What scares you more?

aliasojo

I switch everything off AND I lock the doors when I go to bed so I don't really worry about either option tbh.

If you had to press me though I think the thought of someone breaking in might concern me more, simply because the house going on fire seems less likely to me.

marisco_2

I think both scenarios are equally frightening for different reasons.

My home is my sanctuary and where I feel safe, comfy and most at ease. I am a very minimalist person and dont place much value on materialistic things at all. So if I were burgled it is not as if I would lose anything of great financial value, though I do have a few precious sentimental items that I would be devestated to lose. I would feel violated and unsafe if I were to be burgled.

The thought of my house being on fire scares the living daylights out of me though. I am totally OCD about making sure things are left safe and that switches etc are turned off. The house that I live in has several easy exit points in the event of a fire breaking out. One of the main things that made me decide to buy it a few years back. The doors downstairs are locked and keys left in a safe place. I also have spare sets of keys for these in my bedroom so I could grab those and get out if needs be. The windows upstairs are never locked so we could get out easily.

Mojisola

marisco wrote: »

The house that I live in has several easy exit points in the event of a fire breaking out.

It's also worth practising what you would do in case of fire. If you work out in advance how you would get out, you have a higher chance of survival.

Of course, you should also have alarms to give you those vital extra minutes.

adonis

It is a good idea to keep a charged mobile phone by your bed and also try to have an escape plan in case of fire.

As for the burglary problem, a pickaxe handle under the bed is comforting, just don't hit the boys by mistake when they come in late.

pigpen

geri1965 wrote: »

Burglars have been known to kill people as well. No way in a million years would I leave my front door unlocked! What about rapists?

LOL... if someone came in here they'd probably think someone had beaten them to it

My front door is unlocked all the time someone is in but locked at night.. we have a constant stream of people in and out with a houseful of teens.

We've done fire.. it is far worse than someone nicking your CD collection and your laptop.

balletshoes

thats an easy question for me OP, fire in the house definitely scares me more.

floss2

Having been both burgled - and DH having had a fire in this house about 13 years ago when the lintel above the open fire (now gas) caught light, we have a system:

Our doors are mortice lock - but the type that a key can remain in on the other side, so both external doors are locked on exiting and entering the house. Both of us have keys, as do my 2 sons (who don't live here any more). We also have a deadbolt which goes on at night. We also have an escape window, which opens onto the front of our house, as the back yard opens onto a gated alley, so no way to escape from there.

The only thing I DO worry about is my car keys being fished through the letterbox, so they go into my handbag when I get into the house.

peachyprice

loracan1 wrote: »

I think you're both barmy!

I keep the front door locked at night, either leaving the key in the lock (but turned slightly) or next to it, out of sight of the letterbox. Why don't your sons have and use keys?

They do have keys, but the mortice is never locked. I couldn't do as you do even if I wanted to, (which would be the only way I would be happy to lock the bottom lock) because the they wouldn't be able to get their key in the lock to open the door.

peachyprice

Mojisola wrote: »

Doesn't your contents insurance require the door and windows to be locked?

No, they ask if certain types of locks are fitted, not whether they are in operation.

The one and only time I've been burgled was during broad daylight when they kicked the bottom panel of the door in, no lock in the world would have stopped them.

peachyprice

Just to clarify, the door can't be opened by a handle or anything from outside, it still needs a key, but the type that has a latch thingymajig on the inside, it's the bottom mortice that never gets locked, although we do all have keys for it. I think we've only ever used it when we took the barrel out of the other lock to get it repaired and when we go on holiday.