your customers are facing when attempting to enter the door. The most common application is the Automatic Door Operator, which will open the door automatically either by a button press or motion activation. This will allow any clients in wheelchairs, canes, or other forms of movement assistance to easily enter you property. You can also set the Automatic Door Operator to hold open for periods of time, or until motion is no longer detected at the door. As this technology becomes more readily available and innovations continue to occur, the demand for this product becomes apparent for those with clients that need this type of assistance. Having an Automatic Door Operator installed on your door will show your clients that you care about their wellbeing and ease of access, and will improve your relationships withy our customers. If you are interested in getting more information or pricing for this solution, click here to schedule a free quote.

When discussing home security an important consideration to make is, where are break-ins most likely to happen? You might be surprised by the answer. A recent WCNC article reviewed some of the statistics for home burglaries. “A burglary takes place in the United States every 15 seconds and 66-percent of those are residential. The items burglars are most interested in are cash, jewelry, electronics, and guns." Although concerning, these stats are not surprising. Burglars generally target items that are easy to grab and carry so that they can make a quick entry and exit. They also choose their timing carefully to avoid detection or intervention. "Burglars usually strike in the daylight hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when people are often at work or school. They typically spend 8 to 12 minutes in your home. Burglars often head to the master bedroom first.” The most surprising statistic is not the frequency nor the average time of day that burglaries occur, but the most common area of the home that burglars choose to break into. Burglars will use the front door in most instances but will also break in windows and garages to enter the home. The most common entryway for a burglar is not the window or the garage but the front door. This information makes sense, though, when you consider the way front doors are commonly made. All doors have a latch and a strike. The latch is the piece that comes out of the door, and the strike is the holle cut into the door that holds the latch. So when the door handle is turned, the latch pulls in and allows the door to open. The common front door strike is only held in by a metal plate attached to the frame with two small screws, which means that a swift kick from a burglar will easily open your door. Considering that a burglar will only spend about a minute or two attempting to break into your home, the window and the garage are less likely targets because they generally require more effort and time. There is good news, however: By reinforcing the door strike to the frame, you can substantially decrease the likelihood of a burglary. This solution is possible due to an increasingly popular application called Door Armor. Door Armor is an extended strike plate that is attached to the frame via much longer screws, providing resistance which makes it essentially impossible to kick in the door. When you have the proper solution in place to protect your home, the statistics don’t seem so scary, because the longer it takes to break into your home, the less likely it is that they will follow through. As our account manager Zach often says, “Locks only keep honest people out.” If you are interested in learning more about Door Armor or would like to get a quote for this solution, click here to set up an appointment with our sales team.

Customer experience is a huge focus at Loc Doc Security, and in our experience, it is a big concern for our customers that manage commercial and residential properties as well. For a property manager, one of their biggest concerns is, can our clients enter and exit the property with ease? This is why innovation with ADA products is a tremendous benefit to property managers, and why it is a central piece to the customer experience. There are many people entering and exiting buildings who have difficulty opening a standard door with a leverset. Especially in high traffic areas it is crucial to ensure that the elderly and those with disabilities can access the property safely and easily. Many commercial facilities have no ADA compliant doors, and therefore cannot be accessed by older or disabled clients. Out mission at Loc Doc Security is to help our customers solve this problem and provide a tremendous experience to all of their customers. So what does and ADA compliant door look like? There are many variations based on the types of issues that your customers are facing when attempting to enter the door. The most common application is the Automatic Door Operator, which will open the door automatically either by a button press or motion activation. This will allow any clients in wheelchairs, canes, or other forms of movement assistance to easily enter you property. You can also set the Automatic Door Operator to hold open for periods of time, or until motion is no longer detected at the door. As this technology becomes more readily available and innovations continue to occur, the demand for this product becomes apparent for those with clients that need this type of assistance. Having an Automatic Door Operator installed on your door will show your clients that you care about their wellbeing and ease of access, and will improve your relationships withy our customers. If you are interested in getting more information or pricing for this solution, click here to schedule a free quote.

