Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
The Novak Lock & Security Long Beach Guarantee
We stand behind every lock we install, every cylinder we rekey, and every emergency call we answer in Long Beach. Since 2002, we’ve serviced over 60,000 locks, keys, and security systems, and every single job started with a written price and ended with a documented photo record. Our guarantee isn’t a marketing phrase. It’s Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice. No exceptions, no doorstep surprises, no technician discretion to change what was quoted. When Daniel Novak founded this shop, that rule was the first thing written down, and it’s still the first thing our dispatchers follow today.
What’s Covered
- Workmanship on every installation and repair. If a deadbolt we installed doesn’t throw smoothly, if a rekeyed cylinder binds, or if an access control reader we mounted loses alignment within 365 days, we come back and make it right at no charge. This is our 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it applies to every residential lock installation, commercial rekey, and emergency repair we perform in Long Beach.
- Parts integrity and proper specification. We don’t substitute brands without written approval. If we quote a Schlage B660P commercial deadbolt, that’s what arrives in the box. If we specify a Medeco M3 high-security cylinder for your Belmont Shore rental property, you get the pick-resistant, drill-resistant core we described, not a lookalike. Every part is documented on your invoice with manufacturer and model.
- Site condition on departure. We leave the work area as we found it. Metal shavings from a fresh installation, old cylinders, packaging, and failed hardware are removed. Your photo record, taken before we leave, shows the completed work and the clean site. Haven Standard Clause 7 requires it.
- Arrival within the committed window. For scheduled appointments in Long Beach, Naples, Bixby Knolls, or Signal Hill, we quote a specific arrival window and call when we’re en route. If we’re running late due to traffic on the 405 or a previous job running over, we notify you with a revised time. You don’t wait wondering.
- Honest, upfront pricing with zero bait-and-switch. The dispatcher quotes your full price before any technician is dispatched. That price includes labor, parts, and any trip charge. The technician is not permitted to change it on arrival. This rule has been in place since 2002. If we encounter unexpected conditions, we stop, explain, and quote the additional work in writing before proceeding. You approve it, or we don’t do it.
Our Satisfaction Promise
If you’re not satisfied with our work, we want to know immediately. Call (424) 340-6795 any time, day or night, and you’ll reach a live person, not a voicemail queue. Describe what happened. We’ll review the photo record from your visit, pull the written scope, and determine whether the issue is workmanship, parts, or a misunderstanding about what was requested. Then we fix it. If we installed a lock that doesn’t suit your needs, we’ll replace it with the correct hardware and credit the difference. If a rekey didn’t address your security concern, we’ll re-evaluate and rekey again at no charge. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means we don’t argue about who’s at fault. We make it right, document what we did, and move on. Daniel Novak has personally handled callbacks where a customer in the Alamitos Beach area couldn’t get their new key to work smoothly. Turned out the original key was a worn duplicate that had been copied three times. We cut a fresh key from code, tested it ten cycles, and left a spare. No charge, no drama, just fixed.
Licensed & Insured Backing
Our written guarantee is only as solid as the business behind it. Novak Lock & Security Long Beach is state-licensed, insured, and bonded. That means if a rare incident occurs, property damage or injury, there’s coverage in place, not a promise and a prayer. Licensing requires background checks and compliance with California locksmith regulations. Insurance protects your property while we’re working on it. Bonding provides additional financial recourse. These aren’t decorative badges. They’re the structural foundation that lets us offer a 365-day workmanship promise with confidence. When you hire an unlicensed operator working out of a truck with a magnet sign, you’re relying on their personal word alone. We’ve been in Long Beach since 2002, with a documented record of every job, because we intend to be here for the next callback, the next rekey, and the next generation of locks.
How to Start a Warranty Claim
Call (424) 340-6795. A live person answers 24/7. Give us your name, address, and the date of the original service. We’ll pull the photo record and written scope within minutes. For most workmanship issues in Long Beach, we can schedule a return visit same day or next day. You’ll receive a written confirmation of the callback scope and, if applicable, any parts needed. The technician arrives uniformed, background-checked, and with the same documentation kit as the first visit. We fix the issue, photograph the completed repair, and leave you an updated record. If the original work fell short of our standard, there’s no charge. If the issue stems from new damage, tenant misuse, or a change in your requirements, we’ll quote the additional work in writing before starting, per Clause 1.
