Home Security for the festive period

Crime statists show that criminal activity increases during the Christmas period as homes are full of expensive gifts or left unattended for a few days. During the festive period home owners should take a minute to consider how secure their home and contents are. These security tips highlight the security flaws that criminals look for when scouting for potential targets.

How secure does the property look? 

Thieves will always look for an easy entry and exit route, if they cannot readily see an easy way in, they will bypass your home and choose an easier target. Making your home look secure is therefore vitally important. Doors and windows that appear old and un-cared for will give the impression of a poorly maintained house and a potential target, all external doors should be fitted with high security door locks and all windows should be fitted with a key operated lock.

An untidy garden can also give the impression of an unloved house, thick bushes can be used as hiding places for crooks and any unsecured items in the garden could be used to access the property, always put away or lock up garden items such as ladders, these could be used to gain access to an upstairs window.

If you do go away for Christmas, ensure that any deliveries are cancelled, these can be a dead giveaway that no one is home. Royal Mail offers a post holding service called Keepsafe™ , this facility holds onto mail for a pre-set period of time, so instead of letting your post and parcels build up let Royal Mail keep hold of them.

Good Lighting 

External lights with motion sensors can be used at the front of a property, these will come on when the house is approached. Security lights can also be used to illuminate dark corners that could be potential hiding spots for intruders looking to break into a property. There are now many solar powered lights that can be easily fitted without the need of an electrician. Internal lights can also be used to good effect, giving off the impression that people are at home, light timers can be used to switch a light on when it gets dark.
Cables for Christmas lights should never be fed through an open window, instead install an external power socket.

Home Safes

Small home safes that can be hidden away are now popular security items for many households, important and valuable items can be securely stored in the safe. During the festive period it can be a good idea to store gift receipts in a safe, that way if the worst was to happen, you still have proof of purchase and value. Small key safes are now being used to good effect to protect keys for other parts of the house and vehicle keys. If someone were to gain access to your home, any keys that are left in the ‘key pot’ would allow easy entry to other locked parts of the home. Car keys can also be stored within small key safes, if a thief was to gain access to your home, car keys left unsecured give the criminal easy access to your vehicle as well.

Social Media

Thieves have started to use social media as a method to find out when properties will be vacant, it is therefore essential not to give this information away. Check your social media setting and make sure that only friends and family can see your updates, better still, not advertise that you will be away for a few days. This point is also valid when posting pictures of the brand new bike you received for Christmas, this could be an advert to an offender that you have a new valuable item stored within your property.

Remember, stay safe over Christmas, have a great time with family and friends and look out for others that are vulnerable or alone.

This article has been supplied by the locktrader team, check out their website www.locktrader.co.uk supplying low cost locks and security for the home.

Looking for Eco-Friendly Christmas Lights?

Christmas is fast approaching and more than ever before we are looking to make purchases that are not only great value but can help the environment as well. If you are looking for an original, vibrant and eco-friendly way of brightening the outside of your home this festive season, take a look at our great offerings of some eco-friendly Christmas lights

So how do solar lights work? Solar garden lights work through the photovoltaic (PV) effect. This PV effect is the term used for the process to describe when sunlight generates energy in solar cells and this is also called photovoltaic cells. As the solar lights charge right through the day, it stores the sufficient amount of energy to light an entire garden path or walk way throughout the night, and the cycle is then repeated again when the sun rises.

We have a vast range of beautiful fairy lights that can transform the outside of your home and are powered by solar energy. Not only are these lights long lasting but they also offer great performance and are not necessarily just to be used at Christmas – giving that extra bit of sparkle to your home and garden all year round.

We are experienced in the sector of solar fairy lights and can offer our expertise when purchasing your eco-friendly Christmas lights this year and every year. If you would like our help or any further information, do not hesitate to contact us today via phone or email.

Improving Your Home? Don't Forget Your Car!

The new year is almost upon us and we often make resolutions that include some DIY around the house to improve our homes, but make sure you don’t neglect your car – that needs some TLC too, especially as it is thought that we spend 37,935 hours driving our cars in an entire lifetime!

Here are several other ways that you can improve your car, particularly if you are working with a budget:

• Remove any junk you have in your vehicle. This could be anything from empty food wrappers to books to sports equipment to spare clothes! This can help to not only add a sense of ‘lightness’ to the vehicle but also help how the car performs in terms of mileage, handling and braking distance.

