Getting locked out of your house is a total nightmare. It always seems to happen at the worst times, too – like when you've got home from work and want to relax, you're in the middle of some important task, or you need to be somewhere else.

No matter how careful you are with your keys, it can still happen, either because they fall out of a pocket or you lose concentration for a moment and shut them inside.

Apart from trying to be careful, there's not much you can do you prevent being locked out. There are, however, a few things you can do to make it easier to get back in if it does happen.

Give spare keys to people

It's always a good idea to get some extra keys cut and give them to trustworthy people, if possible. Neighbours, friends and family members are all good candidates, and it's best to give out more than one. That way, if the first person you try isn't available, you won't need to wait until they're free.

Needless to say, you should be careful who you trust with keys to your home, and make sure you keep track of where all those keys end up.

Hide a key somewhere

The classic solution is to stash a spare key in a flowerpot, under a stone or some other hidden place outside your house. The problem is that there's a risk of a burglar finding it. Fake rocks are available, but many criminals know what these look like and can spot them easily.

If you can't find a truly secure place, a wall-mounted lock box is an excellent place to keep a key. Make sure you get one with a combination lock so you can gain entry to it without needing a key.

Keep a locksmith's phone number with you

If you've used a locksmith before, you know you can trust them. If not, find a reputable one and write down their contact details. Keep this in your wallet, car or jacket pocket so you can call someone out quickly if you can't get into your house any other way.

Change your locks

Changing to a keyless entry system means you'll never even have keys to lose in the first place. These are available with passcodes, fingerprint identification, and even some that recognise your smartphone. Bear in mind with the last option that this essentially turns your phone into another key that can be lost or stolen.