Wrap up warm, and ‘Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!’
New Year – routine chores?
This, time of year, is a good time prune many varieties of plants, trees and shrubs so have a look at them; ensure that they do not provide a climbing aid into your property or prevent that all important clear view into your frontage that may deter crime. Be mindful though; those brambles, other spiky plants and stinging nettles on your boundary are nature’s own deterrent to intruders, any cuttings can be used to fill gaps in a hedge line.
Consider supplementing your boundary security with some nice spiky plants, they look and smell nice but may also be a deterrent to intruders. Suitable advice can be sought from The Royal Horticultural Society or your local garden centre.
- Fences and gates, are they still intact and well maintained, do the gates lock securely.
- Outside lighting, are they all working okay and are they clean?
- Sheds and outbuildings, are they still intact and well maintained, lubricate the locks exposed to the weather.
- Smoke detectors, are they working okay and in date and where appropriate do the batteries need replacing, remember mains operated ones may have a battery back- up that may need replacing regularly.
- CCTV systems: like with your lighting ensure that they are kept clean and maintained. Smart doorbells or other that may use a solar charger, at this time of year they may not be getting much of a charge so consider topping up the battery with a charger where appropriate.
- Property marking; over Christmas you may have received some new tools, electrical or computing items consider using an appropriate property marking product.
- 21/12/22 was the shortest day so we still have a few more ‘darker nights’, make your home looks like you are in even when you are out by having lights on timers in the house and perhaps a TV simulator.
- Lastly in this list, don’t leave your car unattended on the drive with the engine running whilst you de-ice/de-mist it, it only takes a minute to steal it and it may affect an insurance claim.
🎄Stay Safe and Vigilant🎄