The onset of winter sees most households turn their attention to energy saving measures. However, between draft-proofing and insulation plans, it may also be worth considering how secure your home is.
Aside from making us all feel that little bit more miserable, bad weather and shorter days also provide good opportunities for thieves to strike.
Combine this with a trip away over the Christmas period and high-value gifts left on display in the living room, and you've made your home look that little bit more attractive to criminals.
This makes it all the more important to take precautions. Some households will be lucky enough to have an insurer who automatically increases contents cover in anticipation of more high value gifts being added to the home's stock. However, if you're not among this fortunate group, then consider boosting your insurance around one month before Christmas.
When changing your insurance policy, be sure to pay particular attention to high value items. Moneysupermarket.com insurance spokesperson Peter Harrison notes insurers often have limits of £1,000 or £2,000 for single expensive items, so it pays to ask about jewellery and expensive electrical items to ensure they are all covered.
Police forces recommend homeowners take preventative measures to protect their home, by ensuring presents and packaging for expensive gifts are kept well from view. More importantly, ensure all
doors and
windows remain securely locked when you're out of the house and use curtains or blinds to block the view of prying eyes.
Thieves can be an intelligent bunch, and will often be able to distinguish between a home that is easier to break into than another. Your choice of door can therefore play a crucial role in deterring thieves.
Opting for a modern
uPVC door will not only improve your home's energy efficiency and draught exclusion, but is often significantly more secure, fitted with hinges, locks and bolts fixed directly to the door's steel reinforced frame.
