If you own valuable items, such as jewels, jewelry or large sums of money, don’t think only you know about it. You should protect your home. Read the following article for some great tips on how you can make your home a safer place.
Does your dog like to play in your yard? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. This is especially useful if the dog does not take kindly to strangers.
Comparison shop when you are ready to buy a security system. Make sure to obtain quotes from at least three companies before you decide on a final one.
Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.
This can help your home an extra protection layer.
Your garage needs to be secure. You can prevent this from happening easily. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.
Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on social media.It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but you could alert thieves to an empty home that they can easily break into.
Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.
These can pose a fire during the hot months. Clear up your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.
Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Get a security comapny tech to check it. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. If you aren’t paying attention, you may not be aware of these problems.
Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, you need to check it annually. Ask someone from your security company to do a look. You might not even discover these problems if you can’t see it.
Install lights that use a motion-sensor. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.
This is particularly true when you feel uneasy about the person installing the system. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or to hire a new company altogether. The point of that system is to feel at ease.
Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. You don’t have to cut pieces out of the walls. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.
Use your home’s walls as hiding spaces. You do not need to remove segments from your walls by the way. Many areas in your house are already cut that can be used for this purpose.
After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.
Ask your home security company how long they have been running prior to signing up. A company with a long history has proven that their service to people. Knowing you are not dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this important decision.
Just moved in? Time for new locks! While the person you bought the home from may seem on the up and up, you have no idea who they really are. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.
Get your home security company do a site visit in your needs.
Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. Conduct background checks if necessary. You do not know if the people you hire are trustworthy, so do not give them a key to your home.
The areas outside of your house should be well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their criminal activities. Install some outside lights so you can use to enter your home. This can include garages, doorways, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.
Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. A burglar prefers to sneak around in the dark, and a well lit house is always a deterrent. Install a light in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.
Ask about the different contract lengths that your home security company may offer. Each likely has its own set of positives and disadvantages. You might pay less each month for longer contracts, but you might also get left with a contract if you have to sell your house.Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom at a higher costs.
If you purchase a new, pricey electronic like a TV or computer, don’t leave the empty box near your curb. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. Cut up the boxes completely instead.
Spring Latch Locks
Ask about the various contract lengths offered by a home security company. You will probably find there are many pros and cons associated with each different contract. You may pay less if you sign up for longer, but you might also get left with a contract if you have to sell your house. If you want more freedom, it is best to purchase a more expensive but shorter contract.
Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch locks. These locks are very easy to break into since they may be opened up with something as common as a credit card. Intruders just have to slide a card in between the latch and the door. Add a deadbolt if you do not want to replace your spring latch locks for maximum security.
You shouldn’t keep your car registration documents inside the glove box. This isn’t smart because anyone can reads them can see where you live. Keep these papers on you or hide them under a seat in your vehicle. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.
Ask the company if they offer options to lease or buy your security equipment. Buying equipment may be initially more expensive, but it means a one time cost that does not continue every month. Leasing is often less expensive, but monthly fees can be high and you will need a contract. Look at both choices to know which one is better for your personal circumstances.
Avoid common hiding places for your spare key. Rocks that aren’t real are easy to notice. The first place a person will look is a doormat. The best strategy is to have a neighbor or good friend hold a spare key in case you need it. If you cannot do that, at least find an unusual place to hide the key.
Anyone could get your birthday from Facebook profile or your house.
If you’ve got a keypad to lock your door, do not make a password which is obvious. Your birthdate can be found on Facebook or pieces of mail and you have given entry into your home. Try making the number one that can be remembered by doing a match equation in order to remember that equation instead.
This helps the lights stay on and off when you’re away from your home.
You should invest in a timer to turn lights on and off at regular times. 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.
You don’t need to have an invitation to people peek through the window. If burglars spot the expensive items in your house, it is an open invitation to burglars. Make sure you’re discreet concerning your belongings so you can keep your chances of being robbed at a target.
Find out if you can get motion sensitive lighting from your security company. A lot of companies provide this, and it makes the exterior lights in your home turn on immediately when someone approaches any entry way. This provides additional protection for you when you come home after dark, and can also prevent a burglary.
Replace flimsy doors with solid wood or metal. Metal or solid wooden doors hold tight and fast. A burglar could not kick that door in. The cost of replacing your doors is very minimal if they were to break.
Even if you don’t like gossip, make a point to become friends with someone in your neighborhood who is always “in the know.” If there are people lurking around your home that look suspicious, this busybody may be the first to notice. If you remain in their good graces, then, you have a better chances of finding out valuable information.
Sliding glass doors can be a huge security issue in a home. They can easily unlocked just by lifting and then shaking them. This jams the door from moving or becoming unlocked.
See about purchasing security systems directly from the firm instead of a reseller. Dealers just want to make money, and sometimes they do not back up the products that they carry. When talking to the company, make sure you don’t have to pay hidden fees and that someone will fix the equipment if needed.
You want to always keep second-floor windows are locked. Many folks forget this point and believe burglars won’t bother with those windows. This is not the truth. Criminals know that this is a vulnerable area.
Be sure to clean your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors regularly. Dust can build up and cause the sensors to not be as effective as they should be. That is why detectors can’t help protect your house from carbon monoxide and smoke.
Always change your locks on a new home. This applies to purchases and rentals, so discuss it with your landlord, or you can just do it on your own.
Many people use the second amendment as a means of protection from intruders. If you own a gun, you should get professional training on its use. Just realizing there’s a gun inside the house may help you feel safer.
Video surveillance systems do a crooks nightmare. Burglars with masks like in movies are not really the norm. Many people who burglarize homes don’t cover their face because they have no intention of ever being seen.
If your trash is not secure, your home will not be secure. If you leave a plasma television box on the curb, for instance, a thief might view you as an easy target for theft of high ticket items. The smallest of purchases may indicate you have something valuable in your home, making thieves believe you have things worth taking.
Security Companies
Make sure any valuables cannot be seen through a window. This includes items such as electronics, paintings, firearms, or anything else of high monetary value. The more visible your most valuable possessions are, the more attractive they are to thieves and criminals.
Look for a home security companies that offers more than just security system. Great home security companies are willing to come assess the house and make some recommendations that can keep your family much safer. You may be advised to install windows that are more secure, install deadbolts or upgrade your windows. You want a company that is genuinely concerned about keeping you safe, and will discuss those issues with you.
The code used for the garage door opener needs to be changed. The code which it comes with is standard for every single unit, meaning one opener can work on many garages. Thieves go door-to-door with their opener until they figure out the generic code it has.
You can install some outdoor lighting that use infrared detection. These lights illuminate whenever someone comes near. This will freak out a burglar. A smart burglar will always vacate out of the lights come on!
Instead of seeing your home as impossible for burglars to target, you should try preparing for the worst. Never live in constant fear, but take precautionary steps. Keep this advice in mind to provide you and your family with protection.