How much does it cost to secure a whole house?

It depends on the current state of your security, but a typical Coventry home can be significantly improved for £200-£500. That usually covers an anti-snap cylinder for the front door (from £90), window locks for ground-floor windows (from £15 each), and a couple of motion-sensor lights. Call 07735 336175 for a specific quote.

What is the single most important home security upgrade?

For most homes in Coventry and Warwickshire, upgrading the front door cylinder to an anti-snap lock is the single most impactful change. The front door is where the majority of burglars enter, and a standard euro cylinder can be snapped in under 30 seconds. An anti-snap upgrade typically costs £90-£120 fitted.

Should I get a professional security survey?

If you are unsure about the state of your home security, a professional walk-round is worth doing. I offer security assessments across Coventry and surrounding areas. I will identify the genuine weak points and give you an honest, prioritised list of upgrades rather than trying to sell you things you do not need.

The Complete Home Security Checklist for 2026

A room-by-room checklist covering locks, doors, windows, lighting, alarms, and habits. Print it, walk round your house, and tick off each item.

I put this checklist together because I kept giving the same advice on every job. Whether I am fitting a new lock in Earlsdon or securing a door after a break-in in Tile Hill, the conversation always comes back to: "What else should I be doing?"

This is everything. A room-by-room, point-by-point checklist you can print out, walk around your home with, and tick off each item. Some are free changes to your habits. Some cost a few pounds. A few require a locksmith. But together, they make a genuine difference.

Front Door Security

Your front door is where 62% of burglars enter. It deserves the most attention.

[ ] **Lock type** — Is your main lock a BS3621 5-lever mortice deadlock (wooden door) or an anti-snap euro cylinder (uPVC/composite door)? If not, this is your priority upgrade. See our [lock change service](/services/lock-change) for options

[ ] **Anti-snap cylinder** — If you have a uPVC or composite door, is the cylinder anti-snap, anti-bump, and anti-pick? Look for brands like Ultion, ABS, or Yale Platinum. I have compared them in detail in my [anti-snap lock comparison](/blog/anti-snap-locks-compared)

[ ] **Letterbox guard** — Can someone reach through your letterbox and access the lock or grab keys from a hook? Fit an internal letterbox guard (around £15-£25 fitted)

[ ] **Door chain or limiter** — Allows you to partially open the door to check who is there. Essential for vulnerable residents

[ ] **Door viewer (peephole)** — Can you see who is at your door without opening it? A wide-angle viewer costs about £10-£15 fitted

[ ] **Door reinforcer plate** — A metal plate around the lock area that prevents the door being forced. Particularly important for wooden doors. Around £25-£40 fitted

[ ] **Hinge bolts** — If your door opens outward, hinge bolts prevent the door being lifted off its hinges. Around £10-£15 per pair fitted

[ ] **Frame condition** — Is the door frame solid? Rotten or split frames are easy to force. If your frame is soft, no lock in the world will keep someone out

[ ] **Strike plate screws** — The strike plate (the metal plate the bolt goes into on the frame) should be secured with 75mm screws that go into the structural timber, not 15mm screws into the frame lining

Back Door Security

Back doors are often less visible to neighbours, making them an attractive entry point.

[ ] **Key-operated bolts** — Your back door should lock with a key, not just a thumb-turn or handle. If it has a thumb-turn, consider replacing it with a key-operated cylinder

[ ] **Top and bottom bolts** — Shoot bolts or rack bolts at the top and bottom of the door add significant resistance to forced entry. Around £15-£25 per bolt fitted

[ ] **Anti-lift devices** — If you have a sliding back door, check that it cannot be lifted off its track. Anti-lift pins or blocks cost very little and are effective

[ ] **Visibility** — Can neighbours see your back door? If not, consider cutting back high hedges or adding a motion-sensor light

[ ] **Key storage** — Never leave the back door key in the lock. Store it nearby but out of sight and out of reach from windows or cat flaps

Window Security

Windows account for around 22% of burglary entries. Ground-floor windows are the priority.

[ ] **Window locks** — Are all ground-floor windows fitted with key-operated locks? Many older uPVC windows have cockspur handles that offer no real security. Upgrading to lockable handles costs [from £15-£30 per window](/blog/window-security-overlooked-weak-point) fitted

[ ] **Sash jammers** — For uPVC windows, sash jammers add a second point of locking for about £10-£15 per window fitted. They are visible from outside, which acts as a deterrent

[ ] **Window restrictors** — Particularly important for upper floors if you have children, but also useful for ground-floor windows in summer — lets you ventilate without leaving the window wide open

[ ] **Basement and cellar windows** — Often forgotten but easily accessible. Ensure they have locks, and consider window bars or grilles if they lead to a vulnerable area

[ ] **Bathroom and kitchen windows** — These are commonly left open. Make sure they lock, and get into the habit of closing them when you leave the house or go to bed

Patio and French Doors

These are a known weak point. I have written a full guide on [patio and French door security](/blog/patio-doors-french-doors-security), but here are the essentials.

