Making sure your place is safe and secure is definitely the job of every homeowner. But there is no need for it to be tough or costly. By reading the below article, you’ll realize that you can take significant steps in protecting your home.
Do you keep your dog outside when you aren’t home? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.
Do you have an outdoor dog? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Put it on their collar. This works especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.
Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.
Get a safe to protect your valuable items. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.
It will not benefit you to be shy. Talk to your neighbors. Ask them to watch your home if you are on vacation. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.
It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Prices vary greatly in regards to the same protection for each company. Be certain to obtain multiple quotes prior to making your choice.
Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.
Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. By asking around, you will gain information about the pros and cons of a variety of options.
Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. If your house has street-facing windows, make sure they are always covered and your make sure your valuables are hidden away.
You should never open your door to someone you do not know. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. Keep a hard, fast rule that says you only open the door for invited guests in order to keep your family safe.
If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. The person who used to live there may still have a key. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.
Make sure to clear your yard of brush and dead wood in the summertime. Due to the heat, these items in your yard are more likely to catch on fire. As a result, your home could be caught on fire. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.
Anytime a security installer comes to the house, make sure they display proper identification. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This could be quite dangerous. Be cautious to stay safe.
Police Department
If you sign a contract for a security company, read all the fine print first. There may be hidden costs in the event you wish to cancel before the end of the contract. This may also be true if you need more or different equipment in the future. Avoid nasty charges or fees regarding early termination, contract expiration and additional features or equipment.
Talk to your local police department about what they offer. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
Always enlist the powers of online research to help you make a smart choice when it comes to home security companies. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. After reading about these services, you can narrow down the results and use appointments for price comparisons.
Use motion sensor lights. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.
Get your home security system custom built for your needs. Each customer wants certain things as far as home security goes. Most companies will create an individual plan to meet your needs so you can have a high level of security to assure your peace of mind.
When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.
If you get home and your door is open, do not enter ti investigate. The thief may remain inside. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.
Walls are the perfect place to hide. Jewelry and other small items can be protected very well when placed in hiding places in your walls. Target any unused phone jacks or electrical outlets for an easy hiding spot. If there are no unused plates, you can easily install fake ones.
Think about having a wireless security system for the home installed. Wired systems might be a bit less expensive, but they often involve intrusive rewiring of your home, and can become faulty during a power outage. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.
Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This will help to keep your family safe.
Buy a paper shredder. Thieves often look through garbage, trying to find credit card information or other important documents. If a paper shredder is not in your budget, consider tearing your documents into tiny pieces or even burning them.
There is a lot of value in copper wiring. Lots of people don’t know this until their wires are stolen. The copper in the wiring is valuable and can be stripped off of the outside of the home in a relevantly short period of time. Be sure that your wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep your wires safe.
If you buy something that is expensive, you need to make sure you don’t leave empty boxes curbside. Burglars will notice these boxes and know what kind of valuables you have. Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put it out.
Power Outages
If you live with children or others whom who don’t want entering some parts of the house, keys and lock sets aren’t the only option. Code or fingerprint enabled keyless entry locks are a great solution. You can either install these locks by yourself, or have them professionally installed if you are not that handy yourself.
Buy flashlights with strong batteries and make sure there is one in each room in case of power outages. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.
Always store your irreplaceable valuables in a secure place. Passports, financial records, jewelry, photos or legal documents should be locked away. A floor safe could be a good place for you to keep these things inside your house. To be even more cautious, you can get a safety deposit box at your local bank.
Wireless security systems are the next generation in protection. A wired system is probably less expensive, but wires are a hassle. A wireless security system is easy to install and take care of. Additionally, this type of system is not dependent upon the electrical system of the home.
Is your door made of solid wood or metal? If not, then replace it. Doors made of metal or wood are much sturdier than those that aren’t. If the burglar tries to kick their way in, they have a hard time doing so. You ought to be able to get new exterior doors fairly cheaply, so make this a priority.
Don’t give anyone an opportunity to see inside your garage in order to ward off robbers. Add some frosted glass panes to your windows to keep strangers from looking inside. Also, avoid leaving the door open for prolonged periods of time.
A sliding glass door often presents a big challenge to home security. Shaking the doors or even simply lifting them can unlock them. If a security system isn’t attached to these doors, then insert pipe to place into the door channel. The pressure applied by the pipe provides added security and makes forcing a sliding door open a much less trivial matter.
Credit Card
There are many security benefits to having a large dog. Burglars don’t want to put themselves in the position of being attacked. You should consider adopting a large dog that can be trained to protect you and your family.
You do not want to use spring latch locks. These locks are easy to pick, and it can be done with an ordinary credit card. Intruders simply use a credit card inside the latch, making the lock open. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.
An excellent tool in your arsenal is video surveillance systems. Burglars don’t wear masks like in movies. Most thieves won’t cover their faces simply because they don’t plan to run into anyone. If they notice a security system, they won’t bother.
If the window of your living room faces the street, close your curtains at night. You wouldn’t want strangers leering into your home. If criminals can clearly view what’s going on in your house, it makes it easier for them to commit crimes. Be careful about how much others can see.
When searching for home security companies, find one that provides more than simply security systems. You want someone to come out to talk with you and help you decide what the right choices are for you and your loved ones. This could include additional locks, removal of brush or new windows. You need to ensure that the firm really takes its work seriously, and you will be able to see that through such a consultation.
After applying these tips, your home should be easy to keep secure. Begin making changes around the home. Soon your home will feel safe and secure 24/7. You should now be able to sit back and relax.
Cover window air conditioner with bars or screw them in securely. Burglars can use this as a point of entry if not secured. During the winter, remove them from windows for better security.
Now that you are armed with the right info about blue widget, you should go out and use it. It may be hard to learn some new topics, but this article gave you good basic information. You should have a complete understanding of the subject in no time.
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