We had a complicated lock and door situation that most locksmiths would probably not touch without seeing it in person first. I called our local hardware store for a recommendation, and they referred Ravenna Locksmith along with another well-known local company. I was not terribly impressed with work that other company had done for me nearly twenty-five years ago at a different residence, so I did a bit of research on Ravenna Locksmith instead. What a pleasant surprise. Our front door is a specialty, older model that requires parts no longer available in the United States, which immediately puts this job outside the comfort zone of many providers. From the start, Ravenna Locksmith stood out for their willingness to engage with the problem rather than find reasons to avoid it. Howard asked for photos in advance, reviewed them carefully, and was able to diagnose most of the issue before ever stepping on site. That alone saved time, stress, and unnecessary guesswork. Even more impressive, he sourced appropriate solutions and got us scheduled within three days, which felt remarkably fast given the complexity and the fact that replacement parts are no longer standard or readily available. When Howard arrived, he confirmed everything he had already identified from the photos and explained the situation clearly and calmly. His depth of knowledge was obvious, not just with modern hardware, but with older and specialty systems that many locksmiths no longer deal with. He was friendly, patient, and genuinely pleasant to work with, which makes a real difference when you are dealing with a frustrating home repair. Just as important, the pricing was very fair and transparent. There were no surprises, no upselling, and no attempt to oversimplify or exaggerate the work required. We felt we were paying for real expertise and honest labor. Ravenna Locksmith, and Howard in particular, are exactly the kind of local professionals you hope to find but rarely do. We would not hesitate to call them again and highly recommend them, especially if you have a nonstandard or challenging lock situation. As a brief side note, I did call the other well-known local company as a backup. Within about three minutes, it seemed clear they had little interest in my situation. No real questions. No invitation for someone to assess the matter. It was like talking to a sagebrush in a hurry to blow past me. That is their prerogative, of course, but the contrast was telling. Howard builds relationships and solves problems. Others seem more comfortable checking a box and moving on. read more

Ravenna Locksmith - Howard from Ravenna Locksmith - Keys & Locksmiths Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We needed locks re-keyed on a rental unit in between tenants. Howard was responsive in scheduling and had a quick turnaround on appointment availability. He arrived on time, was very knowledgeable about what was needed, and he demonstrated excellent craftsmanship. Strongly recommend. read more

I used Ravenna Locksmith to rekey some smart locks I had - Level Locks. It was really easy to get it scheduled, Howard showed up on time, and he charged me less than he quoted! He also fixed some issues with previous door inov and strike plate installation. Highly recommend! read more

I called Howard for a broken deadbolt that was seriously creating a quality of life and safety issue for my family. He went out of his way to check the issue, explain our locks versus the current standard, and replace the broken deadbolt lock we had. I also really appreciated the insight and that he made sure we were all comfortable with the decisions we made. Thanks Howard!!!! read more

Appreciated the fast and HONEST service. Deadlock was not working. I was expecting to replace it. However he quickly diagnosed it needed lubricant only and not replacement or other repairs. He did not charge his usual service call fee and lowered price considerably due to quick repair. Thank you! read more

Spoke to Howard on Wednesday and he came out the following morning for a key extraction. Oiled the lock and made us new keys as well. A genuinely nice person and a true professional. More than happy to recommend Ravenna Locksmith to the yelp universe as well as to my friends! read more

My mailbox was broken into. Called Howard & he answered & said he could come out the next morning. There he was, right on time. Took one look at the mailbox & said he wasn't going to charge the service fee, that I should take that money & buy a new mailbox. This one was flimsy & not worth the money to fix. If you look at the previous reviews, you'll see time & time again how many people call him honest and thorough. Not many businesses operate with this kind of ethical standard and it is so so refreshing and incredibly rare. Even though I wasn't a paying customer this time around, I had been thinking about replacing another lock in my house and he's won me over as a customer. I'm calling him back to get that project and any future ones. read more

Howard is a highly professional and high integrity locksmith. We had him come out to break open a padlock and he was here within an hour of calling. And prior to this, I had reached out to him prior to that for help with our front door. Rather than come out and charge a bunch of money for it (like most other locksmiths I called), he offered a few suggestions that got us squared away for no charge at all. A gem of a person, and great to have someone like him as part of our community. read more

