All homeowners should have a plan for keeping their home safe; unfortunately, some do not do this. All it takes to secure one’s home is a certain amount of knowledge. Read on to learn about how to secure your home.
Your home should looked occupied all the time. You can purchase inexpensive timers that will control different electronics and lights in your home. This gives off the appearance that someone is home. It is also another way to secure your home.
Spare Key
Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.
Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.
Compare various home security systems when shopping. Prices can be very different from one product to another. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.
A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.
Buy fire-resistant building materials. This give your home an extra protection layer. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.
Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. This can indicate that your home will be free and vulnerable during the time.
Your garage needs to be secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. Use a C-clamp to secure the door if it’s off track.
Get advice from loved ones about home security systems. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.
Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.
Do not open your door for people you do not know. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.
The police department in your area may offer a home protection program. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Speak with the police in your area to see if they have these things.
Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.
When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This will make your family safer.
Police Department
If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. Sometimes, hidden costs can be incurred if you get rid of the service before a certain date. You’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.
See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Ask your police department to see if these types of programs are available.
Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.
Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. If it’s not visible, you might not even know there’s a problem.
Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. Different people require different plans. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.
Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Speak with your neighbors. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.
You should not enter your home if you find the door ajar. This can be quite dangerous because the burglar may still be on your property. You should call the cops and then wait for them before you do anything else.
When securing your home, don’t forget about skylights. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.
A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. Dogs are very protective of their turf and usually make noises when something is amiss. You don’t have to have a huge, violent guard dog, though. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.
Use your walls as hiding spaces. It’s not necessary to cut out parts of your wall to do this. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. What about un-wiring an electrical socket which isn’t used to utilize as a cover to hide your jewelry?
Do not use spring latch locks. These are the easiest for criminals to open with a credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. IF spring latch locks are already in place, add a deadbolt for that extra layer of security.
Even if you’re not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. Break-ins are often the result of unlocked windows and doors. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.
If you’re worried about how you’re going to be able to maintain a wireless system, you may want to opt for a wired one instead. A wireless system required the regular replacement of many batteries. If you don’t replace the batteries, you’ll find that your system stops working correctly. Furthermore, it can be costly to replace multiple batteries.
When moving into your new house, change every lock. Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you really have no clue as to who they really are. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.
If you want maximum security, make sure that your exterior doors are either solid wood or metal. These doors will hold. This makes it much more difficult for a burglar to kick in the door and break in. The cost of replacing these doors is very minimal if they were to break.
Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.
Inquire about motion sensing lights from your security service. Some do, and installing these lights means your property will be illuminated if anyone walks nearby. This will ward off thieves and make you feel safe when you come home.
Always ask for references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. Conduct background checks if necessary. Avoid giving keys out to contractors, maids and repairmen.
An alarm system can be a powerful way to make your home more secure, as long as it actually notifies the authorities when it’s tripped. The only way to ensure this is to use a system that calls the police for you. The neighbors will not always call.
Take advantage of the Internet while comparing your home security options. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. Then, you can set appointments to make price and service comparisons before you choose.
Most people like to avoid their neighborhood gossip; however, you should consider having them on your side. They will be the first one to notice any strangers lurking near your home. Being friendly will bring you great security.
Your landscaping should be designed based on what will be safest for your home. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Have your landscape several feet away from your house for better safety.
There are some obvious benefits to having a big dog with an intimidating bark. Burglars don’t want to put themselves in the position of being attacked. Therefore, consider owning a large dog so your home can be protected from burglaries. Just make sure this dog won’t attack your family!
The outside of your house should be well lit. Burglars like committing crimes in the darkness. Be sure and have a light next to any entry point in your home. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.
Be sure no rooms inside your house are visible outside. By not taking steps to conceal expensive items, you leave yourself open to becoming the victim of a robbery. Try installing drapes or blinds so that people outside can’t see what you have inside. If you cannot do this, place your valuables in another room.
Arrange for someone to pick up your mail and remove any fliers from your door if you are out of town. Thieves will drop off flyers to see if home owners are away. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.
Clean your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors often. A build-up of dust can keep the device from working properly. This makes your detectors ineffective when keeping your home safe from carbon monoxide and smoke.
Put a surveillance system in your home. This will allow you to see who is around your house. Also, you can capture the intruder in the act. Many surveillance systems will allow you to access them through your cell phone; therefore, you can ensure your home is safe even when you’re gone.
Seek out home security companies that offer security systems along with other things. The top of the line companies send a personal representative to analyze your house and make suggestions for security improvements. These might include adding extra locks, trimming back bushes or installing more secure windows. You want to feel like the company is worried about your security as a whole, rather than just their bottom line, and when they are willing to go the extra mile it helps you to feel confident.
Most people realize that home security is important, but few really know what it is all about. Learning more about the concept should be a focus of anyone looking to protect their family and possessions. The above article should be an excellent starting point for establishing your knowledge on home security.
Did you know that even your garbage can affect your home security? If you bought something expensive, and you leave the boxes out for anyone to see, a burglar will probably target your home. Always break down boxes and place them in a dark bag so people passing by your home on trash day can not see.
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