A lot of people believe security systems require expensive technicians who leave your home a wired mess. This process doesn’t have to inconvenience you. This article has tips that will help you secure your home.
Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.
Is your dog kept outside when you are away? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.
When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Look at a number of different companies and get at least three quotes before selecting what you feel is the ideal plan for your home.
Use a safe to protect your valuables. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Keep the safe hidden in a hard-to-find location like an attic or a basement closet.
Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. It is probable that you will hear some great stories about some companies as well as some not so great stories about others. This can save you the hassle of having to research everything on your own. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.
If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.
If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. A ringing phone that goes unanswered may signal to a burglar that nobody is home.
Make sure your attached garage is secure. Lots of people are afraid that burglars will be able to break into their garage, which will result in them breaking into the home. Thankfully, you can prevent this. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.
In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. As things heat up in the summer, items may catch on fire and threaten your home. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.
Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.
Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. Several in various jurisdictions have programs which entail providing a home inspection, what protective measures will help your home and even how to engrave valuable items to make them easier to recover. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.
Avoid coming across as overly shy. Build up a rapport with the people who own homes close to yours. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. It does not necessarily pay to steer clear of gossip. You may stumble across valuable security information, like if someone has noticed a stranger lurking around the neighborhood.
Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.
Put motion sensor lights around your house. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs to ensure they continue to work properly.
Hide any valuables in wall spaces. No need to damage your walls. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.
If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.
Are you aware of the value contained in your home’s wiring? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Therefore, ensure you hide your wires so that burglars cannot see them, or make the wires extremely hard for the burglars to get to.
Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Use heavy-duty hardware to secure your skylights to the roof.
You want to know what is included in a contract if you’re signing up with a security company. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.
Keep your most valuable possessions inside your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?
The Internet is great for searching for home security companies, so use it to your advantage. Many websites feature reviews, testimonials, and package details from home security services. Then, you can choose a top three to contact and compare details and pricing.
It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This helps keep you and your family safe.
A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.
Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. Keep your doors and windows clear of any shrubbery. This makes it where people can’t hide in different nooks and crevices. Keeping the areas around your windows free of plants can help to deter criminals from lurking too close to your home, without you noticing.
Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Burglars often put fliers on the door to see if the owner removes them. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.
Keep your outdoor areas well lit. Dark houses invite burglars who prefer to operate under cover of darkness. You should put a light on any area where a person could break in. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.
If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. Use a code-access lock for any door you don’t want others opening. You can install them yourself or you can hire a home security firm.
Wireless home security systems are becoming more popular. While systems with wires are cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.
Ask about different contract lengths that your home security company may offer. Each will have its own pros and some cons, too. Long contracts may cost less each month, but it could leave you with a larger bill if you decide to end your service. A short contract may seem more expensive each month, but you have more freedom.
A great security system for your home is a dog. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. You don’t even need a huge, vicious dog. Small dogs are noisy and unpredictable and very good at deterring burglars.
You need to take your car registration documents out of your car. This isn’t smart since anybody who gets them is going to know your address. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place in your car. Keep them close to you in case you get pulled over.
Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. If someone breaks into your car, that person can view your registration and instantly know where you reside. Hide them somewhere else in the car, or carry them with you. They must still be easily accessible should you be stopped by police.
Replace flimsy doors with doors made of solid wood or metal. This sort of door will deter intruders. A burglar would not be able to kick that door in. It is easy and affordable to replace all of your home’s exterior doors, so ensure you do this immediately.
Spare Key
A home alarm system is a terrific investment, but make sure someone is there to call the cops if it happens to go off. An alarm system with full-time monitoring by a security company is the safest option. You can rest assured that the police will be called by the company. After all, your neighbors might not make that call just because they hear your alarm.
If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. Rocks that aren’t real are easy to notice. Another obvious location is underneath the doormat. This will be one of the first places that a burglar will look for your spare key. A safer option is entrusting a neighbor or one of your most trusted friends to keep your spare key. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.
While gossip and scandals aren’t the most wholesome neighborhood topics, it’s best to stay in the loop. They will be the first one to notice any strangers lurking near your home. By being friends with them, the probability of them notifying you immediately is higher.
If you turn the lights off or on always at the exact time, utilize a timer. This is quite convenient because you won’t need to turn the lights off and on, and you won’t need to worry if you go away for a spell.
You want to always make sure your second story windows are locked. People think no burglar will get up to that floor. However, this is simply not true. Criminals know that this is a vulnerable area in home security.
Rather than installing a security system, you can do other things to help keep your family safe. You have many options when it comes to protecting your home and family. Keep this advice in mind to boost your home security.
Women are targets for thieves, especially those with kids. Consider putting some large, dirty boots on your porch so that it looks like the man of the house is home. This should keep most intruders away.
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