Howard is the only person you need to call if you have locksmith needs! He is honest, friendly, and has everything he needs in his van if you have something that requires him to make a house call. He answered the call on my first try and was able to come to my place two days later (it was not an emergency need and during this period of COVID-19 he has limited the number of homes he visits each day). I described the issue to him and he was confident he could fix it easily. He asked me to send a photo of the problem and was able to confirm the easy fix once I did. What a relief! I had previously been recommended to call Bulger in Lake City, which I did. They made it sound like they would have to rebuild a whole mechanism and it was going to take awhile + cost an arm and a leg. I had sent them photos of the problem as well so their lack of help sent me looking elsewhere! I'm so glad I did! Not only did Howard fix the issue I called about, but he went above and beyond and made sure every other part of the locks, door knobs, and door jambs all functioned properly and with ease. He drilled/filed when he noticed parts of the mechanism catching, and he oiled and cleaned old moving parts, giving them new life! We also didn't have a wrench big enough for an outside hose connector issue so he lent us one and even helped us fix it when he saw us struggling. Now that is a skilled man! And one who is ready to help out those in need, even outside of his frame of work. Howard is a stand-up owner/operator and I highly recommend him for your locksmith needs. He will explain things to you as he works and is a joy to have around! read more

So grateful to Howard ! We were visiting grandparents in Seattle and a bedroom door spontaneously locked itself. The key we had didn't work. On a Sunday Howard came over and noted it was a locked that had been discontinued due to this very reason. He was able to get the door open and install a normal doorknob. Would definitely recommend Ravenna locksmith ! read more

Howard came to our rescue after a fraudulent locksmith damaged our front door lock. The door and lock are original to the house and Howard not only appreciated this but was determined to help. He meticulously cleaned the lock out, vacuumed the mess the other person made, and took apart the lock to repair it. It was done with care and an appreciation for old well made things. He is an absolute professional- honest and fair. You'll want him to secure your home. read more

I contacted Howard @ Ravenna Locksmith to rekey the locks to the front and back doors at my new house. The other online reviews speaking to Howard's great work and service steered me in the right direction! Howard was prompt, a fast worker and provides a fair price. He even returned the following day to return one of a key that apparently opened more than the lock he rekeyed. (FYI to new home owners - don't assume a key only opens one lock!) read more

I did not realize that this is a mobile service and drove to the address listed on the page. Confused not to find anything there and called the number. Howard was more than helpful, he told me to send a pic of the key to him to take a look and then pointed me to the right place to make copies. Totally professional and went out of his way to be helpful. This would be my go to place next time I need to locksmith services. Highly recommended. read more

Was flexible for a last minute key copy. Took no longer than 5 minutes to have 3 keys copied. Super cheap price as well.

Howard did a great job helping me when I locked myself out. He was fast and friendly. A great local neighborhood locksmith!

Called for help on my daughters Rav4 lost key and rekeying needed. Could not help but was extremely polite and knowledgeable and referred me to the local God of Rav4 locksmiths. Much appreciated. Extremely professional and highly recommended. If I need any other locksmiths in my future Ravenna is my #1 choice. Thanks a ton! read more

Our real-estate agent recommended Howard and Ravenna Locksmith after closing on our house. Howard was incredibly responsive, personable and accommodating. Also, it's often overlooked how nice it is to work with a genuinely good person - that's who Howard is. Kind, thoughtful and funny! It was a wonderful experience end to end. Ravenna Locksmith will be our go-to recommendation now! read more

Such great customer service. Called Howard this morning and he was able to pop by my business and get things all fixed up with the keys and locks. He took extra time to make sure the door was secure. 5 star service! read more

When my kid locked us out of our house I found Howard here on Yelp. I called two other mobile locksmiths prior to him- one didn't have availability and the other didn't even answer the phone. Howard, to my surprise, personally answered the phone and was out my house within 30 minutes. He got us back in our house shortly after and I was shocked that his fee was so reasonable. He was super friendly and I am very glad I called him. read more

Sadly, there are a lot of creepy and dishonest people in this industry. Fortunately for NE Seattle, Howard Nevitt is not one of them. He is one of the most honest, professional, prompt and friendly tradespeople I've had the chance to work with in 15 years as a homeowner and do-it-yourselfer. I met Howard after biting off more than I could chew in trying to install my first deadbolt set on a brand new door. He fixed my mess quickly, affordably and didn't make me feel stupid for making such a hash of my DIY mishap (he even complimented a couple of little things I managed to handle competently). On top of being a pro, he's just a really nice guy whose business deserves success and repeat patronage. I look forward to using his services again soon. read more

