Securing Your Vacant Commercial Property
Discussed by Elite Fire & Security Specialists
The coronavirus pandemic caused huge disruption to businesses all over the world including the UK and most businesses have had to implement drastic changes to survive. Many businesses have changed their workforce to a remote working model when the pandemic hit as it was essential to do so, however, a lot of companies have decided to keep working this way. Many companies have realised that their staff working from home hasn’t impacted their business and are happy to continue with it or some smaller companies have had to give up their business property completely as they can no longer afford to keep paying rent and this has led to thousands of commercial properties being empty. This has had a huge impact on anyone or any business that owns and lease out commercial properties and as a result of this the number of commercial properties for sale has increased dramatically. Securing your vacant commercial property is a must and it could save you thousands of pounds further down the line.
Some of these offices, retail units, shops and general commercial properties may be completely vacant and others may still house expensive equipment inside which leaves an open door to both thieves and squatters.
If you own or rent a commercial property that is currently empty or not being used then you should really think about the security measures you have in place which will safeguard your property against vandalism, theft and general misuse.
It has been estimated that there are now over £1.7bn of unusual domestic and commercial properties in England and Wales.
It is well known and even more so now that empty properties can attract planned and opportunist intruders and vandals which can cause considerable damage to the property and the local community, and Elite Fire & Security can help prevent this happening.
How Can Elite Fire & Security Help You – Securing Your Vacant Commercial Property?
Protect your vacant property by:
Securing the perimeter
The perimeter and boundary of your property should be the first place assessed for any potential unauthorised entry risks. Elite Fire and Security will come out to your property and conduct a full site and property security assessment, advising you where your risks are and how these can be mitigated. We have different ways and systems to secure the perimeter of your property including, high boundary fencing, gates and barriers and CCTV camera points, all of which we are experts in.
When you have secured your boundary you should always have sign’s displayed advising trespassers the line they should not cross, as well as the systems you have in place, like CCTV and alarm systems. Visual signs with this type of information will deter both thieves and vandalism.
External CCTV cameras can be strategically placed at the risk points of your perimeter and they can also be motion detected which can alert you or an external company that there is movement in and around your perimeter allowing you to assess and take action by calling the police.
External lights are also a good way of securing your property, an intruder is more likely to try and break into a property that is in darkness so motion-activated security lights are a simple addition to any security system.
Door & Window Entry Points
Every door and entry point to your property has the potential of being broken into so should be seen as a potential security risk, some more than others. Elite Fire & Security are experts in all types of door and window sensor alarms and we can assess which area of your site and property needs which security system to give it the ultimate protection. Our systems can be designed to be integrated, giving you peace of mind 24/7. Door and window sensors will sound an alarm when a door or window has been opened and your alarm system is on. If a designated entry point is opened it will give you the allocated time to switch off your alarm system and if not then your properties alarm will sound.
Installing an Intruder Alarm System
Sensors can be strategically placed around your property to detect movement when your alarm system is on and this ensures anyone entering or moving around your property will trigger your alarm if they are not authorised to be there. Elite Fire and Security will design your alarm system around your property, entry and exit points and any security risk points.
Alarm systems can be set and turned off using key fobs or security pins and we will ensure the best system is installed for you and your property.
Installing an Access Control System
An access control system can be fitted to external entry points at a gate or barrier, or external and internal doors to offer a really flexible solution to your security needs.
Entry points can be accessed via a key fob, security code or face recognition and it is a really easy system to quickly allow or remove access remotely giving you complete flexibility without having to be on site.
Installing an Internal Security System
An internal security system can be to use internal CCTV cameras which can alert you when there is movement inside your property, or allow you to view your CCTV footage remotely in either real-time or after the event.
Every security system will have different capabilities and Elite will help you understand them and advise which system is best suited to your needs.
Why Secure Your Commercial Property?
Maintain Your Property’s Financial Value
An empty property or a property with little or no security will entice thieves, vandalism and squatters and all of these things will decrease the financial value of your property.
Professionally designed and fitted security will help to ensure that your property’s financial value doesn’t decrease in both the short and long term.
A break-in, belongings being stolen, vandalism and squatters are all extremely inconvenient and will cost you a lot of money to rectify so having security in place can save you money in the long run.
