Moving Home Hassle Free

How to move home securely

Moving home is said to be one of the most stressful times of our lives. Issues with paperwork, solicitors’ appointments, estate agents and then the worry of the sale potentially falling through are some of the factors that add to the stress of the ordeal. After possibly one of your most expensive purchases, comes the much anticipated move involving more exercise than you’ve probably done all year. Once all is over and you’ve finally settled into your new home, comes a vital part that many people either forget or disregard... the importance of having the locks changed on your new property.

If you think of your current house key and how many people you know that have a spare, it becomes slightly worrying when you realise you have no idea how many people could have a key to your new home. Changing the locks when you move home should be a basic security precaution for every home owner, but this is still something many people forget or possibly never do. As well as leaving your home and its contents potentially unsecure, many insurance companies will not pay out if an intruder gains entry using a key, as there generally needs to be clear signs of breaking and entering.

When moving home and changing the locks there are a few things you should consider. You should check with your insurance company prior to the change to make sure they don’t have any minimum requirements. Many insurance companies will require you to have a tried and tested British standard lock fitted to your door and your locks changed can be fairly expensive making this an important requirement to double check, prior to a locksmith attending your property. When getting your locks changed/upgraded, it may also be worth investing in a key safe. Key safes are a fantastic way of storing spare keys; meaning you won’t run the risk of being locked out. You also have the security of knowing that the key is safe, especially since nearly 20% of people still hide their spare keys in an area of their garden in places many intruders will know to look.  If you are interested in buying a key safe, take a look at www.keytekshop.co.uk.

Whilst the locksmith is changing the locks, it’s a good idea to have a security check completed on your home at this point. Potential intruders could enter the property through a window so if you’re missing any window keys or the locks are looking a little old, it’s a good idea to have these checked also. These simple tips and considerations can help you enjoy your new home with no worries or shocks in or out of the house. If you would like to read any more information on home security and locksmith services, our website has lots of useful information! 

You can visit our website by going to www.keytek.co.uk. Or if after reading this blog you need your locks changing, call us now on 0800 035 0451! 

Summer Security

Stay secure during the Summer Holidays with our Summer Home Security Tips!

Whilst enjoying any holiday period whether it is summer, Easter or Christmas, one of the last things on your mind will probably be making sure that your home is secure. Whatever the time of year it is still very important to make sure that the security of your home doesn’t lapse whilst you are enjoying the holidays.

Don’t let a burglary ruin the summer holidays...

Unfortunately higher temperatures are not great for uPVC or wooden doors as changes in heat can often cause doors to swell or shrink. Potentially, these changes can unfortunately leave your property unsecure, as you may be unable to unlock or worse lock your door, leaving your home vulnerable to a break-in. When a door swells or shrinks it’s often a simple case of calling a highly skilled and trained locksmith to fix the problem for you, making ongoing accessibility much easier during those hot summer days, leaving you far less likely to find yourself locked out when you return from a day on the beach!

Problems with your door can be caused by a variety of other factors during the summer; a common cause being simple wear and tear especially when everyone is more partial to popping in and out of the back garden to top up the tan. This can also cause security issues for your home, especially if you’re unable to lock up due to the lock being damaged by continuous use. This problem can also be solved by calling a local locksmith to your home who will be more than willing to fix or replace any locks that have been damaged by wear and tear.  

Also, don’t forget to secure your home even when just popping out to the garden, this includes the window you have left open to catch the rare breeze. Leaving any doors or windows open during a sunbathing session in the garden could leave your home unsecure and pretty much a burglar’s dream of entering your property undetected whilst you’re in the garden.  According to statistics provided in this fantastic UK Burglary report provided by Tesco Compare 73% of burglars use a door to gain entry and in 3% of cases the door was open.   

How vulnerable is your home

There are many different reasons why a burglar may break in to your home, although some are opportunistic whereby they will take the opportunity when it arises i.e. a door or window is left open, others will scope out your property beforehand. Therefore it is important to evaluate the security of your home to ensure your home isn’t targeted by a burglar whether it is opportunistic or pre-planned.

Ask yourself the following questions when evaluating the security of your home:

·         Are the locks on any doors and windows visible?

By making sure these are visible will help to deter a burglar as they will be able to see it will be harder to break in.

·         Are any doors or windows left open, even if it isn’t easy to access them?

Make sure all doors and windows are locked before leaving your home.

·         Ensure all your windows are locked and closed at night

When closing up your windows for the night ensure they are all locked and securely shut. If any small top windows are accidently left open or open to let in cold air overnight a burglar can easily reach through and open a large window internally.

