The home security industry is huge. Burglaries are commonplace in neighborhoods across the globe. Homes that seem to be easy marks are targets for burglars. If you want to avoid making your home a target, read this article for tips on securing your house.
Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.
Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Just place your key on your dog’s collar.
Does your canine stay in the yard while you go out? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. This is an especially good idea if your dog doesn’t like strangers, and gives you easy access to get in your home.
Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.
Buy a safe. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.
If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.
Buy fire resistant flooring, roofing and ceiling. This will make your home more safe, especially if you are in a dry climate that has many power lines. Keeping fire hazards away is a great safety precaution since fire can cause lots of destruction.
Take advantage of any and all security resources your local police force makes available to homeowners. Several in various jurisdictions have programs which entail providing a home inspection, what protective measures will help your home and even how to engrave valuable items to make them easier to recover. Discuss the possibility of this sort of program with your police department.
Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Spending a few days asking for reviews is useful in helping you choose correctly.
Use your garage for your car, not just storage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.
When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.
Don’t be afraid to know the people who live near you. Get to know other people who live next door and others in your neighborhood. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.
Do not open your door for people you do not know. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.
Put motion-sensor lights into your home. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.
In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.
If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. That said, stranger things have happened.
It’s a good idea to have motion sensor lights installed. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.
Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. While it may seem like a convenient way to give you access to your home, intruders are aware of this practice. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.
The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get new locks. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.
No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. Thieves can steal a lot of valuable stuff in mere minutes.
Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Any skylights in your home should be secured with strong hardware.
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. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.
It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.
If you hire a security company, read any fine print. There could be fees for terminating the contract early or acquiring additional equipment down the road. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.
Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.
You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. Everyone has specific needs and wants when dealing with the security of their house, belongings and family. Working with a business that will look out for your specific interests will help you be much safer at home.
Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. Be sure to perform a background check and look for any criminal history that might be in evidence. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.
If you arrive home and you see that your door is ajar, never enter to investigate on your own. This can be dangerous since the intruder might still be on the property. Call the authorities and let them take care of the situation.
Always keep your shades, curtains and blinds closed when you are not at home. Leaving your windows unguarded exposes the interior of your home to everyone, including criminals looking for tempting targets. If their eyes fall on something they like, they are going to think about breaking in. These should also be kept down while you’re sleeping.
Ask the security company about various contract lengths. You will probably find there are many pros and cons associated with each different contract. 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. A short contract will avoid this, but may be more costly.
Avoid keeping your key somewhere expected. Everybody knows about fake rocks. Under your doormat is also a common place burglars will look. The most secure thing you can do is to entrust your key to a reliable neighbor or a friend you can count on. If you have no trustworthy neighbors, try to be more creative.
If you are away, pull your shades closed. If you leave them open, potential burglars can look in and case the joint. They may break in if they spot something that they like. You ought to turn the curtains down if you are sleeping as well.
Secure valuables that are truly irreplaceable. Photos, passports, important documents and heirlooms should be kept where they can’t be stolen or damaged. You may want to invest in a floor safe for these. What is even better is the safe deposit box at your bank.
Program your lights to turn on and off at random intervals with a timer. This helps the lights stay on and continue to switch even when you’re away from your home.
Is your door made of solid wood or metal? If not, then replace it. These doors are strong. These materials make it difficult for a would-be thief to break down the door. It is easy and affordable to replace all of your home’s exterior doors, so ensure you do this immediately.
Be sure to close your curtains at night in rooms that face the street. You do not want to invite people peeking in through your window. If one happens to be a criminal, they have an instant visual of many valuable items in your home, making you an easy target. Make sure and minimize what is visible to the public so as to reduce the likelihood of becoming a target.
Home alarms are only valuable if they alert the police when a robbery is in progress. Even better is to purchase alarms that are monitored centrally, so that the police are automatically contacted. You can’t rely on your neighbors to call.
Replace flimsy doors with doors made of solid wood or metal. These types of doors are much stronger and harder for someone to break into. It would be very hard for a burglar to kick it and go inside. You are probably able to replace your exterior doors for a small price, so do that soon.
Become chummy with your nosey neighbor. Busybodies may be quick to notice when someone odd is checking out your house. If you become friendly with them, the chance of them placing you under alert increases.
Home security is important for the safety of you and your family. Crimes can occur at any time. Keep this advice handy, and work to make your home more secure. Don’t wait for something to happen. Following the advice from this article can really end up saving you a major headache in the future.
Buy security systems directly from the company and not a reseller. A re-seller simply wants to make money, and they generally don’t have your best interests at heart. Dealing with the company directly can help ensure that your system will be installed and serviced correctly.
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