Latest Home Security Articles

Experience the Benefits of Sliding Glass Door Self-Closers

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:45:09 -0400

Summer has hit Arizona and when the heat is on, homeowners face numerous challenges. With the rising cost of energy and a growing concern for the environment, it's important for homeowners to do everything possible to keep their families comfortable while keeping energy use down. Busy families often tend to leave doors open while running in and out of the house, allowing air conditioned air to escape and hot air to enter the house. And the opposite is true in winter - no one wants to pay to heat their home and then let chilly drafts into the house when doors are left open, even just a crack. Mom can run around closing doors or constantly remind the kids to shut the sliding door behind them as they run out to join their friends in the yard. Or, life can be a whole lot easier and more efficient with the installation of sliding glass door self-closing devices. These devices self-close the sliding glass doors every time they are left open. Whether it's an inch or a foot, the door will close securely and you can rest assured that your energy dollars are not escaping through your sliding door.

Self-closing devices are easily installed on sliding doors, and can be color matched to the doors to blend in and go virtually unnoticed in any décor. They also will not be damaged when the kids actually do remember to close the door themselves.

Another serious summer challenge that homeowners face is keeping kids and pets safe when there is a pool in the backyard. Of course, the number one way to keep kids safe around pools is supervision, even indoors. Self-closing devices can be the first line of defense in family pool safety. If an older child heads outside and a few minutes later their younger sibling wants to follow, the door will be securely closed. Additionally, companies like DCS Industries in Phoenix, AZ recommend adding a self-latching device to sliding doors as an important safety measure. This handle can be mounted at a height that prevents children from opening the sliding glass door on their own. Installing the latch along with the company's patented Ultra Glide self-closing device ensures that your children stay safely inside the house.

Another great reason for installing a self-closing device like the Ultra Glide is to keep unwanted visitors out of your home. No matter where you live, no one wants mosquitoes, moths or other pests slipping into the home through open doors. Residents in the Southwest can face even bigger challenges in the form of potentially harmful snakes, scorpions and other wildlife that can enter the home through an open sliding glass door.

Self-closing devices for sliding glass doors are worthwhile investments that are easily installed and even easier to live with. Not only do they provide energy savings in any season, but they are a smart way to improve your family's safety and security in the home.

Would you let a stranger into your home?

Sat, 29 May 2010 12:50:28 -0400

We all know how important it is to keep our home secure when we aren't there, but have you ever thought that your home could be at risk from criminals breaking in under your very nose?

Almost three million people say that have been targeted by so-called ‘distraction burglars' in the last five years*. These types of criminals have entered people's homes under the auspices of a well-known company, perhaps claiming to be there for meter readings or to raise money for a charity.

Often, accomplices are used to enter the home while the victim is distracted and the consequences can be costly, with the average theft of this type costing around £1,230.
While we clearly wouldn't like to tell people not to answer their doors to unexpected callers, the Home Office highlight some simple steps you can take to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of bogus callers:

• Lock - Keep front and back doors locked (with keys taken out), even when at home.
• Stop - Stop and think if anyone is expected; look through a spy hole or window to identify the caller.
• Chain - Put the door chain or bar on before opening the door, and keep it there whilst talking to the caller.
• Check - If you are wary of the caller, ask to look at their identity card, even if the caller has a pre-arranged appointment (close the door while doing this). Look up the phone number of who the caller represents in the phone directory and ring to verify the caller's identity; do not use a phone number given on the identity card as this may be fake.

One other thing you should think about it is how well advertised your home is to thieves. With a number of people across the UK complaining that their homes have been targeted after appearing on Google Street View, it's more important than ever to ensure that attractive and expensive possessions are not left in sight to encourage burglars.

The Home Office also warns against leaving large amounts of money around the home unless absolutely necessary. For further tips, you can always check out our guide to burglar-proofing your home or our top ten tips for keeping burglars at bay.

If you are a victim of this sort of crime, it's vitally important to make sure you phone the police - according to research*, less than half of those who believe they have come across a distraction burglar have done so.

*Research from Sainsbury's Home Insurance, April 2010

Protect Your Property

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:45:18 -0400

Empty homes provide summer burglars with easy pickings. In the excitement of preparing for your annual holiday double checking your home cover and car insurance is up-to-date might not seem very appealing.