Have you ever tried to google this?  How much is a locksmith service call? Or, How much is a locksmith in Charlotte, NC? How often have you called a locksmith, or any service company, to ask them what their service call rates are, and you left the phone call more confused than ever? We get it. We get calls every day from people who don’t speak our lingo, and most contractors have a bad reputation for treating them with condescension and talk over their heads. Or worse, there are some people out there looking to scam you! We’ll cover more on Locksmith scams below! Many locksmiths, however, are trying to change that. They want to equip their customers with the knowledge and information they need to feel safe and secure. Loc Doc Security is determined to be one of those companies which puts their customers first. In order to help you be informed and prepared when dealing with lockmiths. Here are some of the basic rates you will come across in a locksmith service call: 1) Service Call (also known as Trip Charge, Assessment Charge, etc.): This is the cost to get a technician to your house. It generally will cover travel costs, as well as any costs associated with keeping the service vehicles stocked with parts and tools that make the service call quick and efficient. Beware of uncommonly low rates, as they are commonly used to grab customers and then once onsite they will charge an exorbitant amount. (Example: $15 Service Call, and then $150 for a rekey) 2) Labor Rates Labor rates are some times charged hourly, and other times charged as flat rate fees. Flat rates help to give the customer a more transparent way to see how much a service will cost, and are often based on the average amount of time it takes to perform a service. Make sure to ask for rates when you call and if the contractor gives you an hourly rate, ask them the average time it takes to perform a service. 3) Materials Materials can be the most unpredictable item in a service call, as pricing can vary for materials based on the function, model, trim, and even the finish (color) of the part being installed. If you believe a part will need to be replaced, ask for a quote before any work is done, so that you can be sure that the price is reasonable, instead of getting stuck with a bill after the fact. If you have questions about how much our locksmith services cost, give us a call at 704-554-6121 and we’ll be glad to help answer your questions. Even if we don’t know exactly what your service will cost we offer a free quote assessment to help put the decision making power in your hands as well as provide you with the best solution available. For more information on these solutions, or for a custom crafted solution for your facility, request a consultation with our Professional Security Experts!

How much does a locksmith cost in Charlotte, NC? This is a very common question for us at Loc Doc Security, and understandably so. The Locksmith industry (as well as others in the service industry) has a bad reputation for underestimating and over charging. You will likely get different pricing estimates depending on which locksmith you call, which can make the process even more confusing! In this article we will share with you a couple of things that you can look for in determining a reputable locksmith and good pricing. 1) Low Service Call Most companies have a “starting rate” to cover getting a technician onsite to assess your issue. This is a common practice because very often the solution for a job can vary greatly based on the initial assessment, therefore it helps to have a flat charge to get onsite that we can communicate to customers. Some companies call it a “trip charge,” “service call,” or “assessment”. In either case, one thing you need to look out for is a very low starting rate. Some companies will offer a low rate (e.g., $15 service call) to grab customers, but when they get onsite, they end up charging an exorbitant amount (think hundreds of dollars) for a basic service. If the starting rate seems too good to be true, then you may want to follow your gut feeling. 2) Transparency about Rates Another important thing to look out for is honest and transparent answers about rates. Ask plenty of questions and if they are hesitant to give you any pricing you may want to consider calling someone else. As was mentioned before, not every solution is cut and dry, but a locksmith should be giving you basic pricing such as their hourly labor rates, how much it would cost for a standard rekey, etc. Uncertainty is one thing, withholding information is another. Keep an eye out for contractors who are unwilling to be open about the pricing. At Loc Doc Security we understand that many of our customers have very little knowledge about the locksmith world, and as one of our values is Courageous Honesty, we believe it is important to educate our customers and give them all the knowledge we have so that they can make an informed decision. If you have questions about how much our locksmith services cost, give us a call at 704-554-6121 and we’ll be glad to help answer your questions. Even if we don’t know exactly what your service will cost we offer a free quote assessment to help put the decision making power in your hands as well as provide you with the best solution available. For a custom crafted solution for your facility, request a consultation with our Professional Security Experts!

