A locksmith's paperwork looks like a receipt until the drill is already in the door. Before anyone arrives at Dad's house with tools, the quote, work order, or invoice is the document that settles who authorized the entry, what gets damaged, and who stands behind the new lock. Read it as a contract, because it is one. This is a checklist of what to ask and what to get in writing, not legal advice.
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Who Authorizes the Entry
Dad's name should appear on the order along with the address and the reason for the call. Ask the company which proof of identity and authority they require before they open a door, and whether they will record in the work order who was present and who signed off. If Dad is not home or cannot be reached, ask what they will accept from an adult child and what they will refuse to do without it. Get the technician's name and the time of arrival written down.
What the Scope Says About the Door
Opening a door, rekeying a cylinder, and installing a new deadbolt are three different jobs with three different outcomes. Check which one the quote covers. Look for the line that says what happens if the lock must be drilled rather than picked, and whether the price includes the drilling or only the labor. If the scope is vague, ask for it to be rewritten in plain terms before anyone is booked.
The Damage Clause
Find the sentence about damage. Many quotes say the company is not responsible for existing damage to the door, frame, or strike plate. Ask them to note the condition of the door and frame on the work order when they arrive, and ask whether they will photograph it before and after the work and send the photos to a number or address you give them. Ask who pays if the frame splits during entry and whether that is covered or excluded.
The Rekey and Warranty Line
Rekeying, a new cylinder, and a new deadbolt often carry different warranties, and some cover only the part while others cover only the labor. Ask how long the warranty runs, what it covers, and what voids it. Ask how many keys are cut and who receives each one. Write the answers into the order before the work starts, not after.
Who Holds the Keys After the Job
New keys leave the house with someone, and the order should name that person for each key. Check that at least one spare goes to a person you can reach at any hour and that Dad knows which key opens which lock. Do not leave this to memory, because the key that gets lost is usually the one nobody wrote down.
Compare Before You Book
Ask two companies the same three questions: what proof of authority they require, what the damage clause says, and what the rekey warranty covers and for how long. Compare their written answers, not their verbal reassurances. If one company will not put the answers in writing, that is your answer.
The Next Move
Tonight, email the locksmith you are considering and ask for the written scope, the damage clause, the warranty terms, and the key count and recipients, all before anything is scheduled. Put Dad's name, the address, and the entry reason in the first line. For other places in St. Louis to call while you sort this out, see Local Help in St. Louis.