• Use the best oil there is on offer and make sure you change it regularly. This can help make your vehicle run better and your car will be grateful for it.

• Replace any old spark plugs and air filters. This can help to boost the vehicle’s horse power and make the vehicle run better in general.

• Invest in the tires that you use and make sure they are inflated. This can make all the difference for vehicle performance, speed and keeping you safe.

We can provide brake caliper ranges include Haldex, BPW, SAF, and Foden and we supply re-conditioned brake calipers all over the UK for use on all variants of trailers and Lorries.

 If you need any help or information, please do not hesitate to get in contact via phone or email.

How to Keep Your Swimming Pool Clean and Hygienic

When it comes to owning and looking after a swimming pool, we understand and appreciate the importance of keeping the pool clean and hygienic. The correct water chemistry is necessary for keeping a swimming pool clean, safe and sanitised for swimmers, and the maintenance of a swimming pool's chemicals can save those who own a pool not only time but money as well. Various swimming pool chemicals are available from us that offer a great value way of keeping your swimming pool sanitised at all times.

What is it that makes a swimming pool dirty anyway? There are a few key factors that contribute to making a swimming pool unclean. Dirt and bacteria can be picked up from:

• People – when people swim in your pool, body fats, bacteria, nitrogen and ammonia are released as well as any dirt that may have been collected on the body before entering the pool.

• Dirt – dust and dirt can enter the pool from leaves, bird droppings, muddy feet and insects, adding to the not quite clean condition of the water.

• New water – residue is carried in rain water and can get into the pool by washing in from the sides.

• Algae – algae can build up gradually on any body of water that is not moving constantly and comes in thousands of colours and types.

If you need any help or more information please do not hesitate to get in contact via phone or email today.

New technology, winter weather and mobility: key issues affecting our elderly

In today’s world, there are many issues which affect us all on a day-to-day basis. For most of us, they’re easy to cope with but this isn’t always the case for the elderly. As a more vulnerable demographic, these individuals need extra care and consideration at times and here are some of the key issues currently affecting them.

New technology

The rise of the internet and the advent of smartphones and other high-tech devices is well documented but just how does it affect the elderly? There is a split opinion here with some people feeling the elderly are resistant to change while others acknowledge that the systems have infiltrated all age groups; albeit in varying ways.

The key issue here is that a lack of education and financial support means not all elderly individuals can use these services to their full potential. Over in Australia, the state’s peak health group has issued a plea to telecommunication giants including Telstra and Optus to subsidise the costs of internet access for the elderly.

According to their research, people aged 65 years or over who have internet access at home are more likely to avoid social isolation by volunteering, being active in their local community and staying in touch with their family.

Unfortunately, despite the benefits, internet penetration figures for those in the upper age brackets aren’t as high as authorities would like. In Victoria, 43% of those aged over 75 years have internet at home – a figure which jumps to a staggering 98% for those aged between 18 and 24 years.

Whether telecommunications firms will get on board with this new idea or not, and whether it is something which begins to affect other nations including the UK, is yet to be seen but it’s certainly a key issue for those more mature in years.

Winter weather

A recurring issue for elderly individuals is that of winter weather. With numerous stories about energy prices and poor heating, not to mention tales about elderly people becoming confined to their homes due to wintry showers, it’s hardly surprising that this is being made a priority by those in positions of power.

The York Press recently reported on how changes to the city’s gritting network could leave elderly and disabled people trapped in their homes once snowy and icy weather hits. As much as 30 miles of road have been removed from the local council’s “primary” gritting list as part of measures to try and save £60,000 and this will mean they’ll only be gritted during severe weather rather than being treated in sub-zero temperatures.

Mobility and care

Another key issue for the elderly is undoubtedly over their health, mobility and care provisions as they age. Social care for elderly individuals has been a big talking point for the UK Government but local communities are also making it a key focus.

In a poll of Derbyshire taxpayers, care homes were one of the things which the community wanted prioritised as the council attempts to save a staggering £157 million by 2018 through spending cuts. This emphasises how local communities are putting the safety and health of their most vulnerable citizens first.

This could mean looking for home aids to increase access around properties and buildings – for items like stairlifts UK suppliers offer a great selection of options – or having more drastic renovations completed to widen access points to homes, add rails and supports and heighten key areas such as toilets, seats and beds.