How much is locksmith labor? In the event that you need locksmith work, it is always important to make sure you are paying a reputable locksmith who will be transparent and honest about pricing. There are unfortunately many companies that will offer you a “great deal” up front but suddenly you get with hidden charges and service fees. One particularly confusing area of pricing with locksmiths and other contractors is the labor rate. To help you stay informed and be alert to possible scams, here are answers to a few of the most common questions about labor rates: 1) What are Labor Rates? The labor rate is what a locksmith will charge to perform any service to the customer. This would be distinguished from materials and usually from the service call, which is the charge to get the technician onsite. (example: Locksmith comes onsite and rekeys 3 doors. The labor rate is what the locksmith charges for the rekeys themselves. 2) How are they usually charged? Labor rates are some times charged hourly, and other times charged as flat rate fees. Flat rates help to give the customer a more transparent way to see how much a service will cost, and are often based on the average amount of time it takes to perform a service. Make sure to ask for rates when you call and if the contractor gives you an hourly rate, ask them the average time it takes to perform a service. 3) How do I know I am being charged fairly? Two things to note: Labor rates are not just a reflection of time, but of experience. Very often people hire companies that charge very low hourly rates, only to find the locksmith was not very experienced. On the flip side, many locksmiths that charge higher labor rates have a lot more experience and may even complete a job much faster. Certainly you want the best price, but don’t be fooled by very low prices. Make a comparison of the highest rated locksmiths in your area and get an average of what they charge. If you have questions about our labor rates, give us a call at 704-554-6121 and we’ll be glad to help answer your questions. Even if we don’t know exactly what your service will cost we offer a free quote assessment to help put the decision making power in your hands as well as provide you with the best solution available.

How much does a locksmith cost in Greenville, SC? This is a very common question for us at Loc Doc Security, and understandably so. The Locksmith industry (as well as others in the service industry) has a bad reputation for underestimating and over charging. You will likely get different pricing estimates depending on which locksmith you call, which can make the process even more confusing! In this article we will share with you a couple of things that you can look for in determining a reputable locksmith and good pricing. 1) Low Service Call Most companies have a “starting rate” to cover getting a technician onsite to assess your issue. This is a common practice because very often the solution for a job can vary greatly based on the initial assessment, therefore it helps to have a flat charge to get onsite that we can communicate to customers. Some companies call it a “trip charge,” “service call,” or “assessment”. In either case, one thing you need to look out for is a very low starting rate. Some companies will offer a low rate (e.g., $15 service call) to grab customers, but when they get onsite, they end up charging an exorbitant amount (think hundreds of dollars) for a basic service. If the starting rate seems too good to be true, then you may want to follow your gut feeling. 2) Transparency about Rates Another important thing to look out for is honest and transparent answers about rates. Ask plenty of questions and if they are hesitant to give you any pricing you may want to consider calling someone else. As was mentioned before, not every solution is cut and dry, but a locksmith should be giving you basic pricing such as their hourly labor rates, how much it would cost for a standard rekey, etc. Uncertainty is one thing, withholding information is another. Keep an eye out for contractors who are unwilling to be open about the pricing. At Loc Doc Security we understand that many of our customers have very little knowledge about the locksmith world, and as one of our values is Courageous Honesty, we believe it is important to educate our customers and give them all the knowledge we have so that they can make an informed decision. If you have questions about how much our locksmith services cost, give us a call at 704-554-6121 and we’ll be glad to help answer your questions. Even if we don’t know exactly what your service will cost we offer a free quote assessment to help put the decision making power in your hands as well as provide you with the best solution available. For a custom crafted solution for your facility, request a consultation with our Professional Security Experts!