If an unsecured building is targeted by squatters or even arsonists who damage your property externally or internally then you will have to spend a huge amount of money to fix it or bring it back to its glory if and when you decide you want to sell it. Ler Elite help you when securing your commercial property.
Increase Your Property’s Financial Value
If you decide to sell your commercial property then its financial value will be more if you have professionally designed security systems in place. A buyer will be more likely to offer on a property with security over none at all as it makes it a more convenient and sound purchase.
Lower Your Insurance Premium
Your insurance can often increase if your property is vacant but having professional security systems in place will lessen the likelihood of this happening. If you have a property that has become vacant you should always advise your insurance company as it could invalidate any claims you make.
Insurance companies assess the potential risk of your property when providing you with a premium for the year and your premium should always be less if you have security in place.
Insurance providers know there will be less chance of them paying an insurance claim on a property that is protected with professional security systems and will offer you a lower insurance premium and excess in these situations so securing your property will save you money in the long run.
Safeguard Your Belongings
Many vacant commercial properties will have furniture, systems and or belongings stored in them and having security systems in place will deter thieves from thinking it is an easy target for them to make money from. You could have valuable stock stored or computer systems that all cost a huge amount to replace or repair if you get broken into.
Safeguard The Local Community
An unprotected commercial property will draw the attention of thieves, vandals and squatters and it is your responsibility as an owner to deter these types of people and activities to protect your local community. If your property is branded in your company name you don’t want it to be targeted as this can negatively impact your business if there is graffiti or broken windows and doors so securing your property if it is vacant is even more important.
Safeguard Your Property From Vandalism
Vacant properties with no security lights, CCTV, gates, fences and barriers will draw people into hanging around and potentially damaging your properties exterior. Graffiti alone will decrease the value of your property, damage your brand and reduce the value of your property as well as the general feeling of an area and community. Removing Graffiti alone takes a huge amount of time and money.
Prevent Squatters
Securing your empty property is a must when it comes to the potential of squatters entering and taking over. Squatters create a base for criminal activity, drawing unwanted characters and activity to the area. Your property could be used to live in, hold music events, it will be ruined and vandalised inside and out with rubbish being left and will cost a huge amount to remove the squatters and repair the damage they leave behind.
People living or working nearby may suffer significant disruptions from squatters and will feel uneasy in their businesses and homes if they are nearby.
About Elite Fire & Security Services
The advanced securing solutions offered by Elite Fire & Security are ideal for vacant properties. We understand that each unoccupied property is entirely unique and will assess and design a security system to suit your layout, your needs and your budget.
We offer a free site security assessment to establish any security risks and to your property conducted by our team of security experts who will get to know you and advise you on the best solutions for you.
When it comes to securing your business or property Elite Fire & Security are industry experts and we ensure you always receive a high level of service and a bespoke designed security system that suits your property and needs.
We will advise you of the benefits and disadvantages of each system available and our design service enables us to link different security systems.
We offer maintenance and repair services to existing systems and a no-obligation security system installation quote which includes the supply, installation and maintenance costs.
Our Business Premises Security Services
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- We visit your premises to learn about your business and carry out a full risk assessment for your property to design and install a system that will protect your business to its optimum capability
- We can liaise with your insurance provider, architect, facilities manager or building contractors before providing you with an assessment report, recommendations and a free no-obligation quote
- Our on-site visit assesses your current security systems, building layout and access points before we design any security system for you
- We offer options and advice for a diverse range of makes and models for different levels of security, always explaining the benefits and disadvantages of each one
- We explain the costs of installing and any ongoing maintenance costs or alert systems
- We can provide you with information about the businesses we have worked with previously and the types of systems we have installed in Bristol, Bath, the South West and London
- The installation of your new system will be carried out by our fully trained and specialist engineers who will install and test your new security system
- We provide you and your team with full training and an understanding of your new security system
- We offer maintenance and servicing options that will keep your system operating efficiently as well as an emergency repair service giving you peace of mind 365 days a year, 24 hours a day
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Contact us today on 0117 453 0600 if you are thinking about securing your commercial property and we can arrange your free site assessment for you.