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2011年11月14日 星期一

Better Locks Means Fewer Risks and Cheaper Insurance

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Do you know what types of locks are fitted on your doors at home? If you do not, you share that in common with the majority of homeowners in the UK. Most people just presume that their existing locks are up to safety standards, but this assumption can be painfully shattered if they are forced to make a claim on their home insurance.

Insurers are often strict in their conditions for home insurance, and buried in the small print on a policy document there can be detailed specifications of exactly what they require in terms of home security. If these conditions are not met, the insurer may say that any claim on the policy is invalid, possibly leaving the homeowner with a bill for thousands of pounds.

It is common for insurers to insist on "British safety standard" locks, and in particular a strong mortice lock for the front door. When asked about this as part of a huge policy form, these are exactly the kind of thing homeowners may be unsure about, and might simply tick 'yes' and move on without thinking about it.

You can of course tick 'no' to be on the safe side if you don't know, but the consequence will be that the only cover you will be able to get will come with a high premium. Insurance nowadays is a risk-adverse industry, so if your home isn't as secure as it could be, the provider will expect a high price to take on that risk.

Part of the problem is that unless the house in question is a new build and all the specifications are readily available, it can be hard to actually find out what type of locks are installed. Identifying locks requires expert knowledge and you may even need to remove the lock to discover what it is, so calling in a locksmith to take a look for you can pay dividends when it comes to getting the best insurance policy.

If you find your locks are old and outdated, it may well be cost-effective to get the locksmith to take out the locks and replace them with new ones that meet all the necessary requirements and safety standards. Although you have the initial expense of paying the locksmith fees, you could actually end up saving money if you get significantly cheaper insurance as a result. You also have the peace of mind of knowing that your locks are as safe and secure as they possibly can be from burglars and thieves.

Finally, it is worth noting that some insurers will turn down claims regardless of whether you have the correct locks, in cases where burglars get in through an open window or due to some other basic security lapse. In such cases you can appeal to the authorities, but depending on your policy they might not necessarily rule in your favour. This is why as well as being aware of your locks, you also need to be aware of the general precautions you need to take to safeguard your home at all times.

Keytek 24 hour locksmiths provide cost-effective locksmith services including security checks and fitting new locks. Visit the Keytek website to find out more about Keytek 24 hour locksmith services.


2011年11月12日 星期六

Home Security: General Risks

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No matter who you are, or where you live, your HOME can become the victim of vandals and burglars. It is therefore very important that you consider the options and products available in the Home Protection market, so that you, your family and your possessions can remain safe.

Life styles vary a great deal from family to family. With some couples both partners go out to work, with others only one. With families there is again much variation in those who remain at home. Having someone around to keep an eye on things is a great deterrent to the thief - changes of routine rather than predictable habits are good.

Where you live also plays a great part in the risks - it makes a great difference whether you're in a busy neighborhood, or out in the wilds of the country. Starting or joining a Neighborhood Watch Scheme can play a great part in making your locality a safer one.

One option is to have a burglar alarm installed in your home. Different households have different requirements when it comes to alarm systems, so advice should be sort from an expert.

There are a great many factors governing this choice.

* the nature of the surroundings
* proximity of neighbors
* type of house construction
* window and door types and numbers
* paths and driveways
* garages
* outbuildings
* and any areas which are naturally concealed from view

Also to be considered is the type of life that you lead. All these are important to give the home just what it needs for maximum security.

Many different kinds of burglar alarm systems are available, basically falling into three distinctive types - hard wired, wireless and motion sensor. They are loaded with different features for deterring the burglars and thieves.More expensive systems offer a service anytime the alarm is set off silently. There is either a constant monitoring watch over your home, or a connection is made to the emergency alarm center.

The best type of alarm system is one that can monitor every part of your house. A cheaper system will only monitor a number of locations at one time. Research shows that in most thefts, door or windows are used to gain entry. PIR Motion Detectors use Split Zone Optic technology. They and able to perceive trespassers approaching slowly and crawling on the ground, while ignoring the household pets. Standard Door/Window Wireless Sensors are used to protect inside and outside of your home. These sensors detect so well that it is almost impossible for burglars approach unnoticed.

Some consideration should be given to what you do if you have a break in, both if you are there and if you are not. Partly this depends on your surroundings, and your alarm system. External alarms are often ignored by neighbors and passers by as they seem prone to going off for no reason. In this respect, arrangements with neighbors and neighborhood watch schemes can be very useful as an action force.

More interesting Home Security stuff

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Paul