But when you leave your home empty you leave it at risk, so it is absolutely essential that you make sure it is secure and protected.

The summer is a peak time for burglaries with 42% more theft claims in British Summer Time than in the winter months according to Saga Home Insurance, which also says that nearly half of all burglaries occur when a home is empty.

What should you do?

You need to do everything you can to make it look as though you are still at home.
Measures such as cancelling the milk and newspapers, and getting timers on your lights can be helpful, but it's also worth asking a friend or member of the family to act as a housesitter while you are away, or at least to push post through your letter box.
Decent window and door locks are vital, as is a burglar alarm, although according to recent research from Confused.com, 16 million homes in the UK do not have an alarm fitted.

Also look at access to your back garden or the side of your property. Do you have a sturdy gate with a lock, or is it easy for somebody to access your land without being seen?

Whatever you do, don't leave a spare set of keys in the garage or shed - even if you think they are well hidden.

Ensure you insure

These preventative measures are important but the reality is that burglaries still happen. They are always upsetting and some things are irreplaceable, but knowing that you will be recompensed for most of your belongings is invaluable.
Yet almost 10 million households in the UK do not have any form of home insurance, according to Confused.com.

Underinsured?

Even those who do have building and home contents policies are often massively underinsured. We accumulate possessions over time and it could be that you need to increase your insurance cover. The cost of replacing the contents of the average British home is £45,000 according to Sainsbury's Home Insurance.
Plus you should check the rebuild cost for your home as it could have increased since you first took out buildings insurance. The implications could be huge if you are covered for £50,000 and the rebuild cost is really £100,000, as your insurer will deem you to be underinsured by 50%, and will only pay out a maximum of 50% of any claims.
Check your home's rebuild cost at The Building Cost Information Service - www.bcis.co.uk.

Cover your car

If you are taking your car on holiday you might be making long car journeys or driving in unfamiliar areas. A bump on holiday could be costly and comprehensive car insurance could save you hundreds of pounds in garage costs.
Even if you are leaving the car at home this year, it could be at risk of theft. If you only have third party cover, upgrading could be a smart move and needn't mean vastly increased premiums.

Whatever you do don't neglect your home and possessions when you go away. It costs very little for the peace of mind that your property is protected.

Deposit Protection Schemes for Tenants Explained

Wed, 26 May 2010 23:26:27 -0400

Harder-to-get mortgages mean that the property ladder is now even further out of reach for a lot of us. But being a tenant isn't necessarily a bad thing: renting allows greater flexibility, house prices are falling, rent is falling, and tenants' rights are increasing - including a recent law that protects rental deposits.

Rent Deposits

A deposit is a set amount of money, often equal to one month's rent, that a tenant pays at the beginning of the rental period. When the tenant leaves, it should be returned minus any deductions for damage caused to the property. The deposit acts as protection for landlords so they don't have to use their own money to fix unreasonable damage caused by tenants (e.g. trashed furniture, bathrooms or kitchens).

A deposit used to go straight into the landlord's pocket for safe keeping, to be returned to the tenant - less any deduction for repair work - at the end of the tenancy. However, this system didn't always work smoothly; with many instances of unscrupulous landlords holding back hundreds of pounds for spurious repairs leading to small claims court action.

Hence the creation of Deposit Protection Schemes, designed to safeguard the rightful return of tenants' money.

Deposit Protection Schemes

Since 6th April 2007, all deposits for new assured shorthold tenancies in England and Wales have to be protected by a government-approved deposit protection schemes (unless the annual rent is £25,000 or over).

Almost all rentals begun after 1997 fall into the assured shorthold category. Major exceptions include university halls of residence, and tenancies where accommodation is shared with the landlord.

There are two types of deposit protection scheme: insurance based and custodial.
• Insurance-based schemes are where the landlord holds onto the deposit and pays a fee to the scheme. The fee ensures that the deposit is always returned to the tenant (minus any legitimate deductions), even if the landlord runs off to Las Vegas with it.
• In custodial schemes, the landlord hands the deposit over to the scheme. Interest earned on the deposit is used to fund the scheme, and any excess interest is paid back to the landlord or tenant when the deposit is returned.

How does it work?