·         Do you have any lights with sensors fitted to the exterior of your property?

Fitting lights with sensors to the outside of your home will ensure your home is well lit if an intruder was to approach your property. These will not only help to alert you and your neighbours but may deter an intruder from breaking into your home as they tend to be confident when working in the dark.

·         Is the front of your home visible from the road?

Having high walls and hedges can give a burglar protection from being seen therefore making sure your home is visible is important.

·         Is accessing your home noisy?

Consider having gravel placed on your driveway as it is impossible to walk on gravel without making a noise. The more difficult you make it for a burglar to access your home without making a noise the less likely you are to be a victim of burglary.

·         When you are on holiday or away from your home is it obvious that your home is unoccupied?

Make sure that when you are going to be away from your home for a long period of time that you do the following:

-          Ask a trusted neighbour, friend or family member to keep an eye on your home whilst you’re away. Ask them to open and close curtains etc so that it appears that your home is occupied.

-          Cancel any deliveries such as the newspaper or milk.

-          Use the Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service to hold any letters or parcels whilst you’re away to avoid any post piling up whilst your home is unoccupied.

·         Are there any ladders or equipment lying around that can be used by a burglar to gain entry to your home?

Make sure that any ladders or equipment that could be used to break in to your home are stored securely in a locked garage or shed.

Make sure you check out www.keytekshop.co.uk’s wide range of burglary deterrents to protect your home from opportunistic burglars!   

Keytek™ get ready to launch new home security shop

If upgrading your home security is on your agenda this summer or your thinking of protecting something special, then checking in with Keytek™ should be at the top of your list.

The Keytek™ brand is expanding, and exciting times are approaching for us all here at Keytek™, as the final touches are added to our very first online shop. It’s not far from launch day and after weeks of sorting through picking and discarding products; we are all pleased to let you know that in the next few weeks our shop will be open for business. Keytekshop will be supplying you with lots of high quality additions for your home security, from some of the best brands in security - just in time for summer!

Home safes, cash boxes, and additional home security options are some of the many things we’ve included in our product line from top brands like Yale and Master lock. So if you’re in need of a little upgrade on your home security or would like to protect something valuable Keytek shop is the perfect place to find it. You can also expect to see lots of additional benefits from us to make you’re shopping as care free as possible like our online chat support, return policy and after sales service, along with a low price guarantee. 

To kick it all off we’ve got lots of amazing discounts, giveaways and promotions ready for our launch! But we can’t give too much way too soon, so keep posted on our social media for all our updates on the countdown to open day. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on the launch and special offers for email subscribers!  

Beach Hut Security

Keep your beach hut safe with our beach hut security advice and tips!

Beach huts have been part of the history of the British Seaside since Victorian times. In more recent times they have become increasingly popular with more and more Brits choosing to staycation over going abroad.

It is estimated there are around 20,000 beach huts in the UK. Beach huts are prominent at the majority of seaside resorts in the UK; including Bournemouth, Poole, Mudeford Spit, West Bexington, Lowestoft, Southwold, Walton-on-the-Naze, Abersoch, Langland Bay, Rotherslade, Rustington, St Helens, Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Brighton and Mersea Island. Beach huts are also used in other countries such as South Africa, France and Australia.

 

Beach hut security tips and advice...

• Look after your beach hut - If your beach hut looks like it is not being used it is far more likely to suffer from criminal damage or antisocial behaviour. For the sake of you and your neighbours local councils ask that you keep your beach hut tidy and in good repair. According to Canterbury Police poorly maintained beach huts are more likely to attract even more damage which may include vandalism to neighbouring beach huts.

• Keep an eye on your beach hut - Make sure to check your beach hut regularly during both the summer and winter months. If you’re not around ask a neighbouring beach hut owner to keep an eye on yours. If you see anything suspicious report it immediately to your local Police Force as early detection and warning may assist them in identifying offenders.

• Never leave any valuables in your beach hut overnight - The majority of beach huts are not secure enough to leave any resalable property in. Remember to remove any combustibles that are an obvious fire hazard.    

• Make sure your beach hut is secure as it possibly can be and pay particular attention to the windows and doors - A door which can be easily opened will attract unwanted attention from a potential intruder.

• Fit a battery powered alarm - Many security alarms rely on a main electricity supply and a telephone line to be effective therefore these types of alarms would not be appropriate for a beach hut. It is possible to have a battery powered alarm fitted to your shed; these devices rely on putting an intruder off because of the noise and can attract attention from passersby. 

 

Watch Keytek™’s Security Tips videos for more information on security for sheds, outbuildings and beach huts... 

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