subject: Home Security Measures Met by Equity Release [print this page] Home Security Measures Met by Equity Release
Making sure your home is safe and secure will without question be one of your top priorities in retirement. There is a variety of measures you can employ, such as:
Replacement windows and doors: As well as providing better insulation and therefore fuel bill savings, replacement windows and doors will be fitted with the latest high security locking mechanisms and these will ensure your home is well protected.
CCTV: A closed circuit TV system is a good deterrent for burglars as well as an effective security measure that allows you to see what's going on outside your home, and to record activity as evidence should it be necessary.
Security Alarms: Installing a burglar alarm in your home and any outbuildings is again a deterrent and of course will alert you to any trespassers. Another type of alarm is a panic alarm which you can set off manually should the need arise and it will immediately alert the local police to your situation.
Outdoor Security Lighting: Lighting outside the home that reacts to movement will alert you to any trespassers and will also act to startle them, and remove their cover of darkness.
Security Gates: If there is access to the back of your property via an alley way then you should protect that route with solid security gates. You may also wish to consider placing security gates at the entrance to the front of your house or driveway, if appropriate.
Garage: Building a garage is a good way to protect your vehicle from driveway thefts, weather damage or vandalism. If you can extend your property, or have space elsewhere on your land, a garage would be an investment well worth considering; and it would usually reduce your car insurance premiums to boot.
How to Fund Your Home Security Measures
All of these security measures are of course excellent ideas, but do they do come with a price tag. If your retirement income doesn't stretch to such initiatives, and you'd rather leave your savings for a rainy day, then something you may wish to consider is releasing cash from your home to help make it more secure. This can be done via a lifetime mortgage or home reversion plan.
If you are aged over 55, anequity release plan could provide the funding you need to guarantee your home security in retirement. Anindependent equity release specialist will explore all the options of course and will recommend alternatives if any are available. But if they are not and you wish to explore equity release, then they will provide you with the expert guidance you need to do so safely.
Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or home reversion plan. To understand the features and risks, please ask for a personalised illustration.