The landlord has fourteen days from receipt of the deposit to protect it in one of the recognised schemes. Within the two-week time limit, the landlord must also let tenants know:

• Their contact details
• Contact details of the relevant deposit protection scheme
• What the deposit is for
• How to get the deposit back
• What will happen in the event of a dispute

At the beginning of the tenancy, the schemes expect a clear agreement to be reached about the condition of the property. This is designed to prevent disputes when the deposit is returned; so make sure that any peeling wallpaper is acknowledged, and that property contents are protected by home insurance.

If things go wrong

The deposit must be returned within ten days of the tenants moving out. Deductions are only permitted to cover damage to the property, or non-payment of rent; for example, the landlord can't take money off the deposit to fund a swish new bathroom suite, or to remedy normal wear and tear.

If there is a disagreement about the amount of deposit to be returned, all schemes have a free dispute resolution service. Whilst this process is completed, landlords in an insurance-based scheme must hand over the deposit to the scheme.

However, the Deposit Protection Service has revealed that 62%* of landlords are disobeying deposit legislation and not using any of the relevant schemes. To avoid such landlords, make sure you get details of how your deposit will be protected before the tenancy begins.

If you do find yourself renting from a dodgy landlord who's not fulfilling statutory obligations, you can report them to the county court who can award you compensation of three times the deposit amount. The court will also order the landlord to either refund the deposit, or place it in one of the schemes.

Other ways to protect yourself as a tenant

• Confused.com and other insurance comparison companies can help you find the right contents insurance for your belongings. Contents insurance protects your possessions from fire or theft, and accidental damage cover (which will replace items that are unintentionally broken) is also available.
• A full inventory of the rental property isn't mandatory, but it can be helpful in preventing potential problems when retrieving your deposit; Shelter has a useful inventory template. Taking photographs of the property and its contents is also a good idea.
• Make note of utility meter readings when you move in and leave. If gas and electricity aren't included in your rent, you may wish to consider switching utility providers to see if you can save money on energy bills.

*According to research by the Deposit Protection Service in June 2008, 62% of landlords have not protected their tenant's deposit in any deposit protection scheme.

Top 10 Tips to Keep Burglars at Bay

Wed, 26 May 2010 22:51:26 -0400

With the recession in full swing, would-be thieves are getting busy. There has seen been an increase of burglaries in England and Wales, according to Home Office figures which showed a 4% rise for the second quarter in a row.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has predicted summer temperatures will soar to 30C, which means most of us will keep our windows and doors open for bit of a breeze - an open invite to light-fingered loiterers.

However, there are ways to prevent a burglary. Follow Confused.com's top 10 tips to make sure the next home insurance claim isn't yours!

1. Keep your windows and doors locked

It sounds obvious, but a recent poll found 29% of burglaries in 2008 were unforced*. Thieves entered houses and flats through open windows or unlocked doors.

2. Hide valuables

Do you really need to keep your laptop right by the window so that it's in plain view from the street? Also, some insurance companies won't pay up if certain valuables, such as jewels, are not stored in a suitably secure location within your home.

3. Photograph your valuables

That way, if you get burgled, you have a record of what's missing when filling out your home insurance claim. Police can also use the photos to identify your possessions if the thief is caught.

4. Buy a burglar alarm

An alarm is a thief's worst enemy so be sure to set it every time you leave the house or go to bed. Having it tested every three months will keep it in good working order too.

5. Invest in a home security system

If you can afford it, augment your existing burglar alarm with a cutting-edge digital security system. Cameras record any movement in your home and capture a thief in action. What's more, new technology means you can keep an eye on your property directly from your mobile phone.

6. Install motion detector lights

Would-be burglars hate being exposed, so make sure your motion detectors are nice and bright. For increased security, mount them high up on the wall to illuminate a wider area.

7. Apply anti-climb paint

Coat walls and pipes in anti-climb paint. No matter how hard they try, thieves will go down rather than up. Even a thorny trellis beneath your windows can provide a good deterrent to light-fingered thieves. For more handy tips, see Confused.com's Guide to Burglar-Proofing Your Home.

8. Shower safely

Steamy windows tell intruders you're upstairs bathing - and therefore too busy to stop a break-in. Always lock windows and doors before jumping in the shower.

