Prioritise Your Safety – Secure Your Home With A Locksmith

Although you would like to think that your home is completely safe and secure from intruders, you may not be aware that there are serious security risks that are affecting your home right now. Although there are a wide range of state-of-the-art gadgets and locking systems that seem impregnable, there are still unfortunately opportunist thieves that will try any means necessary to try and access your property.

Although this may seem like a frightening prospect, we have created this guide to help you secure your home with the help of a trusted, local locksmith. Although some of the advice in this blog post may be obvious, there are likely some tips that you can use to secure your property and keep your possessions and your family safe from intruders.

Changing the Locks on Your Property

If you’ve purchased or are renting a property, you’ve likely been given 2 brand new sets of keys to your front door and to other doors that access the property. This may seem normal, but who were the last people to be issued new keys and the people before? A whole multitude of people could have been given a set of keys to your property. Neighbours who have been tasked with looking after the dogs whilst on holiday? Tradesmen who need frequent access to your home during a renovation project? It’s impossible to know how many people may have been given a set of keys to your property.

The easiest solution to this problem is to contact a local locksmith to change your locks. It’s recommended to replace the locks of any property that comes into your hands as soon as you move in whether you are renting or have purchased your new home (always ask permission from your landlord or request a change of locks.) This means that you can start again and you will know who exactly has the relevant keys to your property without you having to worry about a stranger having ease of access to your property.

Upgrading Your Locking Systems

This is particularly important for older properties or homes that have not had renovations carried out. You may find that you have older or outdated security systems or locking systems. The windows of period properties for example may have their original locking systems which are not suited for the technology that thieves operate with today. Luckily, there are a number of modern security systems that are designed to match the aesthetic of modern homes to ensure that you are prepared in the event of a break-in.

Your locksmith will be able to carry out a comprehensive inspection of your property and offer honest recommendations on how to improve the general security of your home. This includes the updating of locking systems as your locksmith will also know the latest tricks that thieves are using to try and break into properties. This will give you peace of mind and help protect you and your family from intruders.

Taking a Proactive Rather Than a Reactive Approach

Break-ins are a terrible occurrence often leaving families with a sense that their personal space and safety has been violated. Unfortunately, some homeowners wait until a break-in occurs before taking action and investing in the security of their property. The way that thieves look to break into properties also means that you need to take a proactive approach to your security. There have been recent cases in the UK for example of thieves using blowtorches to access UPVC windows and doors, rendering all but the most recent locking mechanisms at risk of a 30 second to 1 minute break in.

Speaking to your locksmith is the first step in making sure that you are up-to-date with the latest security requirements and that your home is protected. It’s also very important to bear in mind that your home insurance could be affected by a variety of potential issues should a lock be deemed to be faulty or it appears as if no break-in has occurred. If you have an issue such as a UPVC door lock that jams for example and you have not tried to have this repaired, this could work against you in an insurance claim even if the door was not used as an obvious entry point.

Advice on Finding a Local Locksmith

If you are looking to find a locksmith then it’s highly recommended to go local. Be wary as national locksmiths often pose as local locksmiths but often inflate part prices to cover middle-man costs. Finding a trusted local locksmith ensures that you are getting great value for money and you can be sure that the work is completed to an exceptional standards. The best way to find a local locksmith is look online or ask for referrals from friends or family. We hope that you found our guide useful and that you consider taking the security of your property a priority today. Using our advice above, you will have peace of mind that your property is secure and that your family is safe from would-be thieves.

About the Author

Alexander Fox works for Forth Locks who have many years of experience as domestic and commercial locksmiths. They help their clients secure their homes in ensuring that they have a local locksmith in Edinburgh available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.