LockRite Locksmiths Blog
Stay up to date with the latest news, views and information from the UK's largest network of professional Locksmiths.
Featured Posts
Why does a locksmith cost so much?
Locksmiths play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of our homes and businesses. However, when we need their services, we can find
Where Are My Keys? Top Tips for Finding Lost Keys
Are you tired of losing your keys and experiencing the panic that comes with it? Don’t worry, in this article we share practical tips and
Recent Posts
Moving into a New Home? Home Security Advice to Stay Safe
Moving into a new home is an exciting moment. However, it often also comes with an enormous checklist that you need to take care of. And chances are every item on that checklist will seem like it’s the most important one.
Sure, we all prioritise different things. Even so, home security should be on top of that list. But what exactly can you do to secure your new place and gain peace of mind?
If you need some actionable advice to guide on what steps to take before settling in, this article is for you.
Get Better Acquainted with Your Neighbours
One of the best ways to get a sense of security when moving to a new home is to get to know the community.
Areas with neighbours who collaborate with each other towards a common goal are often more secure. Greater vigilance, faster reporting of suspicious activity to the police, they all contribute to fostering a safer living environment.
Try to find out if there are any watch programs, get in touch with the ward coordinator, and maybe volunteer your time.
At the very least, you’ll have someone to keep an eye on your property when you’re out of town.
Learn More about How Secure Your New Home Truly Is
You’ve probably researched how safe the neighbourhood is before you bought the place. But did you pay close attention to the property’s home security features? Even if you did, there might be some qualities you’ve overlooked, such as:
- Landscaping. Tall bushes might make it harder for you to spot suspicious activity taking place around your home.
- Exterior lighting near entry points. This is an important feature, as it will help you detect burglars if they decided to snoop around your property.
The good news is that you can always improve or add new home security features to your property if you’re not happy with the existing ones.
Upgrade Your Home’s Locks
In 72% of cases, a burglar will enter through a door.
That alone should be reason enough to changing the locks as soon as you move into a new place. Also, the previous owners may have given spare keys to people you don’t know about. This is one of those cases when it’s better to be safe than sorry.
So why not kills two birds with one stone and replace the old locks with smart ones?
Smart locks are not only more reliable compared to traditional locks, but also more convenient. Here are a just some of the benefits they offer:
- You can use your smartphone, a key fob, or a PIN code to open them. This eliminates the risk of a burglar stealing your keys.
- 3-minute lock-out if code is entered incorrectly 5 times
- You can set a PIN code that only works for 24 hours
- Low battery indicator with emergency battery connection
Invest in a Home Security System as Soon as Possible
Changing the locks on your doors is an essential step you should consider taking to improve the overall safety of your home. But it’s surely not the only one.
Here are some other devices you should consider adding when moving into a new house:
- Motion sensors
- Security cameras
- Alarms
An efficient security system is an investment that will pay for itself many times over and help you reduce the strain of moving into a new home.
Like to know more about home security in general? Make sure to check out our other articles.
Also, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest news and tips that might interest you as a homeowner.
7 Smart Home Predictions for 2017
The smart home market is one of the fastest growing markets. Recent reports estimate it will reach approximately USD 53.45billion in 2022.
Energy-saving and security are two of the main priorities for property owners. So it’s easy to see why the industry’s promise to make things smarter, safer, and more efficient gets homeowners excited.
Driven by technology, the marketplace is constantly transforming and upgrading itself. So what can we expect to see in 2017?
Keep on reading to find out.
7 Strong Predictions for The Smart Home Marketplace
1. There Will Be an Increased Concern Towards What the Customer Wants and Needs.
Homeowners are always looking for new features that make their lives safer, easier and help them save both time and money.
They want products that leverage existing technology’s capabilities. But they also want them to meet their demands and anticipation.
How do consumers expect technology to work for them? It’s an essential question which providers will try to answer in 2017 for a different, more customer-centric approach.
Therefore, we can expect to see certain pricing adjustments and security improvements to lower the risk of cyber-attacks, as well as a greater interest to educate consumers about the benefits of using smart solutions.
2. A Greater Number of Connected Devices that Work Together Automatically
Homeowners seem to be moving away from the stand-alone device trend. Instead, they want separate devices that can collaborate and perform multiple functions.
This preference for a complete smart home system made of multiple pieces will surely impact the industry in 2017.
Smart devices such as smart locks and lights, CCTV cameras and appliances that can all communicate with one another via the Internet will be widespread. By 2020, IoT devices will account for 24 billion.
3. The Demand for Professional Service Providers Will Get a Boost
Various new devices are joining the smart home bandwagon each year. So the need for professional services is also likely to increase. More homeowners are expected to turn to licensed experts who can help them not only install but also monitor the new technology.
4. AI-based Bots Will Transition into Mainstream
Artificial intelligence will have a significant influence on the market in 2017. And this year’s CES edition was a clear indicator.
AI-drive butler bots such LG’s Hub Robot, Mayfield Robotics’ Kuri, or Ubtech’s Lynx stole the spotlight with their friendly interfaces. Their promise to take over tedious tasks to help owners run their homes is hard to overlook.
Moving forward, intelligent personal assistants are likely to become more affordable, and thus more common.
5. Echo by Amazon is likely to dominate the AI market.
Amazon’s Echo shows no signs of slowing down. With more than five million units sold since its release in 2014, the smart speaker is without a doubt a top selling product capable of:
- voice interaction,
- music playback,
- making to-do lists,
- streaming podcasts,
- and providing weather, traffic and other real-time information.
