The days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming, and the clocks are springing forward. This signals the time of year when many of us think about moving home.
Moving is a big step and there’s a lot to think about, which means security can sometimes become an after-thought. The security specialists at Yale have put together some key advice to help anyone thinking of moving home this spring…
So, you’ve said goodbye to your old place, picked up the new keys, lugged your life from one house to another and finally closed your new front door for the very first time.
The first night in a new home can be a little unnerving as it takes a while to adjust to your new surroundings. However, for peace of mind you should make time for essential security checks.
Although stripping out old wallpaper, replacing floral curtains and arranging scatter cushions can seem like much more exciting jobs, it’s important to assess your new home’s security.
Who’s got the keys to your home?
Are you confident that the previous owner or tenant handed all their keys back, or didn’t leave a spare with a neighbour?
They may have forgotten to retrieve a spare key from tradesmen, or if they’d ever left a key under the doormat or in a plant pot, it’s possible that someone could have made a copy and returned it to the hiding place, where no one will ever know it went missing…
Around 5%* of home burglaries occur because the intruder has a key so, to make sure you are the only one enjoying your new home, we recommend you change your front and back door lock cylinders when you move into your new property, and then again every five years.
By changing the rim cylinder in a nightlatch, or the euro profile cylinder in a multipoint lock, your home can be secure in minutes, without you having to change the entire lock or door. When you replace your cylinder, we strongly recommend you spend a little bit more and go for a British Standard lock. By upgrading your cylinder to one conforming to TS007 you can be assured that your home has the very latest security protection, for added peace of mind. This is also the standard that many insurance companies require as part of minimum security measures to validate your policy.
The Yale Crime Watcher app is also a useful tool to check burglary statistics in your new postcode. The app features an easy postcode look-up function, which will display current burglary statistics within a mile of your home, during a one-month period. The app is powered by the Police API system, meaning the information is both up to date and accurate.
To keep your new memories yours. Yale it.
*Yale UK
I must admit it’s something that has crossed my mind – I’m guessing it’s unlikely now we have been in for a few years, but it’s the sort of thing I think about if hubby is away.
I was so pariod when we moved in to our first home we had new locks put in!
Yes, this is something I have thought about. we were burgled years ago they entered the house while we were asleep upstairs. I still get unnerved when i hear strange noises at night
yale has always been the one lock you can depend on , not one home ide not go without a yale lock x
When I think of locks and keys i think Yale. Thanks for the post, security is so important.
When ive moved, the first thing I have always done is have the locks changed x
cant beat yale it has such a good rep 🙂
Scary! I hadn’t really thought of all of that, thanks for the info.
Really hadnt considered that we should change the locks- I will be giving it some thought now tho!
Thankfully we moved into my inlaws old house so would have given them keys anyway.
Very important though
REally useful information, this. It is so important to secure your home any way you can.
I wouldn’t think about changing the locks every five years, but it’s certainly a good point. Definitely food for thought.
Changing the locks as soon as you move in, is always a must for me, you never know how many people have or had a key to those locks on that door before you!
Definitely change all the locks of your new place! You have no idea who has access to your property and who kept your keys. So, for peace of your mind take this into consideration in advance!
Yale Crime Watcher is quite a good app.Haven’t lived in our house for long, so it’s a great comfort to know there’s only been one crime recently. Also gives good ideas on home security improvements; I think my house is up to scratch, but may invest in a stand alone alarm for my shed!