9. Get on the internet

Take a look at your house on Google Street View and see it like a potential thief would. Does that unkempt tree in the front of the house look like a good cover for a break-in? If Google is advertising your home as an easy target, contact them and get the image removed.

10. Fit a timer switch

Noise, lights and drawn curtains are less tantalizing to a potential thief. If you're away on holiday, timers can be attached to lights, radios and televisions to give the impression someone's at home. Some switches provide up to six on/off settings a day with random settings available to eliminate predictability. It's enough to make any would-be burglar think twice.

* Halifax Home Insurance survey statistics

Are estate agents piling on the pressure?

Wed, 26 May 2010 05:26:37 -0400

It's been an interesting two weeks to say the least and if you read my last blog you'll know I recently made an offer on a house. In fact, the house isn't quite what I saw myself buying, but after viewing more properties than I'd like to recall and bringing my mum along on the second viewing, she got me to see the property in a different light.

It needs work and it will probably be quite a task but I'm hoping it might be a good investment. They say you're supposed to see a property as a home and not an investment although it's hard to.

I mean, a similar house on the opposite side of the road is for sale at £10,000 more than the one I've made an offer on, so obviously I'm hoping that with a bit of cash and TLC, I'll be able to increase the value of the property on the same scale, though I'm not pinning my hopes on it.

I'm digressing a bit though because what I really want to talk about is the position some estate agents can put you in when you're looking to secure the house. To cut to the chase, this is what happened to me last week.

Playing on house-hunters emotions

I was already using my own independent financial adviser mortgage advice and obviously the estate agent has its own mortgage adviser in-house and wanted me to use its service. Just for a comparison, I met with their in-house bloke, but I did feel slightly pressured to use the estate agent's adviser instead of my own.

Why? Well basically, I was told that if I arrange the mortgage through the estate agent's mortgage adviser, the property would then be taken off the market straight away and there was a higher chance of the sale going through because they are handing the whole transaction and therefore can make sure it all goes smoothly. Obviously I, like any other buyer, want the sale to go through so I felt my emotions were being played with a bit and throwing this suggestion out there simply isn't fair.

Of course, it's totally illegal for the estate agent to say anyone has to use their mortgage adviser and that's not what they were saying, but I did feel that if I didn't use the estate agents mortgage service that the purchase of the property may not be smooth and someone may come in with a better offer and I'd lose the house in the time it took to get the mortgage arranged with my own IFA.

In the end, the agent's mortgage adviser did find me a better mortgage deal but admittedly I fell for the estate agents tactics and felt under increasing pressure to use its mortgage service. Now, I'm not sure how widespread this is, but I'm guessing this wasn't an isolated case.

A handy little app for calculating your home contents value

Wed, 26 May 2010 05:03:09 -0400

When insuring the contents of one's home against theft, damage or loss, it's surprisingly easy to underestimate the sum total of your stuff. For this reason, it's common for people to be underinsured, and hence fall short of being able to replace all their possessions in the event of a claim. Bad times!

But how much of a problem is this, exactly? Well, it's been estimated that homeowners may be underinsured to a tune of a whopping great 79 per cent*, as they believe their contents amount to an average of £10,717 - whereas the real average figure is closer to £50,000!

Eeek! What's to be done?

There are many free app's for the iPhone that will help you work out what your household contents are really worth, the Confused.com app in particular is very good. In turn, having a more accurate figure for their total value will greatly reduce the risk of finding yourself underinsured, and potentially out of pocket.

The Confused.com contents app ensures you overlook nothing!
To work out how much contents insurance you need, you can use our app to help you work out the exact inventory of your house. This can be used as a snapshot of your valuables, and can be updated at any time - such as after you've redecorated, or bought expensive new items.

Forgetting to include items in your inventory is just as likely to leave your final figure short as undervaluing what you do take into consideration. For example, have you tallied up all of your CDs, DVDs and books? How about your clothes? Or your bed linen? And it can be very easy to forget items such as carpets or curtains - which you would still have to spend money replacing in the event of a fire, for instance. But our handy tool can remind you of things you may otherwise overlook on a room-by-room basis.

The tool will also automatically recognise which items are high risk, or which will need to be insured if taken off the property - such as laptops, sports equipment or jetpacks.
Our splendid little home insurance contents calculator is available for free download from the Apple site from 23 March. Oh, and did we mention that it was free?