However, the device’s biggest advantage moving forward is its ability to control several smart devices. It does so by using itself as a home automation hub.
In other words, it can act as a link between multiple products that might not otherwise be able to efficiently work together.
6. Smart Security Systems Aren’t Going Anywhere
Smart home systems including smart locks, CCTV cameras, alarms will continue to grow in popularity. Through these systems, owners are able to remotely control the devices via an app, and monitor they homes for increased safety.
So it’s easy to predict that we’ll be seeing more of them in 2017.
7. Cameras Will Take Center Stage
Again, judging by this year’s CES edition, home surveillance cameras will drive big business in 2017. The focus is likely to be around:
- Facial recognition. This technology uses human face as a key to security, so it has a massive potential in security.
- 360-degree viewing. Provides a new level of security by capturing panaromic views of your home and its surroundings.
- and security motion detection. Offer an additional layer of protection by detecting movement in an area and alerting owners in case of a threat.
One More Thing before You Head Out
For owners looking into the implementation of smart home solutions, the future holds exciting new opportunities. Now you know more about the trends that will shape the industry in 2017.
But there’s new information surfacing every day. If you’d like to find out about any new updates, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
The Coolest Smart Home Gadgets Showcased At CES 2017
Every year, the CES tradeshow in Las Vegas offers a glimpse into the future by bringing together the latest in global consumer electronics and technology.
The 2017 edition that took place at the beginning of January showed that smart home devices are going to enter every facet of our houses.
From devices meant to reduce food waste to gadgets that influence the quality of our sleep, they can all help you raise your home’s IQ. And make your life easier.
Here are some of the highlights showcased at this year’s CES edition:
A Fridge Accessory that Can Suggest Recipes and Reduce Food Waste
Figuring out what’s for dinner it’s an old-age quandary.
The FridgeCam – a camera devised to sit in the fridge – is meant to help homeowners with this problem.
Using custom food-recognition software, the FridgeCam makes your old refrigerator a lot smarter. It does so by keeping track of the food you have in it.
Based on this information, it can dish up ideas about what to cook. In addition, it notifies you when food is getting close to expiring to reduce food waste.
The FridgeCam can also help you shop smarter, as you can take a look inside your fridge from anywhere via an app.
The way it works is pretty straightforward. Whenever you want to put something in your fridge, you have to scan the food’s barcode on the FridgeCam’s app which uses WiFi to connect.
You’ll have to introduce fruits, vegetable and other foods that don’t have a barcode manually.
Smart LED Lights that Adjust Colour Based on the Time of Day
Soraa generally makes lighting solutions for corporate clients. However, the company is now also targeting the consumer market with Helia -a new line of bulbs that promise to mirror the feel of natural sunlight.
Using HomePlug Green PHY technology, these smart bulbs rely on sensors and can communicate with each another over a home’s existing electrical wiring.
Once you set them up via an app, the bulbs will automatically start modifying the type of colour they emit throughout the day. The purpose is to make the light easier on your eyes.
Also, these smart lights are set to address the issue of blue light, which is thought to be disruptive when it comes to our sleep patterns. By filtering out blue light, Helia bulbs are expected to help consumers get a better night’s rest.
A Smart Home Robot with a Friendly Face
Powered by Amazon’s Alexa, LG’s Hub robot is supposed to help homeowners do their chores faster.
This high-tech personal assistant includes Amazon’s Echo technology which it can employ to control your appliances.
Here are some of its other notable features you should know:
- It connects to other smart home devices, so you can tell it to preheat the oven or start the washing machine.
- Touch- screen face that can learn each family member’s face so that it can greet everyone in a different way.
- It can tell the weather and play music.
- Voice-activated.
LG hasn’t yet announced an official release date for the Hub robot, so it might be a couple of years until it comes to market.
A Smart LockBox that Works Offline
Improved security, a top concern for owners, was also one of the major themes at CES 2017. One of the smart solutions that stood out was Igloohome’s smart keybox.
Designed for short-term rental hosts and homeowners, the device is meant to increase convenience and safety. By using it, owners can provide remote access to guests or visitors without having to be at the premises.
Owners can create a PIN code, which is sent over to their guests. The PIN code is then used to unlock the keybox. The PIN code will expire after a set amount of time to prevent unwanted access to the property.
Hope you enjoyed this selection of smart home devices which debuted at CES 2017. Are you looking forward to more articles like this? Make sure to keep an eye on our blog.
Also, don’t forget to share this post on social media with others who might find this information useful.
Post Categories
Locksmith Services
If you’re locked out, we can get you back in! We’re experts at picking locks and gaining entry.
We change, repair and fit a wide variety of locks, including : Mortice Locks & Euro Cylinders.
Our expert locksmiths can supply and fit the latest digital smart locks. Including the Yale Linus.
Our trained locksmiths can supply and fit the latest High definition CCTV to your home or business premises.
Our locksmiths can provide boarding services to secure your home or commercial premises.
We offer a full security survey service. Do you really know how secure your home or property is?
We can cut extra keys for your home or office. Our locksmiths carry a range of key blanks.
Smart Security Installed
Yale Linus
Smart Lock
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale Conexis
Smart Lock
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
Yale Keyless
Connected Smart Lock
The Keyless Lock allows you complete control over how you lock your home. Unlock with a PIN, key card, key tag, remote fob or your phone.
Yale Sync Alarm
The Yale Linus door lock. A keyless lock, designed to secure and simplify your life. Lock and unlock your door, no matter where you are.
Yale CCTV
The smart door lock that puts you fully in control. The Yale Conexis gives you the freedom to secure your home without the need for a key.