The current climate in the news and social networks is one of fear and uncertainty. The coronavirus is certainly a pandemic we have never faced before, and there are very real dangers and losses being faced by our people and our economy. However, one of the most prominent aspects of the human spirit is its resiliency, and that same resiliency is reflected in the market. This is an important topic to think about and discuss with the leaders and business owners in our communities. When any community survives a disastrous event, they respond in two ways: overcome and adapt. We must be mindful of the past as we shape our future, and in doing so we develop new strategies and ways of working and living that will, if successful, prevent a future crisis. This is the way of the human spirit, and therefore the way of the market. To provide some historical examples we can look back no further than World War I and II. During the wars, the demand for military supplies from manufacturers grew and grew, and the need arose to adjust the time to match the daylight hours and provide more time to efficiently work the factories. From this concept came what we now call Daylight Savings Time, and though it went through various forms and adaptations, it eventually became a permanent part of the American Economy. Another example is the 9/11 Crisis in 2001. After the horrible tragedy we faced, came greater security restrictions at airports and a more stringent process getting through TSA. This also did not change in the last 19 years but became a fixture in the airline travel industry. However we may agree or disagree with the methods and implementation of these changes, the industries surrounding them must adapt in order to be successful. Not only that but a business that is customer centric will be dedicated to providing their clients with an easy and efficient means of dealing with this new way of living. The COVID19 crisis is no different. At this moment we are already asking ourselves what life will look like on the other side of the quarantine. One of the biggest concerns during the pandemic has been the presence of touch points which greatly increase the likelihood of spreading germs. As hundreds of hands touch doors and locks and handles, so hundreds of people spread infection. Now that we are aware and alert to the problems, how do we respond? At Loc Doc Security we are proud to be at the forefront of these kinds of discussions in the security industry. There is already an innovative solution in the marketplace that provides a way for businesses and customers to continue their daily lives and operations without fear. This solution is called the Automatic Door Operator. The Automatic Door Operator provides us with a touch free system for entering and exiting a building. When combined with motion activation or an access control system, a person simply approaches the door (and/or presents their credentials) and the door opens for them, allowing access. Afterwards the door closes with no unnecessary touches and a greatly minimized risk of spreading germs. This is the kind of change Loc Doc Security has been working to implement, and now more than ever we see the need for it. We encourage you to do your part in communicating and searching out the changes that we can make in our industries to relieve our world of one more crisis. If you are interested in learning more about Automatic Door Operators or getting a quote to have one installed at your property, you can schedule a free quote assessment by clicking HERE.

How To Track and Secure Your Fleet Keys? For a service company, managing your fleet is a crucial task. You have to ensure that logistically everything is up to standards in order to provide value for your business, which means our fleet is operating smoothly and efficiently. One of the most important and yet overlooked aspects of fleet management is key management. Every key provides access to a vehicle, and every day employees are coming and going with these keys. But what if keys are lost or stolen? How do you know who had the keys last or when they were last at the office? When a vehicle goes missing or is damaged, how can you tell who got the keys to drive it? These are serious problems that can cause liability issues and confusion and ultimately spell disaster for fleet management. This is not only a problem for vehicles but for any keys that you need to keep track of, from entry doors to cabinets and desks containing important documents to jewelry cases. Thankfully there is a solution for this problem: The Traka Key Cabinet. This key cabinet must be opened with a pin code in order to access the keys. Each pin code is given specific permissions (example, a service technician enters his code and can pull out the van key but cannot pull out the storeroom key), and the cabinet will log all instances of keys being removed and returned. To demonstrate the benefit of this tool, we will run back through the problem scenarios, this time with a Traka Key Cabinet.  If a key is lost or stolen, or a vehicle damaged, you simply run a report for that key and you will see exactly who the last person to pull out that key was. This puts you a full step ahead of other companies in responding to a crisis and limiting your liability. If you are interested in protecting and keeping track of your fleet keys, you can purchase a Traka21 Key Cabinet here, or contact us if you have any questions.

As many states are preparing to reopen, and the quarantine comes to a near close for many businesses and their customers, there is one big problem that property owners and managers are facing: How can we prevent or reduce the further spread of this virus, and any viruses that may hit us in the future? One of the causes of the spread of the pandemic was the overwhelming presence of touch points. This means any area in a property that receives a heavy amount of touches. The most common touch point is the door handle. As people enter and exit a business the door may be touched hundreds or thousands of times in a week. If someone with germs on their hands touches that door, that means those hundreds or thousands of touches become possible infections. This is a perplexing problem for a business that depends on customers entering and exiting their building to buy their products, or even a property owner whose tenants are needing access in and out of a building. If we cannot make our customers and clients feel safe, how can we expect to have business as usual? Thankfully there is a solution available, which we call hands free openings. Either through motion activation or access control (swiping a badge or using your phone to access the door), you can set up your doors so that they swing open without any touches. This will eliminate your touch points at least by half. Not only can this help prevent another pandemic from spreading so quickly, but your customers, who are just as worried as you are, will feel safer, and probably more likely to visit your business or property. If you are interested in learning more or getting a quote for hands free openings at your location, please click here to set up a free estimate with our sales team.