A lock that needs to be jiggled, lifted, or forced to catch is a specific, diagnosable issue, and a security gap worth addressing quickly.
A lock that only catches most of the time isn't reliably securing your home, and it's usually one of the more affordable repairs to resolve.
This is a latch/lock mechanism issue, different from a door that won't close fully (which is an alignment problem that then prevents locking).
Don't force the lock lever repeatedly, this can snap the internal mechanism and turn a simple fix into a full lock replacement.
Repeatedly forcing a stiff lock can break the latch tongue or strip the mechanism, requiring a full lock replacement instead of an adjustment.
Cost: $180-$280 including hardware.
Time: 30-60 minutes typically.
Often a repair (realignment), sometimes a lock hardware replacement if the mechanism itself has failed.
Corrosion inside lock mechanisms happens faster in coastal humidity, especially on older, non-stainless hardware.
Yes, we treat this as a priority repair given the security implications.
Usually yes, we carry common lock hardware and can often complete it in one visit.
Get a free quote, most lock issues are fixed in under an hour.