This week’s fascinating fact from the world of property comes from community website locallife.co.uk . It has recorded a rise in online searches for safes and home security systems in September – this has been most marked in the Northern Rock heartland in the North East. Tony Martin, the chairman of locallife.co.uk, says that one explanation could be that Northern Rock’s former patrons are taking it into their own hands to safeguard their dough: “It may be a cliché, but it could be anxious Northern Rock customers are stashing their cash under the mattress.”

Whether you need to increase your home security to protect your life savings, or you just fancy building an extension, there are a range of websites that will help you to find the man (or woman) for the job. Problemsolved.co.uk has just relaunched its website – it now lists 60,000 builders, plumbers, tilers and the like across the UK and has added a text service. Text plumber, electrician or locksmith followed by your postcode to 66066 to receive a list of three recommended companies in your area. Texts cost 50p.

The lamentable difficulties that homeowners face when it comes to finding a builder can be measured in the number of similar websites.

Look on the bright side: if you have reached near phobic levels of anxiety at the prospect of getting someone in, procrastinate by surfing the many tradesman websites – a task that could last until the end of time: houseprofessionals.com , uktradestreet.com , homepro.com , ratedpeople.com , buildersite.co.uk , www.findabuilder.co.uk , builders.org.uk , or the rather niche manflat.com . lucia.adams@timesonline.co.uk

About to embark on some home improvements? For advice and insider tips from the experts, go to: timesonline.co.uk/propertyexperts

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