CarpetRight Infographic

How the Rest of the World Sleeps - An infographic by the team at Carpetright Beds

LED Floodlights

No matter where we go there is always floodlights nearby whether that is in our own yards, car parks or football stadiums. The reason for this is because the floodlights themselves are powerful lights that can power large areas easily with few lights, whereas if it was a standard outdoor light it would take hundreds to generate the same volume of light. Many choose floodlights in their own homes as a security option to keep their homes safe against intruders as the light acts as a deterrent.

LED floodlights have many advantages; one advantage is that they have an extremely long life span; typically they can last up to 50,000 hours. The great thing about this is that they won’t have to be replaced as often therefore there will be a lower running cost so the extra money can be used on other things!

LED floodlights are an eco-friendly option as they use less electricity than halogen floodlights meaning you will save more money on energy bills and help the environment. The LED floodlights themselves can be altered to hit areas directly, for example if you need the light to focus on a certain section of your yard this can be done easily, whereas if it was a standard halogen light this can’t be done as the light inside them split so that they can cover a whole area evenly.

When choosing a floodlight you want them to be durable and sturdy, with an LED floodlight this is the case as they are made to withstand extreme conditions such as rain, snow and hail.

LED floodlights have been proven to emit better light than standard lighting therefore you don’t need as many to brighten up an area. This is great news as you will save on both energy bills and purchasing costs!

Getting your house ready to sell

So you’ve found the house or flat of your dreams and you’ve already started planning where you’ll put the furniture and what colour you’ll paint the walls. Now, all that stands between you and future domestic bliss is the small matter of selling your own property…

A quick sale is what you need, but the process of selling a property can be fraught with frustration and disappointment if you don’t observe some simple rules when buyers come to view. Follow these tips from LDG estate agents and you should be successful. Specialists in Soho properties, they’ve helped many homeowners make that all important sale.

By the time most of us decide to move, we will have fallen slightly out of love with our current homes. Lack of space, small garden, tired décor, limited parking: it’s easy to come up with a list of what’s wrong, but in order to sell your property you will need to reconnect with the reasons why you bought it in the first place.

Your first step should be to make a list of the things that attracted you to buy (make sure all these good points are reflected in the estate agents’ details). Remember the buzz you felt when you first walked through the door? What were the features that really stood out for you then and how can you maximise their impact for potential buyers this time around?

You’ll be familiar with your property’s worst features – that’s why you’re moving, after all – but you should try to look at them objectively. You may not have the time or resources to completely redecorate but there’s a lot you can do to hide the worst defects.

Has your spare room become a dumping ground? Then buy some cheap storage containers for your surplus stuff and conceal the rest under the bed. Possessions lying on windowsills or piled on top of wardrobes are a dead giveaway that your current property lacks adequate storage space, so clear up, and clean up.

Fix any outstanding DIY job – there’s nothing more off-putting for a buyer than to be confronted by a dripping tap in the bathroom, weeds growing out of the guttering or broken tiles in the kitchen. The message these unfinished jobs convey is that you haven’t taken care to maintain your property.

You may have been planning to replace that old kettle, toaster and bread bin as soon as you move, but the best time to purchase those items is now. Put fresh flowers in the hallway, clean towels in the bathroom and make sure that all the usual sights and smells of daily life (socks on the radiator, dog hairs on the couch) are banished.

Finally, even though you may FEEL desperate to make that sale, try not to show it. Don’t follow viewers around like a lost dog, give them some space to explore on their own (if you’re worried about security, make sure that any valuables are well concealed). Prepare in advance for buyers’ questions and offer them the answers that you would want to hear, especially when it comes to that all-important phrase: “We’ve always been very happy here”.

Your New Bathroom Suite – Essential Items

I’ll level with you straight away, as I’m sure I won’t be alone: I’m not that organised. Being sorted out and scheduled is not something that comes all that naturally to me, and unless I go out of my way to fit some structure to my life I would spend most of my days aimlessly walking around the wrong workplace, more than likely in the wrong clothes.

This is why I tend to make lists for everything. It’s a habit picked up from my sister in law, who is like one of those ruthless military planners who run everything to unrelenting clockwork. 