Other handy tips
• Some people overlook entire rooms. Don't forget the attic! And do you have any cupboards which house vacuum cleaners, or coats, or shoes, for example? Stick ‘em all down!
• You mustn't forget to pop outside and list garden ornaments, bicycles and items stored in your shed. That is, if you want these included in your cover. Which you do. Again, our app will remind you of this.
• A ‘computer' tends not be merely a computer. If there are any peripherals such as webcams, printers, external hard-drives etc, then make sure they're all included.
• Don't just guesstimate the value of your clothing - be thorough. You may have more suits, pairs of shoes or designer togs than you initially think.
• There may be a small fortune living inside your laptop, PC or your phone. Some policies will cover you for your downloads - such as software or digital music - so be sure to keep your e-receipts when you buy things online. You could make a new folder in your email program specifically for such purchases.
• Items you've bought for your pets may well tally up. Have you got a kennel, a tropical aquarium, or a diamond-studded collar for your beloved moggy? If so, make a note of it!

*Research by OnePoll during February 2010 amongst 2,000 homeowners.

Telling a Good Locksmith Service

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:32:25 -0400

Being able to tell a good locksmith is a useful ability as it allows you to find more quickly a locksmith that will provide you with a reliable service that you will want to stick with. But how do you determine whether a locksmith is worth sticking with or whether you should shop around? What separates a good locksmith from a sub-standard one? Here we will look at some of the signifiers of good and bad locksmiths.

Timing: Obviously a good locksmith will arrive promptly and on time. This will be useful when you're arranging to have a lock changed or replaced, particularly if you've organised to come home from work or stay in. Even more though, if you're using a 24 hour emergency locksmith and you're relying on them to let you in when you've lost your key or are subject to another form of lockout. Here you could be standing in the rain or cold and timing really is of the essence.

Phone Service: At the same time you shouldn't have to struggle getting through to someone on the phone. It's all very good and well having a 24 hour locksmith service, but if you can't get through to them on the phone then this won't really do you any good when you need them most.

Efficiency: Your locksmith service should be efficient in that they solve your problem as quickly as possible. At the same time though they need to be thorough and it's obviously no good if your lock breaks the next day again and you find yourself victim of another lockout. Make sure that thoroughly test your locksmith's work after they've gone then and preferably while the door is open to prevent lockout. If they haven't done a good job - move on.

Knowledge: Obviously you want to feel that your locksmith service is well informed and knows how to deal with multiple different locks. This way you will only need one number for any kind of problem whether you're locked out of a traditional cylinder lock, a digital lock or you need an auto locksmith for cars. At the same time this will also mean that they can help advise you on the best types of locks to invest in to prevent future problems and to help you find the most cost effective solution for your particular security needs.

Friendliness: Like any good service your locksmith should be friendly and polite and you should feel comfortable letting them into your home and allowing them to work with your locks.

Website: Checking the website is a good way to check out a locksmith service and this should help show you whether your company is professional and reliable. You can also look for other reviews and comments about the service online to see what others have thought of the various services.

Price: Particularly with a 24 hour locksmith it's important to find out the prices before you call anyone out. Look around at the competition and if you find a cheaper company then enquire as to why the prices are different and how this is reflected in the service.

Survival Kit and What You Need in It and Why You Need One

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:03:24 -0400

Survival Kit

Planning on climbing Qomolangma, also known as Everest? Maybe that is a little too extreme! Perhaps you would like to start with something small such as the alps or Rockies? Even if you do not have that adventure gene and just want to go for a stroll in the local hills, having the correct survival kit can mean the difference between life and death.

I Won't Need That!

Famous last words! Even in movies, we all know, well in advance, which character is going to fall off the cliff first - their casual disregard for proper procedure and equipment giving it all away!. Although we laugh at this character, many people make the same mistake in real life, even when it is their survival that is at stake. Most of us think that we don't need Survival Kit - "nothing will happen to us." Well think again!

Accidents and emergencies are never planned. Even on the sunniest day and on the lowest hill you can soon find yourself fighting for survival. Why take the risk? Professional mountaineers spend thousands on proper equipment and tools. You may not be climbing Qomolangma but you should still respect the hills.