He is a hero who came to save me in just 5 mins！Although I got the key，but the lock was broken and that's why I got locked outside. He not only opened the door but also fixed the lock and found out the reasons，then he fixed the reasons as well. Thank you so much！ read more

Howard did a fantastic job of re-keying my home. He showed up precisely on time and was very efficient in competing the work that was done at a very fair price. Ravenna Locksmith received my highest endorsement. read more

Howard got to my place quickly and was able to diagnose the issue in no time, even making my current lock more smooth and secure while installing a new door lock. Very friendly service and highly recommended! read more

Thank you Yelp for steering me to Howard. A simply outstanding experience. He came when he said he would, called to let us know he was on his way, knew his stuff, was chatty and charming (but not too much) ... as I said, outstanding. D read more

Not only did he come all the way to Bellevue, but he did it on short notice. Locks were changed/fixed within minutes and the price was very reasonable. My go to from now on. read more

My kids made it home before I did, and my oldest decided to pick the lock with a piece of wood she found on the sidewalk. I called several locksmiths and the only one who responded to my call was Howard. This was on a Sunday evening around 6 o'clock this summer. After playing phone tag, Howard and I set a date and time for him to come see how bad the damage was on my lock. He took it out, cleaned it and offered to make a new key. This took less than 10 minutes. He even told me that because my key is wearing down, he had to do a trick to hold it up so it would fit in the lock properly. (This would explain why any keys made at Home Depot or Fred Meyer never work properly.) Anyway, the new key slides in perfectly with no jiggling or coaxing. Howard was friendly and fast, and I will get in touch with him to make new keys. P.S. I never did hear back from the other locksmiths, all of whom I found on Yelp. read more

Great locksmith! Howard and his assistant were able to fit me in the same day I called to check availability and were able to save me some money by refurbishing the lock that was original to the house (from the 50s). Another locksmith had told me that it was unlikely I could even get a key made for the lock. Not only was that an option, but I was able to have it keyed to match the new deadbolt on the back door and he fixed the latching problems we were having with the door. He is quick, honest, and does fantastic work! Thank you Howard!! read more

Howard arrived on time, took care of two lock issues. PROMPT, responsive and manager of issues attached.

Howard and Aiden are reputable and professional. I spoke to both of them on the phone, and was eager to hire them. Unfortunately, they weren't available at the time I needed someone to come. However, while I was very impressed with their manner on the phone, what prompted me to write this review was the fact that Howard phoned me back to make sure I'd hired a legitimate professional locksmith and hadn't accidentally fallen prey to some "locksmith scam." He didn't have to do that, but he took the time to go out of his way to make sure I would be safe even though I wasn't actually his customer! If I ever need a locksmith again you can be sure I'll phone Howard first. Thank you Howard! read more

Howard is FUCKING AMAZING! He is extremely knowledgeable and proficient at his craft. A true old school professional. Howard even changed his personal plans to accommodate our schedule. He rekeyed our new house quickly, all the while giving me sound advice and instruction about our locks and the keying process. At the very last moment we asked for two additional keys which he gave to us on the house. Go w Howard. He is a sure bet. read more

I had a front door emergency when I thought I could repair an old mortise lock only to make a huge impossible mess with no clue about how to put it back together. Howard saved the day! He calmly, quickly, and systematically restored my lock back to near brand new condition. I recommend him highly, and a ten star review is more appropriate on this website! read more

Super fast service with a friendly smile! I called him.in the early.morning and he was there within the hour.

