Talk Quesada forum

We thought it could be a very good time to mention security for those who are moving in or going to be moving into their newly built or re-sale properties. Hopefully we can get lots of further good advice from our members on this subject too, here on this topic.

Ciudad Quesada and the surrounding areas are safe places to live, compared to many other parts of Europe and even the UK, but it is worth being aware of certain security issues and taking precautions.

It is a well known fact that thieves, particularly opportunist thieves, may target newly built properties and newly 'moved into' properties, for whatever reason, but probably because they think that they are an ‘easy’ target because it's a fact of life that moving in and the early days of a development is a time when we may all have our guard down with all the excitement.

Also there are often builders still around on other unfinished properties nearby and, although many of them may be honest upright citizens it can’t be ruled out that all of them, or their acquaintances, will be.

I have thought of a few bits of advice below (also for re-sale properties and anyone moving into a property) but if anyone can think of any extra helpful tips, please add to this topic.

Keys & Locks

Many people may have had access to the keys, so it is a good idea to get new locks or, easier still, new barrels which are easy to fit and can be bought in any hardware (Ferreterria) store.

Alarm

If there is an alarm fitted, change the access code. If there is no alarm it is a good idea to fit one.

Grilles

Sometimes a builder will have fitted grilles on new properties but more often they don’t. It’s worth knowing that grilles while being an obvious deterrent to burglars are also very useful in warm weather when you want to open doors and windows, while you are at home, and still feel secure. Being able to lock a grille on an open door is a very good security measure. Most of us have had grilles or extra grilles fitted so just ask if you want recommendations of companies.

**Remember to never leave keys or items of value near open doors or windows, even with a locked grille, as it has been known for thieves to use a hook on a stick to steal items.

Safe

Have a Safe installed, if possible. It’s very handy for keeping valuable items and passports secure.

Window locks

If the windows do not have locks already it’s a good idea to fit them. These can be quite easily fitted as a DIY job (again the Ferreterria sells these) or by a recommended handy-man or Locksmith.

Window shutter/blind locks

There are a few types of Shutter/blind locks, if they are not already fitted, that can be bought at the Ferreterria store - Some are just clipped in and don't need fitting.

Smoke Alarms & Carbon monoxide alarms

It's fair to say that the Spanish are not 'big' on smoke alarms (When we fitted ours in Spain in the early days it wasn't even easy to find them in the shops) but as we wouldn't be without then in the UK, it's a very good idea to fit them - particularly with all those grilles!!!....and if the house has any gas appliances or gas heating it's wise to also fit Carbon monoxide alarms.

Gates

It's a good idea to lock all gates to your property at all times for extra security and also in the event of cold callers and you may get those in the early days of a new-build property - some may be scams - Watch out for the charity collector, and similar, who says all your neighbours have contributed. He may even show you a list with house numbers and amounts!- A locked gate is easier to say 'no' through


I’m sure you can get lots of help or recommendations for any of the above here on TalkQuesada if you ask.

People often say “whatever you do they will get in, if they want to, anyway” but making it harder for ‘them’ has got to help. As most break-ins in Spain are opportunist - good visible deterrents, being extra aware and taking care with security could make ‘them’ give up and look elsewhere!

Hope this helps.


Jan.

Jan thank you for these hints and tips we move into a resale bought and due over November
So this helps

blackvelvet wrote:Jan thank you for these hints and tips we move into a resale bought and due over November
So this helps

Pleased you find it helpful.

When we moved into our Spanish holiday-home we had lots of similar advice from a forum and also from kind neighbours who had moved in before us. It was invaluable and gave us peace of mind that we had done all we could do to stay safe and secure.


Hope you enjoy your new Spanish home as much as we do ours.


Jan.

Not really safety and security but another thing I just thought of when moving into a new property - You get given a 'snagging' list by the builder to write down anything you are not happy with in the build. It really is a good idea to use this wisely as they will usually come and put anything right within the first few weeks but once this list is given in, it may be difficult to say you noticed anything else.

We know from experience that we should have looked more carefully - We still have a chipped bath where something heavy was obviously dropped onto the enamel and only noticed it a few days after the snagging list was given in (we are shower people and just didn't look in the bath carefully enough, in fact I put a shower mat over the chip without really looking at the time.)

We since found out that the builder came back to other new houses near us and invisibly repaired similar chips - My enamel paint repair just doesn't look the same!

We also still have a few chipped and cracked floor tiles too.

It's a very busy time but just thought I would remind everyone moving in to take this opportunity seriously and check much more carefully than we did.

Jan.

This section has been really helpful, on a similar topic we are coming over late June staying Pueblo Bravo to view properties, we will be having the odd late evening out and walking home, or should we play safe and get a taxi to P/BRAVO???

This section has been really helpful, on a similar topic we are coming over late June staying Pueblo Bravo to view properties, we will be having the odd late evening out and walking home, or should we play safe and get a taxi to P/BRAVO???

Liz & Gordon wrote:This section has been really helpful, on a similar topic we are coming over late June staying Pueblo Bravo to view properties, we will be having the odd late evening out and walking home, or should we play safe and get a taxi to P/BRAVO???

Walking home is fine - We always walk home in the evenings in Quesada and feel even safer than we do in the UK, if that's possible - We live in Epsom, Surrey! Obviously the same precautions apply that you would take anywhere, such as not carrying handbags with everything in them. I always use a cross body bag, if I use one at all, with nothing valuable or irreplaceable in it!

We often find that we don't see a soul as we walk home. The streets are often deserted, except for mid-Summer when there are usually a few 'revellers' like us walking home! LOL

We love walking, especially in the warm late evenings, you see so much more on foot rather than from a car window and the atmosphere of the evening, the insect sounds, such as the Cicadas & Crickets and the perfume of the plants like 'Lady of the night' are amazing!... I'm getting 'Spain- sick' writing this and can't wait to get there again!



Jan

I agree with Jan , we don't always hire a car and walk a lot around the area and never had or seem any problems ,feel very safe.
Dot

Hi,
I have moved a few questions out of this topic into their own Topics to make it easier for people to find any similar information they may need.

Please try to put any questions or hints/ tips that you have on safety & security in Spain into its own topic - Click on New Topic * on the top left of the safety-security-information-and-property-in-spain-hints-and-tips-f78/ forum.

Thank you,

Jan