Weather

Most deaths and injuries are not caused by avalanches, failed equipment, or explosions as the movies would have us believe. Most people who lose their fight for survival do so because of the weather. This may be shocking to most people but it is true. Even the best weather can soon turn nasty. When you are on the mountainside, hundreds of miles from the nearest town you have to be prepared for the worst weather.

Having the correct survival kit can ensure that you are prepared for the elements. Exposure is one of the biggest killers. It can be easily avoided as well. Suitable clothing and accessories can mean that even if it starts to snow and there is a freezing wind, you are still nice and warm inside your proper clothing.

Gear

Apart from clothing there are other things that make up survival kit. Standard for your survival is something to eat. Many kits come with dry packed food that can last for weeks, if rationed carefully. Cooking utensils may also be a good idea along with a means to start fire. Many people overlook water but having a good supply of water prevents dehydration that can cause lack of concentration and lead to mistakes.

Simple tools such as a compass, map, and radio are standard. With advances in technology, some disaster survival kit now come with GPS and mobile communication devices. These can be used to find your way or contact someone for help. Until help comes, you will need shelter. This comes in the form of lightweight tents and blankets. Keeping warm and out of the elements increases you chance for survival immensely.

It all boils down to chance. Most people go for a walk in the mountains and never need to use any of their survival kit. But would you like to rely on luck for your survival. Best to check out the equipment available.

How ‘tweeting' can put your home at risk

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:41:08 -0400

As more and more of us run our lives through social media, it can be easy to forget the real-life risks that your tweeting can create.

A new website, PleaseRobMe.com is warning oblivious users that posting their whereabouts via portals such as Twitter and Facebook can be more than just an irritation to friends - and can, in fact, advertise your home to burglars.

Please Rob Me

The rise in different social network location-based services, such as Foursquare, allows you to tell others your exact location at any point in time. This makes it abundantly clear that you are not in your home - not the type of information you want falling into the wrong hands.

In light of this, Please Rob Me has gone to great lengths to stress the dangers of highlighting your whereabouts on the internet - listing a catalogue of details about those who have revealed their houses to be empty. The development is particularly terrifying when placed alongside a recent study, which found that 41 per cent of people divulge personal information to complete strangers online*.

Darren Black, head of home insurance at Confused.com, says that "criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their information gathering, even using Google Earth and Street View to plan their burglaries with military precision".

And that's not all. He added that home insurance providers assessing claims are starting to take information revealed on the sites into account, noting that "we may, in future, see insurers declining claims if they believe the customer is negligent".

Want to know how you can better protect yourself? Then follow these simple tips.

It can seem a real hassle to keep your home secure, but here are some cheap and easy ways of ensuring that your home is indeed your fortress.

1. Stay social but stay safe

Most importantly, perhaps, to those of you bursting to tell the online world of your activities, be careful of divulging too much information.
Similarly, it's crucial to keep a keen eye on your ‘friends' list - an increasing number of thieves have been known to add you as a buddy just to check your suitability as a victim.

2. Keep your home locked and possessions hidden

The obvious one - or at least you would think. While we know that unforced entry is one of the most popular forms of burglary, a huge number of people still do not lock their doors and windows when they leave the house. On top of that, hiding your possessions from view is an excellent way of preventing a would-be thief from taking the plunge.

3. Buy a burglar alarm

Yes, we all hate it when they wake us up, heads throbbing, at 4am, but we don't dislike them half as much as those nasty robbers. Keep it set each night and whenever you leave the house - and don't forget to have it tested every three months.

4. Fit a timer switch

Nothing puts a burglar off more than a busy household. If you're going away and feel the need to tweet about it, the least you can do is give the impression that someone else is in. Timers are available for most products, meaning that you can have the TV, radio and lights programmed to make a burglar think that someone's having a right old knees-up while you're away.
NB: One crafty way of keeping the robbers at bay is by investing in a clever little invention called FakeTv. This gadget will simulate the light output of a real LCD TV, all using a fraction of the energy..

5.Don't keep your spare keys under the doormat

Burglars are canny sorts, and the good ones know all the tricks of the trade. Places that you might think are super-secret hideaways could, in fact, be a gift-wrapped invite to enter your home while you're away. Our message is simple - leave it with a friend or neighbour, NOT outdoors.