Security check in Exeter
Professional security check services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
0.5-1 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Your home's security honestly assessed from a burglar's perspective. Weak spots identified, practical improvements suggested, and fixes done if you want - all about making your property less of an easy target.
Why Security Checks Matter
Most people don't think about home security until after something happens. But burglars look for easy targets - weak locks, open windows, dark gardens, signs nobody's home. A security check spots these vulnerabilities before they become problems.
💡 Pro tip: Exeter has its share of opportunistic break-ins. Most burglars aren't professionals - they're trying doors and windows looking for easy access. Simple improvements make a massive difference.
How Burglars Think
Understanding the criminal mindset helps protect your home:
| ✅ Secure Property | ❌ Easy Target |
|---|---|
| Visible locks and security features | Cheap locks, broken handles |
| Well-lit entrance and garden | Dark, hidden doorways |
| Looks occupied (car, lights, curtains open) | Obviously empty (post piling up, bins out) |
| Windows secured or restricted | Ground floor windows left open |
| Valuables not visible from outside | Laptops, TVs, car keys on display |
What You Get
🔍 The Complete Assessment
| Area Checked | What I Look For |
|---|---|
| All Entry Points | Door quality, lock types, weak frames, kick-in risk |
| Windows | Locks working, accessibility, restrictors fitted |
| Perimeter | Dark spots, climbing access, hidden areas, fencing |
| Visibility | Can valuable items be seen from outside? |
| Occupancy | Does house look occupied or obviously empty? |
| Access Routes | Ladder left out? Gate unlocked? Easy climbing points? |
📋 What You Receive
- Verbal walk-through explaining each issue
- Written list of vulnerabilities (priority order)
- Practical improvement suggestions (with rough costs)
- Immediate fixes done if you want (small items)
Pricing Guide
| Service Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard security assessment | Under 1 hr | £60 |
| Assessment + immediate fixes (chains, bolts) | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Full assessment + security upgrades | Quoted separately | Contact for estimate |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Materials for fixes charged at cost.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ New homeowners - check security before settling in
✅ Recent incidents nearby - burglaries in your area
✅ Elderly living alone - family want reassurance
✅ Going on holiday - check vulnerabilities before leaving
✅ Insurance requirements - some policies require security measures
✅ Peace of mind - just want to know you're reasonably secure
Why Choose Us for Security check in Exeter?
Honest assessment of vulnerabilities
Practical, affordable improvements suggested
Written report with priority recommendations
Can implement fixes immediately if wanted
What to Expect
Step 1: External Assessment
I'll walk around your property like a burglar would - checking gates, fences, windows, doors, dark spots, and climbing access. You'll come with me so I can explain what I'm seeing and why it matters.
Step 2: Internal Check
We'll go through the house checking door locks, window security, alarm systems (if you have them), and whether valuables are visible from outside. I'll point out simple changes that make big differences.
Step 3: Report & Recommendations
You'll get a written list of vulnerabilities in priority order (most urgent first), with practical suggestions for each one. Some fixes cost £10, others might be £100+ - you decide what's worth doing.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to improve your home security yourself? Here's what actually works:
🔐 Lock upgrades (biggest impact)
- Fit British Standard locks on all external doors (insurance often requires this)
- Add hinge bolts to outward-opening doors (stops them being forced)
- Use window locks on all ground floor windows
- Consider a door chain or restrictor (lets you see who's there safely)
💡 Lighting makes a difference
- PIR security lights at dark entry points (front, back, side gates)
- Timer plugs for lamps when you're away (makes house look occupied)
- Don't leave gardens completely dark (burglars love darkness)
🏠 Occupancy signals
- Cancel post or arrange collection when away (piling up = nobody home)
- Use timer switches for lights and radio
- Keep bins in when not collection day
- Ask neighbour to park on your drive occasionally
📦 Visibility matters
- Don't leave car keys visible near front door (common target)
- Close curtains at night (so people can't see what you own)
- Don't leave expensive boxes outside (new TV? Break box down, don't advertise)
- Keep bikes/tools in locked sheds, not on display
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Leaving side gates unlocked (gives access to back of house)
- Hiding spare keys outside (burglars check under mats, pots, etc.)
- Posting holiday photos in real-time (advertising you're away)
- Leaving ladders accessible (makes upstairs windows reachable)
💡 Pro trick: Walk around your own house at night from the street. What can you see? What's lit? What looks vulnerable? If you can spot weaknesses, so can burglars.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 Older Exeter houses have typical weak spots. Victorian properties often have sash windows with no locks, back doors with old Yale locks (easily forced), and dark alleyways providing cover. I see these patterns constantly and know the effective fixes.
Most burglaries are opportunistic. Professional criminals target specific properties for specific items. Most break-ins in Devon are chancers trying doors and windows - if yours is secure, they move to an easier house. You don't need Fort Knox, just better than next door.
Insurance can require security measures. Some home insurance policies require British Standard locks, window locks, or alarm systems. Check your policy - you might already be supposed to have these things.
Simple improvements are often enough. A £15 door chain, £30 window locks, and £50 security light make your house significantly more secure than most in your street. Burglars want easy targets, not challenges.
I can do the fixes myself. Anything I recommend, I can usually fit - door chains, window locks, security lighting, better door locks, etc. Some people just want the assessment, others want me to implement everything immediately. Your choice.
Regular checks make sense. Security isn't one-and-done - locks wear out, batteries die in sensors, new vulnerabilities appear (like overgrown bushes creating hiding spots). An annual check keeps things maintained.
Police offer free checks too. Devon & Cornwall Police do free home security assessments, and they're excellent. But they're busy, booking takes time, and they can't do the actual fixes. I'm available quickly and can implement improvements immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly do you check during a security assessment?
Everything from a burglar's perspective - weak doors, accessible windows, dark areas, hiding spots, easy access points, visible valuables, lock quality, and whether your house looks occupied or empty. I'll walk the perimeter, check all entry points, and give you an honest list of what's vulnerable.
Will you try to sell me expensive security systems?
No - I'm a handyman, not a security company salesman. I'll suggest practical, affordable improvements like better locks, window restrictors, or security lighting. If you want CCTV or alarms, I'll recommend that too, but most security improvements are simple and cheap.
Can you fix the security issues you find on the same visit?
Some things, yes - fitting a door chain, replacing a weak lock, securing a window latch. That's quick work I can do immediately if you want. Bigger jobs (like security lighting installation) would need scheduling separately with materials ordered.
Is this service useful even if I haven't had a break-in?
Especially if you haven't - that's when you want to know what's vulnerable. Most burglaries are opportunistic (trying doors, climbing through open windows). Making your house slightly harder than your neighbour's is often enough to stop it being targeted.
What's different from a police security check?
Police do great free checks, but they're busy and booking can take weeks. I'm available quickly, I'll spend as long as needed explaining things, and I can actually do the fixes immediately rather than just advising. Plus I know Exeter's older properties and their typical weak spots.
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