It is every homeowner’s job to do everything they can to keep their homes safe. Installing an alarm is great, but there is so much more. The following article will give you some great ideas to help you secure your home and everything inside of it.
A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. Some give offer the option to monitor all entries into the house. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.
You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This way it will always look as if someone is home, even when you are away. This will keep people from breaking in.
Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. While these platforms are there for sharing, this is announcing to the world that your home is an open target.
Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. Above doors or under doormats are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.
See if your area police department has any home security programs. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.
In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. They pose a fire risk. Clear yard regularly to maintain your house safe.
Be outgoing. Engage your neighbors in conversation. Watch their homes and ask them if they’ll watch yours as well. Also consider listening in on some of the neighborhood gossip. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.
Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Perhaps you aren’t sure who owned the home before you or maybe an old roommate has a key and never returned it. Regardless, changing the locks will ensure your security. It shouldn’t cost too much, and the process can be completed very quickly.
Go with your instincts when choosing a security system company. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. Make sure that the installer has experience installing your type of security system. You need to feel secure with the entire process.
You have a choice on who installs your security system, don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.
If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.
Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. All you need is a wall opening you’re not using (something like a phone jack, electrical box, or switch plate). If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.
Hide any valuables in wall spaces. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.
When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Remember that different families might have dwelt there before this person.
If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. As nice as the previous person may seem, you don’t really know them. Also, there have likely been other owners of the home, and you don’t know them either.
Rotted Wood
There is a lot of value in copper wiring. This is something few homeowners realize until they become victims of wiring theft. Experienced criminals can make a decent amount of money quickly by stripping copper wiring off of houses in order to sell it at a scrapyard. Hide your wiring to secure it.
Replace rotted wood around any door frames. An intruder can simply pry away that rotted wood and enter your home. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.
You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. Teach everyone in your home to use the flashlights so all family members can see and help each other.
Change the locks on any new place you move into. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.
If you need to make the outside of your home secure, you can achieve this relatively inexpensively by installing lights with motion detectors. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. Properly-situated motion detectors will give your home a complete field of protection and make it impossible for a miscreant to approach undetected.
As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. Make sure that the doors and windows to your home are not covered by trees, fences, shrubs or any other type of thing. These types of places provide the perfect cover for prowlers. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.
One of the best things you can do to protect your home at night is to deter intruders with plenty of exterior lighting. They don’t want anyone to see them. When you have a well-lit home, crooks won’t be able to hide and it will be hard for them to break in undetected. If you want to stay secure, keep your house brightly lit.
Get some professional assistance by asking a home security company to come to your house and work up a plan for a customized security system. Every person has specific needs and wants when dealing with securing your family, home, and items. If you are able to secure a company willing to tailor a system to your needs, there is a good chance that you will be satisfied.
You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. Read through official websites for different companies and look for reviews written by customers. Once you have selected a few potential home security providers, set appointments to interview them and find out what they have on offer.
Wireless security systems are the next generation in protection. Systems that are wired can be a little cheaper, but may need significant reworking of your home’s electrical wiring and can fail in a power outage. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.
You need to think about what you need as far as home security before you look at different systems. Though such systems can be terrific for many, not everyone really needs one. In some areas, a class on self defense or a guard dog might be more suitable, yet in others, an advanced home security system will fit the bill. Know the risks so that you can make a better decision.
Whenever you purchase some expensive item, don’t place the empty boxes right outside your home. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. Cut up the boxes when they’re empty.
If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home. If paper shredders don’t fit into your budget, you can manually rip up important documents yourself.
Man’s best friend can be one of the most effective anti-burglary systems. Man’s best friend is very territorial and makes a lot of noise during anything happening out of the ordinary. You will get good results even if you do not have a large or vicious dog. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.
Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. Installing hidden and visible video cameras is great for securing a home. Intruders will stay away from your home if they notice cameras and hidden cameras can help identify intruders if they disable the most visible cameras. Many surveillance systems may be easily accessed through a cell phone so that you can check on your house while you’re away.
Put the shades down on your windows when you are out. You don’t want potential intruders to be able to look inside. They may break in if they spot something that they like. You ought to keep them drawn while you are asleep.
A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders. You don’t have to have a huge, violent guard dog, though. Small dogs even scare off intruders as they don’t like anything to make noise when breaking into a home.
Do not make a number-code password your birthday or other obvious number. Your birthday can be found on mail or social media sites, so this means anyone can access your home. Think of a number which is the answer to a mathematical question so you can just remember the answer to the question.
See if your firm gives you the choice of leasing and/or buying security equipment. Buying the equipment might cost more up front, but it means a one time cost that does not continue every month. Although leasing is usually cheaper, you may have to fill out contracts and you will have higher monthly costs. Evaluate both alternatives and choose the best option for yourself.
Always keep valuables you can’t replace secure. Important legal documents and passports, family photos, expensive jewelry and financial records should always be protected. One option is a floor safe inside your home. A better idea is storing them inside a type of safe deposit box that’s outside your home.
Avoid keeping your key somewhere expected. The classic fake rock is too common and too easy to detect. Another obvious location is underneath the doormat. This will be one of the first places that a burglar will look for your spare key. Instead, you should keep your spare keys with a trusted neighbor. If you can’t, be creative where you put the key.
Ask your security company if they offer motion sensitive lighting. Many companies offer this, and it causes the lights on the outside of your home to go on as soon as someone approaches an entry way. This will make an intruder hesitant to break in, and it will provide you with additional safety whenever you arrive home late at night.
Having a burglar alarm is really good, but it is only good if the police is alerted when it sets off. The only way to ensure this is to use a system that calls the police for you. After all, your neighbors might not make that call just because they hear your alarm.
A home alarm system is a great investment, but it only works if someone notifies the authorities when it sounds. Purchase a centrally monitored alarm to reap all the security benefits possible. You cannot depend on your neighbors to call them.
Though inside locks are great, they do little if they cannot also be locked externally. Use a deadbolt which has a key on the outside and inside for the best security.
Since reading this article, there is no excuse for your home to be unsafe. Although it can seem like a hassle, it’s worth protecting your family. These tips can help.
Buy a security system from a reliable company instead of a re-seller. Resellers just want to make money off your purchase, but they don’t give guarantees. Whenever you buy straight from the company, you are assured you are paying the right price and that the equipment will cater to your needs.
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