All homeowners should be well-versed in home security precautions. However, you will need to filter out the large amount of old and misinformation available on the web. The following article will help you learn the ins and outs of home security.
Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? This is where you can put your spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. This works especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.
Purchase a safe to lock all of the extremely valuable items in your home in one place. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Keep the safe hidden somewhere remote.
You should invest in fire-resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling. This will make your home more safe, especially if you are in a dry climate that has many power lines. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.
Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. If your garage lifts up on a track, try using a C-clamp. This will prevent your door from opening up if the clamp is close to its roller.
Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.
Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. Some maintain that rural dwellers have greater risk since their neighbors live farther away. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.
Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Get in touch with the department to determine their offerings.
Skylights should be secure. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.
Your home security system ought to be checked each year. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.
Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.
You should not be shy. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Listen for gossip too. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.
If you have any boxes to discard from large, expensive items, wait until the evening before the trash is scheduled for collection. Having these type of boxes hanging around will give robbers a good idea of what type of merchandise you have inside of your home.
If you’ve got skylights, don’t forget about it when it comes to home security. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.
Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. Conduct background checks if necessary. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.
Walls make the perfect hiding spot. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. Place them in switch plates, phone jacks or an electric outlet. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.
Before checking out security systems for your home, think about your personal security and safety needs. Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Be aware of your risks to make an intelligent purchasing decisions.
Do that put spare keys above door frames or under door mats. Keeping a spare key is convenient but intruders will have access to your home if your key is too easy to find. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.
Use a wireless security system. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Also, you will have a very easy time installing them.
If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Make it hard for intruders and bury the wires or hide them inside your walls, if possible. Your system will be far more effective this way.
Can someone standing in the middle of the street see clearly your house numbers? If an emergency happens, the police can’t get to the home as quick if your numbers are obscured in any way or are too small. This is a project any homeowner can tackle.
If you’ve recently moved into a house, get any locks changed out. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.
Dogs make a great security system. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. There is no need for a guard dog. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.
Prior to purchasing a security system, think about what you need it for. They aren’t the right fit for everyone. Sometimes just taking a class in self defense or adopting a loud dog is enough, while at other times a full fledged security system might be the way to go. Understanding your needs will help you make a good purchase decision.
If you’ve got guests that you don’t want in particular areas of the home, close the area off so it is not accessible. If you do have areas to lock, consider getting keyless locks that you can open using a code, rather than carrying a huge ring of keys around with you. Many home security companies will install these, and there are also do it yourself kits available.
When you aren’t home, make sure your windows are covered. If you don’t, others can look in and see that the property is currently unoccupied. They’re going to want to get in your house if they can see items they want. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.
When checking out security companies, ask whether they allow you to choose between buying or leasing the system. Buying equipment may be initially more expensive, but cheaper in the longer term. Leasing is often less expensive, but it may involve contracts and higher monthly fees. Look at what you can afford, as well as what is offered and make an informed choice.
Talk to your home-security company to see if they provide buy and lease options for your equipment. While you will pay more to buy, you don’t have to keep paying for it month after month. Leasing is a good way to avoid the initial expense, but you will have to pay monthly fees. You need to think about each option to think about what is right for your home.
Don’t hide your key somewhere obvious. An easily moved object close to the door is the first place a burglar will look. Doormats, too. Instead, you should keep your spare keys with a trusted neighbor. If that isn’t an option, be creative with a hiding spot.
Don’t keep your car registration in the glove box of your car. If someone breaks into your car, that person can view your registration and instantly know where you reside. You should make sure to keep them on you, or store them somewhere safe in your car. However, make sure you have them in case you were to get pulled over by the cops.
Think about hard-wired security systems if you’re worried about long term maintenance costs. Wireless set-ups need battery changes all the time. Forgetting to add new batteries can cause your system to not work as it should. Batteries can be very expensive to change.
Be sure not to use your birthday as the password on your door lock’s numeric key pad. Anyone can get your birthdate off mail or your Facebook page and will therefore have access to your home. Rather, use a number that can be determined through an equation that you can remember instead.
Using a timer on lights is a great idea. They will go on when you need them, plus they’ll also go on when you’re not home.
Consider a hard-wired security system if you are concerned about ongoing maintenance costs. A wireless system is a good option but you will have to replace batteries regularly. Forgetting to change out the batteries leaves you insecure. In addition, replacing multiple batteries can be expensive.
If your door isn’t either metal or solid wood, replace it with one that is. Durability is key. This makes it much harder for a burglar to kick in a door. It’s a good idea to replace all your exterior doors with more secure ones. It really doesn’t cost a lot.
Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. This can simplify your life, but it also makes your home appear lived in if you are away.
Glass Doors
Any external wires can be a big target for thieves. Copper is very valuable and it may be found in wiring. Hiding wiring is a good way to prevent copper thieves from hitting your property.
Sliding glass doors are a big security problem in many homes. The glass doors can easily be unlocked or broken. If you lack a connected security system for such doors, cut a piece of pipe to stick in the door’s channel. This holds the door firmly in position. Even if the lock is broken, the door will still be held closed.
Don’t leave toys in your yard when your kids aren’t playing with them out there. Thieves might think women live there. It is important to show some sense of masculinity in and around your home so thieves don’t target you thinking there is expensive jewelry in the home.
Become chummy with your nosey neighbor. They will be the first one to notice any strangers lurking near your home. If they know and like you, they will be more inclined to let you know.
As a matter of course, you should install new locks any time you move into a house or apartment. Regardless of whether you are renting or buying, you should either re-key the locks yourself, or request that your landlord take care of it for you.
Homeowners have a duty to learn all they can about keeping their homes secure. However, sorting out the important information can be difficult. When you do come across security info you find helpful, (hopefully, including the article you’ve just read) it’s a good idea to hang onto it for future reference.
Owning a gun is one way of keeping your home safe. Consider buying a gun and getting trained to use it, in case it’s necessary. Having a gun in your home may make you feel safer.
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