With this inspiration, I want to help alleviate any stress you might be having putting your new bathroom together. To this end I have chucked together a quick list for you below to refer to as you wander, shell-shocked, around your local store or website. 

Fixtures & Fittings

Let’s start at the finish, with the finishing touches that are fixtures and fittings. Taps, for instance, require careful selection to match both the style you need, while getting the correct connectors, screws and other similar items makes for an installation that is a doddle. 

Ceramics

The main items that will immediately catch the eye are your ceramics. Make time to research ceramics units, as some materials are different to others. Toilets generally are styled as close coupled or back to wall, the latter far more contemporary due to its concealed cistern – this makes for a gloriously minimalist look. If you are given the option, do go for a dual flush toilet, as the conservation of water will help reduce your utility bills. 

Shower

The first thing to get out of the way is whether you are going to go with a thermostatic or standard mixer valve shower. The predominant difference is that a thermostatic shower maintains a constant temperature, whereas a standard mixer needs your input to manually keep the temperature you want. Your budget and system will dictate which you opt for here, so look into the pros and cons of both types before committing yourself. 

Furniture & Storage

The bathroom has the same needs as any other room, and  this includes storage.  Solutions include vanity units, mirror cupboards or freestanding or wall-mounted units. MDF boards and/or stainless steel are the key materials to look out for here as both are durable and strong. A number of different finishes are available too, so there is no need to worry as there will be something to match your room’s theme.  

Heating

Electric radiators are items of serious utility to install in your bathroom. This is because –whether electric or dual fuel through the addition of an element – you can switch on these radiators in isolation. Even if you want to stick with tried and tested central heating power, all shapes and sizes are catered for, from curved models to designer vertical units.

Portable Heating: Fan vs. Oil

As the cold winter nights start rolling in, now is the best time to get your home ready for the arrival of Jack Frost!

Central heating is often the best solution for heating your home throughout the winter months, but if your home is not fitted with a permanent central heating source or you have certain rooms in the home that are difficult to heat, it may be worth investing in a portable heater to keep your family warm this winter.

With so many different types of portable heaters on the market, it can be difficult to decide which will not only heat your home the most efficiently, but also which will make the smallest increase to your heating and electricity bills. With heating the home accounting for more than 50% of the average household energy usage, choosing the best portable heating solution for your home is essential.

We’re taking a look at the pros and cons of fan heaters VS oil heaters, the two most common portable heaters available on the market. Ranging in price, both heaters are ideal for warming up the home quickly, but how do they compare?

Oil Filled Heaters

Pros

• Oil-filled heaters are usually the cheapest to run out of all ranges of portable heaters, as they stay warm for a long time, even once switched off.

• They generally have a larger surface area, so they are ideal for heating larger rooms in the home.

• Oil-filled radiators are reliable heat sources, quiet in the home and most importantly are long lasting.

Cons

• Oil radiators reach extremely high temperatures, therefore they can be dangerous if you have children in your home, and could cause great harm.

• Some oil-filled heaters can take a very long time to heat up after switching them on, as most are fairly heavy and cumbersome.

• Many models don’t always achieve the power and heat claimed by manufacturers; therefore you might not get the heating power you expect for your home.

Average Cost per Hour

• Oil-filled radiator = 12.2p per hour (Price varies by wattage and electricity prices)

Fan Heaters

Pros

• Fan heaters are relatively quick to heat up and cool down, which makes them perfect for smaller rooms in the home.

• Fan heaters have the added advantage that they blow the heat around the room, which means heat circulation is aided and the air in the room can heat up quickly.

• Fan heaters are light and compact, making it easy to move them from room to room if necessary.

• Many fan heaters have a thermostat and timer, which allows you to adjust the temperature and length of time the heater, is circulating hot air in your home.

• Fan heaters are the best choice for home owners with children as hot air can move freely in and out of the heater – therefor the heater itself does not get too hot.

Cons

• Given that portable electric heating devices use electricity, they are generally not as cost effective as central heating systems running on gas or oil.

• Fan heaters are guaranteed to make noise as the hot air in blown out – the noise level will vary with different fan heaters.

Average Cost per Hour

• Fan heater = 24.2p per hour (Price varies by wattage and electricity prices)7

Online discount store www.tjhughes.co.uk stock a wide range of portable heaters starting from only £7.99 - shop online today or visit one of their nationwide stores.