[ ] **Multipoint lock** — Is the multipoint locking system working properly? Lift the handle and check that all the bolts engage

[ ] **Anti-lift devices** — Patio doors can often be lifted off their tracks. Anti-lift pins or a track-mounted anti-lift block are cheap and effective

[ ] **Auxiliary lock** — A separate keyed patio door lock adds another layer. Around £30-£50 fitted

[ ] **French door bolts** — French doors should have flush bolts or rack bolts top and bottom on the passive leaf (the door that stays closed)

[ ] **Glazing** — Is it laminated glass or standard float glass? Laminated glass is significantly harder to break through. If replacing glass, specify laminated

Garage Security

Your garage often contains valuable items and may provide a hidden route into your house. See my full guide on [garage and shed security](/blog/garage-shed-security).

[ ] **Garage door lock** — Fit a defender lock (the T-shaped lock that sits over the handle) to prevent the door being forced. Around £30-£50 fitted

[ ] **Garage door bolts** — Additional bolts inside the garage door, top and bottom

[ ] **Internal door** — If your garage connects to your house via an internal door, that door needs to be as secure as an external door. Many are hollow-core doors with a basic latch — essentially no security at all

[ ] **Window covering** — If your garage has windows, consider covering them so thieves cannot see what is inside

Shed and Outbuilding Security

[ ] **Padlock quality** — Use a closed-shackle padlock (CEN grade 3 or above). Open-shackle padlocks can be cut with basic bolt croppers

[ ] **Hasp and staple** — The hasp (the plate the padlock goes through) should be heavy-duty and coach-bolted through the door, not just screwed on

[ ] **Shed bar** — A metal bar across the full width of the shed door, secured with padlocks at both ends. The most effective shed security for about £20-£30

[ ] **Ground anchor** — For bikes and power tools, a ground anchor bolted to the shed floor or a concrete base lets you chain items down. From £25 fitted

[ ] **Mark your tools** — Use UV marking pens or property marking kits. Register valuables at immobilise.com

Lighting and Visibility

[ ] **Motion-sensor lights** — Fit motion-activated lights at the front door, back door, side passages, and any approach to the house. Solar-powered options cost from £15 and need no wiring

[ ] **Timer lights** — When you are out or on holiday, use timer plugs (from £5) to turn lights on and off in different rooms at different times

[ ] **Garden visibility** — Keep hedges below 1 metre at the front to maintain sightlines from the street. Cut back any bushes that provide cover near doors or windows

Alarms and CCTV

[ ] **Alarm system** — Even a basic alarm with a visible external bell box deters opportunistic burglars. Check my post on [whether alarms and CCTV actually deter burglars](/blog/do-burglar-alarms-cctv-deter-burglars) for what works

[ ] **CCTV / video doorbell** — A visible camera at the front door deters casual callers and records evidence. Smart doorbells like Ring start from around £80

[ ] **Alarm maintenance** — If you have an alarm, is it working? Expired alarm systems with flashing fault lights actually signal poor security

Habits and Routines

These cost nothing but make a real difference.

[ ] **Lock up every night** — Check all doors and windows before bed. Make it a routine

[ ] **Keys away from doors** — Never leave keys in locks, on hooks by the door, or on a hall table visible through glass. A key hook behind a closed interior door is fine

[ ] **Valuables out of sight** — Do not leave laptops, phones, or tablets visible through windows

[ ] **Post and deliveries** — Ask a neighbour to collect post and parcels when you are away. Piled-up post signals an empty house

[ ] **Social media** — Avoid posting holiday plans or live holiday updates publicly. Wait until you are home

[ ] **Spare keys** — Never hide a key under a mat, in a plant pot, or above a door frame. Use a police-approved [key safe](/services/lock-change) instead (from £45 fitted)

[ ] **Bins** — Bring bins in promptly after collection. Packaging for expensive items (TVs, consoles) left outside advertises what is inside

What to Prioritise If You Cannot Do Everything

If your budget or time is limited, focus on these five things first:

**Upgrade your front door lock** — anti-snap cylinder or BS3621 deadlock depending on your door type

**Fit a letterbox guard** if you have a thumb-turn lock

**Install motion-sensor lights** at the front and back

**Lock all ground-floor windows** with key-operated locks

**Start the habit** of checking doors and windows every night

For a professional security assessment of your Coventry home, call me on 07735 336175. I will walk round your property, work through this checklist with you, and give you honest advice on what needs doing — and what can wait. You can also check our full [price list](/prices) to see what each upgrade costs.