Safety And Security ‘Make A House A Home’

• July 4, 2018|
• News|
• Darren Clarke

There are many factors that contribute to making a house feel like a home, but according to a new poll, one of the most important is safety and security.

The results of the Anglian Home Improvement survey about what makes a property feel like a home were shared by House Beautiful, with safety and security coming in third place with 50 per cent of those questioned stating that this is one of the most important ways in which to make a house feel homely.

Above it were two things that are decidedly less tangible – love, as named by 51 per cent of respondents and happiness at the top of the list after 57 per cent of people said this was what was needed to make a house a home.

In fact, the top 30 list was a mixture of feelings and emotions, as well as more practical or physical attributes.

An open fireplace in the winter, a comfy sofa, having a bath and a shower, framed pictures of family and friends and even freshly laundered sheets each week were among the other things cited as ways to make a property feel like a home.

Interestingly, pets came in at number 12 with 36 per cent of people stating that they’re important for creating that homely environment, while children came in at number 13, with 32 per cent of people naming them as an addition that brings homeliness to a property.

When it comes to your home security and safety it’s easy to see why it’s so important to so many people. Our homes are very personal spaces and having that violated by someone breaking into your property can be very distressing.

Research by the The Sunday Times recently found that more than half of all burglary investigations in the UK go unsolved. The newspaper also noted that seven in ten burglary cases are closed by officers without them having identified a suspect.

Prevention is definitely better than cure, so it’s worth carrying out an assessment of your home security and working out whether there is anything you could improve.

Two former burglars recently offered homeowners some advice on how to deter would-be thieves. They suggested things such as having a recording of a dog barking and installing a deadlock on your door.

If you’re going to upgrade your doors in Manchester anyway, it could be worth doing this at the same time to save you some hassle and boost the security of your home still further.

It isn’t all about the physical elements of your property. Among the preventative measures you should undertake are being sparing about what you post on social media regarding your daily schedule or any holidays you have planned.

Giving away too much information about when you’re not at home will make it easier for a burglar to plan when to come to your property and try to break in. The former burglars also advised people to take their passports and driving licences with them when they go away to make it more difficult for anyone who does break in to commit identity fraud.