Category: News

Christmas cheer can quickly turn to heartache if your home is targeted by burglars who are often at their busiest when they know a lot of valuable gifts and there for the taking.

With latest figures suggesting that a burglary happens every 40 seconds in the UK, it’s essential to take stock of your home security in order to prevent break-ins. Here are our top tips.

1. The majority of burglars get into homes through windows and doors, so it’s important to make sure they are fitted with secure locks. Canny burglars recognise which types of lock are most secure and will likely avoid them. It’s also worth thinking about upgrading your window security by adding sash jammers for extra protection.

2. It’s sobering to reflect that nearly one in four home burglaries are through first-storey windows.Poorly maintained windows are easier for burglars to access, while double glazing is much safer than single. Also, the more secure your house looks from the street, the less it will attract the attention of potential burglars.

Ensuring your double glazed windows are repaired and in full working order is also crucial to deterring criminals and keeping your home safe. If you have failed or cloudy double glazing, this can be a sign to thieves that you don’t look after your home and are therefore lax with security.

3. Your neighbours can be a helpful defence against a break in, especially if they know you’re away visiting friends and family. If your neighbours spot any suspicious activity while you’re not at home, they can either call you and let you know, or alert the police.

4. Be sure to lock your door – even when you’re in the house. Cheeky thieves can be in and out of your home in a few minutes, taking with them many of your treasured possessions. Some burglars have even got in through large cat and dog flaps, so the best advice is to secure them.

5. An effective home security system is a significant deterrent that makes burglars think again about targeting a property. In a poll of convicted burglars, 60% admitted to being put off by a security system.

6. Fitting a security camera outside your home is another preventative way of dissuading would-be thieves. Faced with having their activities videoed, most burglars will shy away from a property. Similarly, movement-activated external lighting will give burglars even more pause for thought.

7. If your double glazed doors need repairing, for example if your glass has condensation between the panes, then burglars may suspect that you don’t look after your home, and therefore don’t have adequate security precautions in place.

8. If you are going to be away from your home for any length of time, you should think about using timers that turn house lights on and off randomly. Contrary to what some people believe, leaving lights on can actually attract the attention of criminals, especially if they see lights on when it isn’t dark.

If your external security isn’t quite up to snuff, get in touch with us at Cloudy2Clear for a free, no-obligation quote on locks and handles. Call our expert team on 0800 61 21 119 to get started.

Setting up, operating, and maintaining your own business can be hard work and stressful at times. Although there are several benefits that go alongside this, starting up your own company from scratch is incredibly difficult. In fact, some statistics have revealed that more than half of UK start-ups fail within five years.

However, you can still have that level of independence and responsibility of running your own business, but with the support of an established and reputable company, by owning a franchise. With uncertainty around Brexit, an unstable economic future, and other contributing factors, there are numerous benefits to opening a franchise, rather than negotiating the risk of your own start-up.

We’ve outlined some of the main advantages of owning a franchise to help you make an informed decision.

Independence

One of the main reasons some people hold back from owning a franchise, and open their own business instead, is because of the fear of the lack of independence. But working with a recognised brand can provide you with business security, as well as giving you the freedom to make your own decisions. Whichever company you choose to franchise through, knowing that you have the backing and support of that business, gives you more independence to make bigger and more exciting decisions.

Support

Support is a huge factor when it comes to investing in a franchise. You are buying into a brand that is already succeeding and wants to prolong that success, so you can be sure that you’ll receive the right support from the brand. Being commercially minded and knowing the ins and outs of running a business doesn’t always come naturally, so it’s great to have the expertise and knowledge of a company to guide you along the way. See what one of our franchisees has to say about the support we provide:

Reputation

Your reputation is important and so is that of the brand you’re franchising for. When you choose a franchise to open, you can enjoy the benefit of an established reputation from that brand, as well as marketing teams and legal departments who are keen to offer support wherever possible to ensure that brand name remains reputable.

Reduced risk

As mentioned previously, starting a business from the ground up is difficult, expensive, and incredibly demanding; if you’re prepared to work hard, but work smart, then buying a franchise is often a much more beneficial idea. Seeing success stories of other franchise owners and knowing the business model from the get-go, allows you to gain a lot of insight into the running of the company and how this will fit around your own life. Check out what one of our own successful franchisees has to say about what attracted him to Cloudy2Clear:

Experience

We have the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the franchise process, to ensure your journey is as successful as it can be. Our level of experience ensures you have the business opportunities that you require, as well as fulfilling your own career aspirations.

You can also see what our Operations Manager, Kirk Williams, has to say about being part of the Cloudy2Clear family in a recent Which? Trusted Traders article. Visit our dedicated franchise website.

Being a landlord can be a profitable, fulfilling, but difficult job. Tenants can sometimes be your best friend or your worst enemy, so it’s important to know exactly what your role entails when dealing with client issues.

One of the most common and often confusing topics for landlords and tenants is condensation and mould. Condensation is prolific throughout UK homes and can cause an undue amount of problems, from excess moisture to the presence of mould.

We’ve outlined our top pointers on how to deal with condensation and mould complaints as a landlord.

1. Always go and evaluate the problem

Whatever the complaint, it’s important to show your tenants respect by going and inspecting the issue. This allows you to take your own photos and document your investigation. Condensation and mould could be a sign of penetrating damp or rising damp, both of which are issues which you will need to correct.

2. Check ventilation

One of the main sources of condensation is bad ventilation. If you have already provided your tenants with the appropriate ventilation, such as extractor fans and windows, then think of other ways to help, such as providing them with a dehumidifier or improving insulation in the property. The more you can do to help, the less likely your property will become inhabitable, and the less likely the blame will fall on your shoulders.

3. Create a checklist for your tenants

Condensation can also be attributed to the behaviour and lifestyles of your tenants, for example, if they leave lids off pans when boiling, if they leave wet clothes and towels to dry without leaving windows open, or showering with doors and windows shut. Creating a checklist and advice booklet for your tenants can help prevent these problems occurring.

4. Dealing with rising or penetrating damp

Penetrating damp can happen because of cracks in walls, wooden window frames going rotten, or leaking pipes. If water can enter your property from the outside, then this should be repaired by the yourself, and not your tenant.

Rising damp is an issue for landlords with properties on the ground floor or basement flats. As the name suggests, moisture rises up through the ground and is absorbed into the walls of your property. To prevent this kind of problem occurring, ensure you have a proper damp proof course installed.

The best approach is to inform the tenant and fix the problem as soon as possible, so there are no health risks to the occupants and your property remains safe.

5. Replace any failed double glazing

Your main aim as a landlord is to make sure your tenants have comfortable and acceptable living conditions. Simply by replacing any failed double glazing helps prevent the presence of condensation in the home and enhances the look of your property for any potential tenants.

Cloudy2Clear can replace just the glass pane, not the entire frame and unit. This saves customers time and money – we know how busy landlords can be, especially if you have more than one property. Contact your local branch today for more information and a free, no obligation quotation.

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