Ways to Make an Older Property Secure

Many of Britain’s beautiful older homes offer charm in abundance, exquisite elegance, and a distinctive personality to boot.

A home is to live in and not just to look at, however, even if countless hours of house-hunting and daytime property shows has convinced you otherwise.

For your older home to be the utopian sanctuary that you deserve to live in, it needs to be safe and secure from the potential nefariousness of the outside world.

It’s always worth making sure your older property is secure enough to protect you, your possessions, and your peace of mind.

To ensure that your older property is as secure as its modern counterparts and that you don’t need to worry about any unwanted guests encroaching on your safe space, here are some tips and tricks worth mulling over.

Lock Your Door

It may sound absurdly obvious, but you need to lock your door. Plenty of people forget to lock their doors when they leave the house, and even when they’re in, burglars can still chance their thieving arms and walk straight in through the front door.

This is an upsetting thought, of course, but it is a possibility, and keeping your door locked can reduce the chances of it happening to you.

It’s worth noting that older, outdated locks may have been rendered ineffective from wear and tear, or they might not have even been too handy in the first place.

At LockRite, locks are our forte, and we know that installing a great modern lock, such as the Yale Keyless or Yale Linus smart lock can bolster your security in no time.

Don’t wait around to contact us if you feel as though you are long overdue for an upgrade – the consequences of not acting sooner could be catastrophic, and we’re here to advise should you need some help deciding on the best course of action.

Concealing Your Valuables out of Sight

Many burglaries are spur-of-the-moment affairs, which not only makes it all the more heinous, but it’s a shame when you can take steps to prevent it from happening.

Hiding your valuables from the street view is a good way to go, particularly if you have some impressive tech sitting around, like if you’re lucky enough to be one of the few people who own a Playstation 5.

Aside from elusive games consoles, countless ornaments, gadgets, and consumables pose a viable target for opportunistic burglars, such as alcohol, artwork, and any keys that may be hanging up on display.

Drawing the curtains can help with this at night, and don’t forget to lock your windows either.

Older homes that may represent wealth could be an enticing target for a burglar who happens to be meandering past, so keeping your valuable possessions out of sight is a must.

Get Teched Up

Taking a modern approach and getting your hands on some great security tech can be a good way to go, but it’s good to remember that you can’t rely on it solely to negate the risk of a break-in, as you will still need to practice safety too.

Some superb options worth looking out for include window sensors, smart lights, smart cameras, and a dependable alarm system. A smart doorbell camera is another great bit of tech, as it lets you automatically capture footage of anyone who approaches your house, and you can access it from your smartphone if you’re out.

It can seem like a costly endeavour at the time, but failing to secure your belongings and ensure your personal safety can prove to be vastly more expensive in the long run.

Is it Time to Replace Your Windows and Doors?

Older properties, particularly those with their original windows and doors, may not be able to provide you with the defence necessary to stop a forced entry, so if you suspect that your doors and windows are a little rickety, now could be time for an upgrade.

While expensive, this can increase your security, and you get an excuse to buy some fancy new fixtures and fittings.

If you’re fretting about losing your historic windows, you could always consider upgrading over replacing them.

For example, you could install some shutters, add a new layer of protective glass, or simply opt for a refurb.

By upgrading your property’s security, you can upgrade your peace of mind, and while the sentiment is immaculately corny, it could be the best way to make the most out of your living arrangements.

Why Halloween Could Be A Dangerous Period For Your Property

Nearing the end of October can mean only one thing: anticipation for Halloween, when all things creepy, ghoulish and ghastly come out onto the streets. Halloween isn’t just a time to break out the fancy dress, though – it’s also a time when things can genuinely go bump in the night. 

Break-ins, forced entries, and burglaries tend to peak over periods when most of the community is busy having fun and are less vigilant when it comes to home security. Here’s what you should look out for in the run-up to Halloween 2021.

Vampiric Tendencies

It’s fair to say that burglars live similar lives to vampires: extracting the lifeblood from people’s homes and usually only going out after dark. But unlike vampires, burglars can be caught on camera. This is excellent news for your Halloween security arrangements, which will be greatly enhanced by setting up a security camera on your property. Consider installing a doorbell camera or a CCTV system. Not only will it deter real-life vampires, but it could help to catch criminals in the act, increasing your chances of finding the culprit and getting justice if you are ever broken into.

Making Merry

Halloween is regarded as a time for young people. The very young are out in force, taking over the streets with their fake blood and their costumes. Plus, many adults are busy partying, having swapped the sweet treats for alcohol. All of this means that burglars know there are plenty of people out of their homes and making merry elsewhere, and in all the festive, freaky confusion, it’s easy enough for a robber to sneak into a home while the rest of the community are out scaring the living daylights out of one another. This is why it’s a good idea to invest in a remote home alarm so that you can secure your home when you’re not in it, and receive an instant notification on your device if anything suspicious occurs by your property.

Faulty Towers

Your home may not be an old, decrepit gothic mansion, but if there are outstanding faults in your home security, they’re likely to be exploited during periods such as Halloween. While ghosts can move through walls, and witches have the power to shrink to tiny dimensions and drop down your chimney into your home, it’s the windows and doors to your property that you should be most concerned about. If you have any home security concerns preceding Halloween, this is a great time to make some repairs and to invest in sturdy and reliable locks. Again, there’s noise, confusion, and merriment on the streets – a door that can be easily forced may draw attention on the spookiest night of the year. 

Fright Night

Plenty of home break-ins happen when you’re out of your property. However, things can happen when you’re actually inside watching a horror film or tucked up in bed. If you have all of your lights off, burglars might think that you’re away from home, making them more likely to strike.

It’s important for your sense of safety that you have security in place around your home once you head to bed – like a burglar alarm, smart locks, and security cameras that you can link to your phone for complete 360-degree awareness. Another good deterrent is to install exterior lights that flash on when motion is detected. This can seriously put off potential home invaders.

Don’t be a Pumpkin 

Pumpkins are strongly associated with Halloween. You’ll carve into them with delight, making a freaky face that you’ll turn to the outside world to scare off would-be trick-or-treaters. But being a pumpkin also means being soft and hallow-headed, which is a comparison that any right-minded homeowner would perhaps rather avoid. Instead, Halloween is a night to pay a little extra care to your security. You needn’t be holed up in your highest tower with your defences at the ready, but just make sure that your windows and doors are locked and secure, and your curtains are drawn, these will contribute to better home security when it matters the most.

Knights in Shining Armour

Finally, if you’re still concerned about your home’s security when there are all kinds of critters and creepers out and about on the streets, it’s worth considering who might be able to save the day in the lead-up to Halloween. Of course, that’s our lock experts, who will not only be able to install the best locks for you and your home, but they’ll be able to recommend where extra locks and security might be best placed to further protect your home. Advice and extra-strong hardware will make your home a fortress this winter, including during the night of a thousand evils that we call Halloween.