Ravenna Locksmith went beyond the expected and actually left my locks in better shape than when they found them. Sadly our dog walker lost his copies of our house keys. We weren't comfortable with the idea that some stranger might find them and gain access to our home. We decided to change our locks and chose Ravenna to do the job. Howard was available almost immediately. He was a little rushed due to a crisis another customer was experiencing. Our locks are a little finicky and Howard did the best he could given the constraints of the day. But he got the locks changed and had fresh keys in our hands just in time for me to head off to work. After a day or two I had a few issues. The lock was difficult to turn and, sometimes, the latch would get stuck. I wrote to Howard to see if he could come out to do a little more work. Having had more than a few bad experiences with contractors and handymen I was worried Howard would just ignore me; that's pretty common these days. Well I had nothing to worry about. Howard made it a priority to get back to my house ASAP. He was able to diagnose the problem; the entire door handle mechanism had been incorrectly installed to begin with (long before he came to change the locks). Howard spent a lot of time filing the plates and tinkering with the mechanism until it met his high standards. He basically did a custom re-install and the results were amazing - the door handle and lock have never worked as well as they do now. Howard was also scrupulous in his pricing. For example, Howard insisted on waving his house call fee on the second visit because his priority was making sure I was taken care of. Howard's attitude may be rare but I very much appreciated it. Ravenna Locksmith is now the ONLY locksmith I'll work with. They're exceptionally professional, reasonably priced, and do the job 100% right. read more

Called Howard at 930p expecting to leave a message for him to respond the next day, and he picked up the phone! Then, arrived mid-day the next day and re-keyed 6 locks and cut 8 new keys within an hour. His team is friendly, clean, and very professional. Way to go, Howard and Ravenna Locksmith. Hope I never need you again, but will call only you if I do. read more

Professional beginning to end. I called this locksmith because another locksmith in the area did not show up for their appointment. Howard was able to schedule an appointment for the very next day. He told me in advance the price for his time, the lock charges and the keys. He contacted me the day of the appointment to tell me he might be late, but instead he showed up exactly on time. His work was efficient, and exacting. He also had an idea that I had never heard of ; to key part of my house with a master key and another part with a sub key ( contractors can only get into part of the house.) He was also very pleasant. Bravo ! I'd give him ten stars if that were available.! read more

Howard is a great guy. First, I was planning to chance my mailbox keys for new tenants in my rental. Instead of saying ok and charging me for it, he said I wasn't necessary but if i wanted to do it anyway, he showed me how. Saved me $20 in labor and parts because I can just go to Home Depot and buy the lock and install it myself now. Second, I called him and he showed up less than an hour later. Re-keyed my door fast and was friendly and knowledgeable. I don't think you'd find a better and more honest locksmith. read more

I had spoken to Howard in the past about putting a special lock on a metal door at my office. Apparently it's a difficult job, and in the past I had hired a different locksmith to do it, for what I thought was a spectacularly high price. When that locksmith got to the site, they didn't have the tools to do the job, and I felt like I'd gotten a reprieve. In the mean time I started to do some research on my own and called Revenna Locksmith because of the good reviews on Yelp. On the phone Howard was smart, patient, and really open to working with me and finding an option that would work for me. He agreed that the price that the other locksmith wanted to charge was pretty high. In the end I decided to wait on that lock. Today I needed a locksmith for a different lock, so remembering how great Howard had been, I called him. He was on site in 20 minutes, and had the entire lock replaced and upgraded in less than 30. The new lock looks better than the old one, and is much more secure. I don't have anything to compare it to, but I was extremely happy when I saw the bill. I was expecting such a fast response time and upgrading to a better lock to leave quite a noticeable hole in my bank account. But it wasn't bad at all. And in person he's just as patient and smart. He really talks to you about what your options are. Sometimes I find that people in the trades like to tell you what you need to do, and look at you like you're an idiot if you don't do what they want you to do. Howard doesn't talk down, he just explains your options in a really clear and easy way. This is a real, honest to goodness locksmith, and a great company to do business with. read more

Howard is FANTASTIC. I live in an apartment building. When I accidentally locked myself out of my apartment after-hours (7:30pm), the apartment maintenance emergency line basically told me to eff myself and hire a locksmith. SPECIAL. My husband called Howard Nevitt, who was fabulous. He showed up quickly and was very kind and patient. Unfortunately, the lock was not pick-able (high security lock)... so he found his way in through the door jam without doing ANY damage! It was AWESOME. He charged exactly what he quoted us on the phone, despite how long it took him and how complicated it was. When we buy a house and need the locks changed or (god forbid) lock ourselves out again, we will be calling him!! read more

Very prompt and reliable I was locked out of my car and I called Ravenna locksmith and they came and helped me immediately

Howard offers reasonable prices and prompt, friendly service. He'll explain all your options to you and not chastise you for sometimes taking the cheap route. We've used him to re-key our house and to fix a lock that broke. Both times it was easy to get an appointment and easy to work with him and he was always straight-up about everything. Kudos! Oh, note he only takes cash/checks. read more