What’s Not Covered (And Why We’re Transparent About It)
Manufacturer defects in the lock hardware itself are handled through the manufacturer’s warranty process. We facilitate this, but we don’t control Medeco’s, Schlage’s, or Baldwin’s internal timelines. Normal wear from coastal salt air in Long Beach, tenant damage, or attempted break-ins after our installation aren’t workmanship issues. We distinguish between what we caused and what happened after we left, and we explain that distinction clearly. If you’re unsure which category applies, call us. We’ll look at the photo record and tell you straight.
Free Second Opinion on Any Written Estimate
If another Long Beach locksmith has quoted you a scope of work and you’re uncertain whether it’s necessary, bring us their written estimate. We’ll review it at no charge. Daniel Novak has reviewed competitor quotes that specified replacing an entire mortise lock when only the cylinder was failing, quotes that recommended rekeying five locks when two were already on the same key, and quotes that didn’t specify brand or grade at all. We’ll tell you what we think, what we’d do differently, and what we’d charge. No obligation, no pressure. Haven Standard Clause 4: the customer deserves enough information to make an informed decision.
Our Documentation Standards
Every visit produces three documents: the written price quote approved before work starts, the completed invoice with parts and labor itemized, and the photo record showing before condition, installed work, and site status on departure. These aren’t upgrades or add-ons. They’re standard procedure, required by The Haven Standard across all ten brands. In Long Beach, we’ve had customers call back two years after a rekey to ask what keyway we’d used on their Signal Hill rental. We pulled the record in under five minutes. That’s what documentation is for.
Factory-Authorized Work and What It Means for Your Guarantee
We’re factory-authorized to service and install Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Baldwin, and Schlage products. This matters for your guarantee because manufacturer authorization means we follow their installation specifications, use their specified tools and pinning kits, and can access their technical support if an unusual failure occurs. If a Medeco cylinder we installed develops a manufacturing defect, we know the warranty claim process and can expedite it. If a Schlage electronic lock we programmed loses its settings, we have the factory software to diagnose whether it’s a programming error or hardware failure. Authorization doesn’t mean we only sell those brands. We work with Kwikset, Yale, Corbin Russwin, and others as the job requires. It means when we do specify a premium lock, we’re qualified to stand behind the installation with both our 365-Day Done Right Promise and the manufacturer’s backing.
Common Questions About Our Guarantee
Is the price I’m quoted on the phone really the final price?
Yes. Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice. The technician cannot change it on arrival. If we find conditions we couldn’t anticipate, we stop, explain, and quote additional work in writing before proceeding. You approve it, or we don’t do it. Call (424) 340-6795 for your written quote.
What if I’m not home when the technician arrives?
We call when we’re en route and again on arrival. If you’re not available, we don’t start work, and you don’t pay. We reschedule at your convenience. The written price quote remains valid for 30 days.
How do I know your technicians are trustworthy?
Every technician is background-checked and uniformed. They arrive in a marked vehicle with identification. The photo record is taken in your presence, and you receive a copy before we leave. This has been standard since 2002, not since it became trendy.
What happens if a lock fails after the 365-day period?
We evaluate each situation individually. Normal wear, coastal corrosion, or tenant damage aren’t workmanship defects. If the failure reveals an installation issue we should have caught, we still make it right. Our incentive is to install it correctly the first time, because callbacks cost us money and reputation. In 23 years of Long Beach service, our callback rate is low enough that Daniel Novak still personally reviews every one.
Can I get a copy of my old service records?
Yes. Call (424) 340-6795 with your address and approximate date of service. We maintain records indefinitely. For property managers in Downtown Long Beach or Belmont Heights with multiple buildings, we can provide consolidated service histories by address or by portfolio.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner at Novak Lock & Security Long Beach, serving Long Beach since 2002.