Tommy Geddes, Commercial Director for George Boyd, offers his advice on the pre-holiday upgrades or retrofits for fully functioning home security that builders merchants can pass onto their customers.

With the public’s rush to enjoy the first ‘post Covid’ Christmas set to raise the average value of items in a home by over £500, it’s also prime time for burglars.

This is why it’s never been more timely for trades professionals to educate their customers on the benefits of fully functioning home security.

Builders' merchants have a major role to play in ensuring customers are educated on having the right product for thier home.

Gate hinges and padlocks

While perhaps a slightly surprising security option to consider when you see temperatures outside in the single digits, the importance of strong and effective perimeter protection during the colder months is still vitally important.

The longer nights and gloomier days create great opportunities for wannabe thieves who can take advantage of dark spots, garden rubbish or high-hedged back gardens to break into properties in relative safety. 

High strength padlocks and heavy-duty gate hinges are a great solution for providing perimeter protection.

Door locks

The main point of entry into the home should always be the first port of call when you’re advising on how to strengthen security. Doors are, unsurprisingly, the most common points of attack for any burglar, making them a popular choice for anyone looking to upgrade their security.

Quick fix security products, such as three-star Euro profile cylinders or heavy-duty deadbolts and nightlatches, offer an easily installable solution that can be a great selling point at this time of year.

These conversations with customers easily develop into looking at other easy to complete maintenance jobs that can be ticked off the to-do list over the festive period.

Window hardware

While doors are of course an important part of the security mix, don’t forget about the other major entry points of most homes - the windows.

Window security is more difficult to effectively install than door security, as there aren’t a huge amount of options available, but that shouldn’t take away from its importance.

Talk to your customers about products such as restrictors and stays, sash jammers or security bolts, depending on their property type. Across different types of homes, different types of security solutions will be needed, so make sure you know what product suits what environment best.

With so much expected to be spent by consumers this Christmas, you have a great opportunity to benefit from some pre-emptive festive home security installations - just so long as you make a list, check it twice and use this time to talk to your customers about their security set-up.

Part of the Saint-Gobain Group, George Boyd has been the UK’s specialist distributor of architectural ironmongery and commercial doorsets for 170 years.