If you are a homeowner, you understand how important home security is. There’s nothing worse than having your home severely damaged. You make a huge monetary and emotional investment in your home. This article will show you how to protect it.
When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.
Spare Key
Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest. One way to do this is to check their references. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if their firm is well-reviewed.
You can hide your spare key on your dog. If your dog lives outside or is able to come and go through a dog door, this is a viable idea. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.
Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.
Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.
Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.
Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.
Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. A ringing phone that goes unanswered may signal to a burglar that nobody is home.
Your flooring and roofing should be fire resistant. This will help ensure the safety of your home, particularly if your home is located in a dry area. Home security also includes taking steps to prevent a fire from completely destroying your home.
Don’t let strangers enter your home. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Some folks will enter to scout for security systems, and upon seeing you lack one, will resolve to return at a later time.
You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Be sure you seek out advice by asking those people.
Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Some people think burglaries are less prevalent in rural parts.
Your garage should be as secure as your home. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.
Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.
Security System
Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. This is why it is so important to make sure all your wires are well hidden. You’ll be safer.
Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Get a security comapny tech to check it. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.
If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. It is easy for potential thieves to present themselves as representatives of a company in order to gain access to your home. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.
When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This will help to keep your family safe.
Be sure and keep the outside of your house well lit. Burglars like committing crimes in the darkness. Add lights to any areas you believe are potential entry points for burglars. All doors, porches, garages and windows should be well lit.
When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This can make you safer.
Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Have your windows frosted so they aren’t as easy to see through. Do not leave doors open for lengthy periods while you are doing work.
Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.
Inquire about different choices for contract lengths available from the home security provider. Each will have its own pros and some cons, too. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, but you you could maintain those monthly expenses if you discontinue service or sell the home. Short contracts leave you with freedom, but also a larger bill.
Security Company
Avoid making the password your birth date for numeric locks. Your birthdate can be found on Facebook or pieces of mail and you have given entry into 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.
Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Make sure you are as cautious as you can be.
Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. A timer will prevent the need of flipping the switch. In addition, it will help ensure the lights keep turning themselves on and off when you are not home. This will help deter potential burglars.
Ask your security provider about their history in the business. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.
The most secure sort of lock is a deadbolt that includes a captive keylock. These have a thumb latch that prevents others from reaching around and opening the lock via a nearby broken window. When you are at home, leave the key in the lock so that you can get out in case of a fire.
Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Nothing is as attractive to a burglar as a dark, deeply-shadowed house. Light up the dark spots around your home. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.
If you are female and live by yourself, you are a major target. Make it seem as if there is a man living in your home by putting large mud boots on your porch and a man’s hat in your car. This is one way to deter criminals from breaking into your home.
If the front door is open when you get home, resist the temptation to go in alone to find the reason. This can be a dangerous scenario, as the criminal might still be present. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.
It’s good to have interior locks, but they really aren’t effective without exterior locks. Use a deadbolt which has a key on the outside and inside for the best security.
Wireless Systems
There are obviously benefits to owning a large dog with a scary bark. Thieves aren’t going to want to chance a possible bite or attack. Get a dog that is friendly and good with your kids, while also being a good protector.
You should think about getting a home security system that is wireless. While wireless systems are often cheap, the cost of installation can be sky high. Wireless systems are much easier to maintain and also to install, and they are not reliant on your central power source.
Don’t leave toys in your yard when your kids aren’t playing with them out there. This will inform potential burglars that women live in the home. Burglars may target homes where women live. Why? Women, in general, have more expensive jewelry.
Consider a surveillance system for your home and property. Having visible or hidden cameras can help immensely. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. Some security systems can be accessed with cell phones, so you can check on your house while you are away.
Keep any valuables out of direct line of street-facing windows. If you’re able to see a computer or TV in a house, a thief may see it as well. Install window coverings to block the view. If you don’t want to do that, try moving a few things around instead.
One of the best home burglary systems is man’s best friend. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. It doesn’t even have to be a big tough dog. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.
Criminals are afraid of video surveillance systems. Burglars with masks like you see in movies are not really the norm. Home burglars usually do not cover their face to avoid arousing suspicion. They are likely to avoid a place where there are surveillance cameras.
Spring Latch Locks
Your trash plays a big role in how safe your home is. Thieves will notice empty boxes for expensive electronics or bills for valuable items if you throw them away. Even if it is just an appliance, when a person purchases something new, that is a signal for a criminal that you have money and would be a good person to steal from.
You do not want to use spring latch locks. These locks are easy to break into since they may be opened up with a credit card. Burglars just slip a card between the latch and the door, causing the lock mechanism to open. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.
People need to know you have a burglar alarm before they break in. Window stickers and signs in your yard can act as deterrents for would-be intruders. If burglars don’t know you have an alarm system until they are inside, they will still likely attempt to steal a few items before taking off.
If you’ve got a type of numeric keypad on the front door, don’t use your birthday as the password. Your date of birth can be obtained through Facebook or your mail. Use a random number instead.
If your shed has a ladder inside, then make sure you lock the door. This can help a burglar get into your house. Make sure and store away anything that can be used to climb.
A dog trained to bark will keep you safe. Thieves aren’t going to want to chance a possible bite or attack. You should consider adopting a large dog that can be trained to protect you and your family.
This article has shown that home security can be easy. You simply need to understand how home security works. Use these home security tips wisely. Give all of these tips at least a second glance, because they are all important and could provide the keys you need to keep your home safe.
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