Homeowners are often daunted by the topic of home security. It does not have to be difficult or expensive. These tips will show you how easy and inexpensive it can be.
Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Just place your key on your dog’s collar.
Do you keep your dog outside when you aren’t home? Store the spare key with them. Attach the key to the dog’s collar so that it is hidden from view. This is especially useful if the dog does not take kindly to strangers.
When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. This is because you really have no idea who has keys, and therefore access to your home. Have a locksmith install a brand new lock. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.
A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. Some give offer the option to monitor all entries into the house. If you have little ones wandering about the house, this makes it easy for you to know if they have come in or gone out.
Compare various home security systems when shopping. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.
Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Prices vary significantly, even for similar levels of protection. Be sure and get a minimum of three quotes from different companies prior to choosing one.
Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.
Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.
Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.
If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. If a burglar keeps hearing your phone ring, they’ll know the home is not occupied, making it more likely for a break-in to occur.
Consider changing your locks as a part of your home security program. Perhaps you aren’t sure who owned the home before you or maybe an old roommate has a key and never returned it. Regardless, changing the locks will ensure your security. It is pretty cheap and the job won’t take more than a few hours.
Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.
Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. It won’t take long for thieves to steal lots of expensive valuables.
You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.
If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.
Expensive Items
Believe it or not, the wires on your house are worth stealing. The majority of people aren’t aware of this fact until a burglar steals these wires. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.
If you have any boxes to discard from large, expensive items, wait until the evening before the trash is scheduled for collection. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.
If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. A burglar can easily strip away wood that has rotted. As a result, this will assist them in breaking into your home. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.
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. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.
Keep flashlights in your rooms. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.
The wiring outside of your home can be valuable. Often homeowners are unaware of this fact until they find that their wiring has been stolen. Experienced criminals can make a decent amount of money quickly by stripping copper wiring off of houses in order to sell it at a scrapyard. This is why the wiring should be hidden or difficult to get to.
If the home you are moving into is not brand new, you should change the locks on all the doors. Although other tenants might not have a key anymore, they could have copied it. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.
Keep lights on at all times if you want to prevent break-ins from happening. These crooks do not wish to be noticed or seen. Thieves have a hard time stealing things when there are lots of lights around. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.
Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. Your doors and windows should not be obstructed by shrubs or fences. If these things can be seen by the naked eye, they won’t offer hiding places to potential criminals. Put these features at a greater distance from your house; let beauty also complement safety.
As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. Whenever you know you aren’t doing business with a fly-by-night company, you will be more assured your home is protected.
Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. You might find that an alarm isn’t necessary at all. In some neighborhoods, it may be better for you to have a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself. Understand completely the risks and rewards in order to make an informed purchase decision.
Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. There are always going to be unique things about your home as well as your specific needs, so make sure you think about these things. If you are able to secure a company willing to tailor a system to your needs, there is a good chance that you will be satisfied.
Always request that your house or pet sitter remove fliers from your door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. A flier that hangs around for days on end lets burglars know that there’s no one in the home.
Wireless System
Don’t utilize spring latch locks. These locks are the simplest ones to breach, since they are able to be opened by using just a credit card. Intruders just have to slide a card in between the latch and door for the lock to pop open. A deadbolt can be retrofitted to a door with a spring latch lock if you want to make it more secure.
Think about a wireless security system for your home. While a wired system is more affordable, it also requires more extreme modifications of your home’s existing wiring. This could be a potential problem in the event that your power goes out. A wireless system is easy to install and to maintain. Besides, you will still be able to count on your wireless system in case of a power outage.
Avoid keeping your key somewhere expected. Rocks that aren’t real are easy to notice. The first place a person will look is a doormat. The best idea is just to ask a friend or neighbor to hang on to a key for you. If you cannot do that, at least find an unusual place to hide the key.
Inquire about various contract lengths which your security company might offer. Each likely has its benefits and drawbacks. Long contracts are cheaper every month, but can outlast your stay in the home. Shorter contracts offer greater freedom, but may be more expensive each month.
When you don’t want to spend a lot on maintenance, go for a hard-wired system. The wireless ones are convenient, however, they need multiple battery sets that must be changed frequently. Forgetting to add new batteries can cause your system to not work as it should. Replacing batteries can get costly.
The glove compartment is bad place to store important documents like your car’s registration. The reason is that anyone who sees them will immediately have your home address. Instead, carry them with you or find a more secure location in your car. You should have easy access to them if you should be pulled over.
Your alarm will only work if the police are notified. The best strategy is to buy a centrally monitored alarm so that the police always show up if it is triggered. You can’t necessarily rely on the neighbors to call.
If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. It is easy to spot a fake rock. The doormat is the first place someone will look. It is probably best to find someone you trust to hold a key for you. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.
Most people try to avoid the neighborhood gossip, but you should try to get them in your good graces. While much of the information these folks pass around is useless, they’re also the first to pick up on suspicious activity in the neighborhood. If you become friendly with them, the chance of them placing you under alert increases.
Security System
Women have more chances of being the target of a home invasion if they live alone. Consider putting some large, dirty boots on your porch so that it looks like the man of the house is home. This visual can deter burglars from targeting your home.
Consider a hard-wired security system if you are concerned about ongoing maintenance costs. Wireless systems are of course convenient, but unfortunately you have to change numerous sets of batteries regularly. Your home security system will not function properly if you do not change the batteries. In addition, replacing multiple batteries can be expensive.
Advertise the fact that your home is equipped with an alarm systmem. Window decals, yard signs and loud sounding alarms are good at preventing someone from breaking into the house. It will be too late if they don’t realize you have an alarm until after they’ve broken in your home.
With these quality tips for home security, you can do a better job of securing your house. Begin to make a few changes around the house. This will lead to a safe and happy home. This can create a much safer environment for you and your family.
Move any valuable objects away from the windows. The more visible your most valuable possessions are, the more attractive they are to thieves and criminals.
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