Boost Your Home Security! Try These Ideas

July 30, 2020 - Comment

Creating a secure place to live may seem like a big job for the average homeowner. It does not have to be difficult or expensive. Look through the tips included here and determine a security plan that will be right for you. Don’t ever let it be apparent that there is no one at home.

Creating a secure place to live may seem like a big job for the average homeowner. It does not have to be difficult or expensive. Look through the tips included here and determine a security plan that will be right for you.

Don’t ever let it be apparent that there is no one at home. You could purchase timers and have your TVs, lights, radios and other types of electronics to go on at various times. This makes it appear that someone is home. This is an excellent technique that helps avoid robberies while keeping the property safe.

TIP! Make your home look occupied at all times. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

TIP! There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Make broad inquiries so that you are able to make a well-informed decision.

Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in it. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

TIP! Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

TIP! If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Get a professional in to check it out. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. You might not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

TIP! Shut off the ringer for all of the telephones in your home if you are planning to go on vacation for a long time. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

The first step in making your home more secure is to change out your locks. Changing the locks will ensure that you are the only one who knows the combination. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

TIP! Do not allow anyone you do not know into your home. Do not give in, even if a person uses a convincing story, asks for help or says they are selling something.

Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Use heavy-duty hardware to secure your skylights to the roof.

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.

TIP! Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. They often offer home inspections, seminars and even the ability to purchase items.

Rotted Wood

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.

TIP! Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Anyone can gain access to our home by prying away the rotted wood. Keep your home secure by replacing rotted wood with fresh timber.

Always lock your house, even if you are only going to be away for a few minutes. A lot of times, burglaries happen due to carelessness. Thieves can steal a lot of valuable stuff in mere minutes.

TIP! Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. A lot of times, burglaries happen due to carelessness.

You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

If you purchase big-ticket items, don’t throw their boxes in the trash before trash day. Doing so is like giving a burglar an invitation to target your home; he or she will know there is something good inside.

TIP! If you purchase big-ticket items, don’t throw their boxes in the trash before trash day. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.

Keep safety at the forefront when landscaping your property. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. If they can be seen, there will be no place to hide. Have your landscape several feet away from your house for better safety.

Replace rotted wood around any door frames. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

TIP! Replace rotted wood around any door frames. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood.

Determine how much experience a home security company has before you decide to do business with them. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

A good way to scare off intruders is to keep your house lit at nighttime. That’s because they want to remain hidden. Ample lighting makes it difficult for would-be burglars to approach undetected, and this turns your home into a less attractive target. Keep lights on during the night.

TIP! One of the best things you can do to protect your home at night is to deter intruders with plenty of exterior lighting. They prefer not to be seen.

You should think about getting a home security system that is wireless. While wireless systems are often cheap, the cost of installation can be sky high. A wireless system, on the other hand, requires less maintenance and is simpler to install.

The best method to maintain a thief from going into the garage is making sure nobody can see inside. Cover windows using frosting, which you can buy at large hardware stores, to keep people from peeking in your window. Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when you are working in the garage or yard.

TIP! Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Cover your windows in frosting, which can be bought at big box hardware stores, so people can’t peek inside.

A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves often dig through garbage to obtain personal data that will help them enter the house. If a paper shredder is not in your budget, consider tearing your documents into tiny pieces or even burning them.

The number on your house should be easy to find. Make sure they are large in case emergency personnel need to find your house. Thankfully, you can right this wrong cheaply and quickly.

TIP! Can you see the number of your house from the street? If the numbers aren’t legible, police may drive right by. Fortunately, it doesn’t require much to fix this problem.

Can you read your house numbers while in the street? In the event of an emergency, police officers may have trouble finding your house if they cannot read your address numbers. Fortunately, this is something that can be corrected quickly and cheaply.

There is no need to have keyed locks on interior doors. Use a code-access lock for any door you don’t want others opening. Any good security company can provide and install these locks, or you can even put them in yourself.

TIP! If you have roommates or kids who you do not want in certain areas of the house, you do not have to lock the doors and carry around a ton of keys. Instead, use a numeric keypad.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. They generally bark when someone comes close to their property. A common misconception, though, is that you have to have a large animal to be safe. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.

Ask about different contract lengths that your home security company may offer. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Longer contracts can lower your monthly bill; however, you may have to continue paying the bill even if you move or discontinue with their services. A short contract will avoid this, but may be more costly.

TIP! Discuss various contracts offered by any home security provider you are exploring. There are sure to be both good points and bad points about each option.

You don’t need to rely on keys to prevent entry to certain areas of your home. Instead, key-less key code locks can work just as well. Any good security company can provide and install these locks, or you can even put them in yourself.

Sliding glass doorways can pose security hazards. They can easily be unlocked by lifting them and then shaking them. If you don’t have your security system connected to them, try cutting some pipe to fit into your door channel. This will help keep the door tightly closed and make it hard to open.

TIP! Sliding glass doors can create a security issue in a home. The glass doors can easily be unlocked or broken.

Credit Card

Keep your windows upstairs locked. A lot of people assume criminals won’t try these windows. This is not always true. Many home-security plans neglect this step, and unfortunately, many burglars know this.

TIP! You want to always make sure your second story windows are locked. Many homeowners neglect this step because they believe burglars won’t bother climbing your home.

Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. Just one credit card can get a burglar access to your home. A thief only needs to skip the credit card in between the lock to make it open. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.

Women stand a much better chance of being the victims of home invasions, particularly if they live alone or with kids. Consider displaying large boots outside your home to make others think that you have a man living in your home. This will give criminals second thoughts and make your home a less tempting target.

TIP! Women have more chances of being the target of a home invasion if they live alone. A pair of big muddy boots placed outside your door gives the impression that a man lives there.

Store those items you can’t bear to lose in a very secure area. Legal and financial documentation, IDs, pricey jewelry, and important mementos like family albums should be protected as carefully as possible. Purchase a safe with a lock to store all of these items. You may even choose to store them outside your home in safety deposit box.

You need to replace the locks of a home you just bought, no matter who previously lived there. Even if you are renting, ask the landlord if you can pay to have the locks changed for safety.

TIP! Make sure you always replace locks when purchasing a home, whether the people you purchased from were lovely or not. This goes for those of you who rent your homes, as well.

With the above advice, you can better secure your home. Alter your home for maximum security. In no time at all, you will have round the clock peace of mind about your home security. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is relaxing.

The right to own a gun is something that makes many people feel safe when it comes to potential intruders. You should consider getting a gun and receiving training. Just realizing there’s a gun inside the house may help you feel safer.

TIP! Keep in mind that you can legally have a gun in your home. Consider getting some gun training, just in case.