Something tragic or bad can and will occur when you’re not expecting it. Make sure you look at your home security. Don’t put your family in unnecessary danger. The article below contains tips and tricks to help you create a secure environment for yourself and your family.
When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You cannot be sure of the number of key copies that the former owner gave out. You want to be sure that you’re the only one with a key. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.
Always change the locks after moving into a new home. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Get a locksmith in right away. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.
Good home security systems sound a loud alarm when breached, and that’s not all. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.
Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.
Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.
Is your dog kept outside when you are away? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. Find a place to securely fasten the key to your pet’s collar where it’s not visible. This is especially useful if the dog does not take kindly to strangers.
Get advice from loved ones about home security systems. Your friends have gone through both bad and good experiences and they will be able to share them with you. Be sure you seek out advice by asking those people.
Your flooring and roofing should be fire resistant. This will help you protect your home under all circumstances. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.
There’s no security system so durable that it can go without regular maintenance and inspections. Have yours checked out once a year. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. There are many things that can reduce the quality of your system. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.
Never allow a stranger to enter your home. It is essential you do not do this, even if the stranger gives you a convincing story or states they need your assistance. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.
A secure hiding place can be created in a wall. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. If you’re using all your outlets, you can install phony ones.
Security System
Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. It does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.
Your home security system ought to be checked each year. Get a professional in to check it out. The weather and animals are two things that may cause havoc on your home’s security system. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.
Are you aware of the value of your home’s wires? People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. Copper wiring is very valuable and susceptible to being stripped from the outside of your home. Be sure to keep your wiring hidden or difficult to reach.
Walls are great for hiding things. Concealing small valuables in your walls is an easy and highly effective way to protect them. Any phone jack or electrical outlet that isn’t being used is a great place to hide valuables. You can also install a fake one.
It is important to always have fresh batteries and flashlights handy around the house. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.
Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.
Whenever you sign with a home-security company, it is important that you thoroughly read the contract. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.
If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. Intruders can easily disable your home security system by cutting or unplugging the wires. Never make things easy for them. Ask the person installing it to bury the wires or hide them inside the walls. Keep yourself safe.
Purchase a paper shredder to prevent your discarded papers from providing burglars with valuable information. You will be astonished at how burglars find important information from loose paper that they could use to break into your house. You can tear your documents up by hand before disposing of them if a shredder is out of your price range.
If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. Burglars are creative, and they often pose as a member of the security team to get inside. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Be deliberate in preventing hazards.
When you are away on vacation have a house sitter bring in your mail and any flyers and newspapers that accumulate in front of your house. Sometimes burglars leave fliers in an attempt to see if anyone is home to remove them. If the flier is not removed, they will know you are not home.
Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. Do not hesitate to hire someone to run a background check if you have doubts. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.
Never place empty boxes for expensive items out on the curb. This will show that you have expensive equipment in your home. Cut up the boxes completely instead.
Keep safety at the forefront as you landscape. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.
Keeping a dog provides a great way to boost your home’s defense. Dogs naturally protect their homes and they make lots of noise when things go wrong. You do not need a large, vicious guard dog. Little dogs can also make big noise, which is the main thing that burglars care about.
Wireless Systems
Ask the security company about various contract lengths. They all likely have different benefits and downsides. A long contract may lock you in even if you choose to sell the house or want to stop the services, but it can result in a lower bill every month. While a short contract provides you with extra freedom, it can cost you more for each month.
Think about getting a wireless security system for the home. While wireless systems are often cheap, the cost of installation can be sky high. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.
Avoid storing car registration in your glove compartment. If someone breaks into your car, that person can view your registration and instantly know where you reside. Keep them on you, or another place to hide them. Make sure you can easily and quickly access them in the event that a police officer pulls you over.
If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. Rip paper into tiny pieces if you can’t afford to purchase a paper shredder.
If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. The classic fake rock is too common and too easy to detect. A doormat is obvious, and a burglar is sure to look there. It’s better to have a friend, neighbor or relative keep a spare set of keys for you. If you have no choice but to hide a spare key, apply some inventive, out-of-the-box thinking when you do it.
If your door has a numeric keypad, don’t use your birthday as the password. Anyone can get personal information online which they can use to access your home. Try using a number that is the solution to a math problem. Then you can just remember the math problem to arrive at the solution.
You should never use your birthday as the password for your numeric keypad. Your birthday is readily available for burglars to find. Choose a math equation and make the answer your code, and make sure to keep the equation in mind.
An automatic device can control your lights, turning them on and off at the time you set. The automatic timer will keep the lights going on and off on schedule, so a thief will not be able to tell when you are away. Even when you are at home, the timer is convenient because it saves you from having to remember to turn on the lights.
If you want maximum security, make sure that your exterior doors are either solid wood or metal. Metal and solid wooden doors hold tight and fast. A burglar trying to kick in such a door is going to be in for some pain. Replacing doors is not very expensive and should make a real difference.
Secure valuables that are truly irreplaceable. Items like family photos, passports, legal documents and expensive jewelry should be kept in a safe place. You may want to invest in a floor safe for these. Safety deposit boxes are another great idea.
Having a big dog with a loud bark is beneficial. Burglars are often deterred from homes with scary sounding dogs, as they want to avoid bites and attacks. A big dog can be a great burglar deterrent for your home.
It’s very important to close your curtains in the evening, especially where your home faces the street. You don’t need to have an invitation to people through your window. If the crooks can see what you own, then they are going to target you next. Be careful about what you expose to the public so that your likelihood of a burglary will decrease.
Avoid leaving toys on your lawn if your kids aren’t out there with them. This makes the burglars suspect that women live there, and they are viewed as easy targets. Women tend to have more valuable jewelry than their male counterparts, and thieves know this.
It’s hard to know what might make your home attractive to burglars since criminals are often quite haphazard. You can do a lot more to protect your home and your family than just hope it doesn’t happen to you. Keep these tips in mind when researching more about protecting your home from crime.
Keep carbon monoxide and smoke detectors clean. The sensors will stop working if dirty. If they won’t go off because of dust, these detectors cannot protect your home.
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