How to choose the best security for your home - what you need to know...

Helpful tips and advice for anyone thinking about protecting their home...

For most people, home is where the heart is. It’s where we raise family, entertain friends and is a relaxing place to come back to after a long day at work. The "door's always open" lifestyle is one we Brits love to share with friends and family.  Although with residential crime on the rise we need to get better at locking our front door when we leave. But how many people still leave a key under the flowerpot - just in case?!
Safeguarding your home can be changing lifelong habits and not making it easy for the 'baddies'. Why not go the whole hog and protect your home and belongings with a robust, yet subtle security system which can help you continue to enjoy that feeling of home every time you step inside your front door.

Over 15,800 crimes were reported in the Thames Valley during March 2017!  Police.uk

Those who have been a victim of crime at home often feel a sense of loss for the comfort home can bring, so here are some tips for making the first step to finding the best security package to protect your home:

Do I need a home security system?

Firstly, changing any unsecure bad habits can help keep your home protected. Keeping your gates locked, garden fences is good condition and your property well lit etc greatly reduces your chances of being burgled which is great news, and very easy to implement. Having a visible burglar alarm is recognised by the police as acting as a deterrent against residential crime and a simple security system can help ward off unwanted visitors too. It’s also worth considering the peace of mind a security system can bring to you and your family whilst you’re at home, on holiday or away on business.

​Take a look at the Police website for the crime map in your area, not to scare you but to become more aware of any potential risks in your area and to better equip your decision making. There are also some more great tips on keeping your property more secure.
For those with large properties a security system can help protect everything within your boundaries including your: motor home, paddocks, out buildings, car garages and studios etc. A close, trusted neighbour or housekeeper can be very handy when you’re away to help keep a close eye on your property and for some this is all the peace of mind they need. However, if you don’t have anyone who can do this for you a security system might just be the perfect answer. With modern technology now there’s no need to have large ugly cameras everywhere and miles of untidy cabling either. Security cameras and fittings can be discrete, wireless and monitored via an easy to use app on your mobile or table, which covers every inch of your home and grounds.

What security system do I need?

A home intruder alarm is a great start to securing your home and sensors can be set up at your front door, side gates, back door, basement entries, gates and also within the home and any outbuildings. CCTV can give you 24/7 cover of your home giving the peace of mind that any abnormal behaviour will be captured on your cameras. White Horse Fire & Security offer residential clients a clever mobile/tablet app so you can monitor your home digitally 24/7. For larger properties and estates, an automated gate can offer you a secure way to restrict who has access to enter your driveway. There are a number of unique designs on the market to fit your style of property and they can be managed and monitored remotely. These 3 systems are commonly used together to secure the smallest and largest of houses around the UK.

How to compare your top 3 shortlisted security companies

Once you have shorlisted your top 3 companies, compare them on paper and make sure they tick all your security and personal needs. Here are a few things to check for when tallying up pros/cons and cost:

• Check what security elements and systems they’d suggest for a home and estate of your size.
• Ask what added extras you’d need to pay for such as call out charges for instance, you can be charged as much as £75 per call out! It’s good to know this up front
• Compare their costs and the system guarantees they offer, ie. White Horse Fire & Security offer a maintenance package to guarantee parts and labour for 5 years!
• Check what level of maintenance you can expect to receive
• Are they SSAIB certified?
• What level of phone support do they offer? Can you pick up the phone any time of day and speak to someone when you need them?

You should have everything you need now to choose the right security company and security system to secure your home. White Horse Fire & Security, like all good security companies, are fully SSAIB certified, offer a 24/7 support line to call whatever time of day or night. We also offer 24hr monitoring with police response if you need this.
Take a look at what our wonderful customers think of us from our 5 star review on Google.

If you’d like to speak to someone about finding the perfect security system for your home,
call Helen today: 01865 951755