Thursday, September 10, 2009
Category:
Home Improvements
As A-Level students prepare to collect their results this week, and as many people plan to commence university courses in the Autumn, Saga Group Ltd is highlighting the importance of crime prevention measures.
One in three students are victimised at university each year. With student accommodation generally containing TVs, DVD players and iPods, Saga points out that crime is unsurprising. Based on best selling product prices taken from Amazon.co.uk, the replacement cost of such electrical equipment, along with a collection of just twenty CDs or DVDs, is said to cost up to £1,000. This figure isn’t even inclusive of music download costs.
The discovery that approximately one quarter of all burglaries are conducted via an insecure door or window has prompted Saga to advise students’ parents to conduct security checks when seeking accommodation for their children. Particular attention should be paid to windows and doors in a bid to determine how easy it would be for a burglar to enter the premises.
Executive Chairman of Saga Group Ltd, Andrew Goodsell, commented: "For many students, making new friends and socialising will be higher on their agenda than being security conscious. This could make them easy targets for criminals. A few simple security measures however, can greatly reduce the risk of them becoming a victim."
Prior to moving into a property, Saga recommend establishing: whether there is outside lighting; whether there is a burglar alarm; whether external doors have five-lever mortice deadlocks; whether internal doors and ground floor windows have locks; whether there is a safety chain on the door; and whether there is a lock on all windows.
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Graduates who have purchased a property following their studies, but do not have the funds available to adapt it to suit their personal style, could consider taking out a secured loan. One of many finance options available, a secured loan for home improvements could pave the way to that ideal living space. This could involve adding an extension or conservatory to the property, or converting the attic into an extra bedroom or office. Outdoor spaces could also be given some tender loving care by means of a landscaping project, to create that perfect area for summer barbeques. A secured loan for
home improvements could also be used to replace older windows and doors with newer, more durable UPVC versions.
