Many companies will try to sell you a security system. Burglaries are rampant in all areas of the country. Thieves pick houses that appear to be easy targets. If you want to avoid making your home a target, read this article for tips on securing your house.
When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.
Does your dog like to play in your yard? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.
TIP! Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. The key can be attached to the collar of your dog.
Don’t use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.
If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.
Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.
TIP! Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery.
You should not let anyone inside your home. It is essential you do not do this, even if the stranger gives you a convincing story or states they need your assistance. Some criminals will use any reason to gain access to look for security systems and easy entryways into your house.
If your garage is attached to your house, make it secure. A common concern expressed among homeowners is that someone might enter their garage and use that as an entrance to their home. There is a solution, however. Try putting a C-clamp on your garage door track. This will stop the door from rising if you want to keep it closed.
When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.
TIP! It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services.
No matter how good your security system is, it should be checked annually. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. The problem might not be obvious to you, though.
Don’t think you’re not at risk just because you don’t live in a big city. There are some who believe country folk are more at risk because neighbors are not nearby. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.
You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. They are a potential fire hazard during warmer months. Clear up your yard so it looks good and is safe.
TIP! Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat.
Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.
Make sure the wires of your home security system are completely hidden. An intruder can cut the wires if he can find them. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. Your system will be far more effective this way.
See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. There are lots of different programs, like home inspections, that will help you take the proper steps to make sure your home adequately protected. Speak with the police in your area to see if they have these things.
TIP! See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. These programs may include engraving identification codes on your valuables, home inspections, and advice about home security.
You should change all the locks if you just bought or rented a new home. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.
Do you know how valuable the wires within your home are? People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Hide the wiring and make it harder to access to prevent this from happening.
Install motion-sensor lights. They turn on only if someone is nearby. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.
TIP! Use motion sensor lights. The lights will be triggered when someone gets too close to the house.
Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Replace any wood that has begun to rot with new wood so that your house stays safe.
Your first priority when you move to an apartment or house where others have lived in before is to replace all the locks. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. You might even install new locks yourself so that you know you have the only keys.
Go with your gut when you invite a home security company representative into your house. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. Don’t hesitate to request a different technician or to hire a new company altogether. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.
TIP! Go with your instincts when choosing a security system company. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings.
If you sign a contract for a security company, read all the fine print first. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. Avoid nasty charges or fees regarding early termination, contract expiration and additional features or equipment.
Be sure to make good use of the Internet when you’re trying to select your home security company. Review the websites of several companies and play close attention to the types of services offered and the customer reviews. You’ll find it easy to narrow your choice down to three top contenders; your next step is to arrange to meet each of them to discuss your specific security needs.
Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. In a lot of cases, home intruders enter through unlocked doors. A thief can take plenty of valuables in minutes.
TIP! Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors.
Security System
A good home security system is very important for your family. Crime can hit at any time. Use the advice found in this piece and put a strong security system in place. Do not delay. Do something about the security of your house before it’s too late.
When you purchase big, expensive items be sure to break down the boxes and take them to the recycling center yourself. Empty boxes might draw the attention of robbers and let everyone know you own new and expensive goods.
TIP! If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.