If you’re a single female or mother that lives alone and you don’t feel like you can defend yourself physically, the topic of home security may be a large issue for you. Instead of remaining afraid, you can take steps to feel better. Read this article to find out more about home security.
Change all of your locks when you move in. You simply do not know how many keys to the old locks are floating around. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.
TIP! When you buy a new house, change the locks. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out.
Don’t ever let it be apparent that there is no one at home. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. This makes it look as though people are home no matter what. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.
Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. You should not let cleaners have your keys if you feel like you cannot trust them, or if they will be working in your home while you are away. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.
TIP! Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key.
Spare Key
Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. The majority of systems are able to be set to put out an alert when any individual enters the home. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.
TIP! Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home.
Your dog can actually safeguard a spare key. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.
Don’t use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.
TIP! If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. Although it’s fun to talk about, posting it online makes it more possible for criminals to find out when you’re gone.
There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.
Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. Knowledge of first-hand experiences can be very helpful to you when it comes to making this important decision. Make broad inquiries so that you are able to make a well-informed decision.
TIP! Talk to people you know about their security systems. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you.
During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.
Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. If the garage door lifts via a track, you can use a C-clamp to stop your door from opening at the hands of intruders.
TIP! Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage.
If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.
Keep valuables out of sight of windows. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.
TIP! No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home.
Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.
The alarm system you choose should protect more than just the doors to your home. Intruders can enter through your windows too. Make sure the alarm is attached to all of them, and that monitoring is offered for all possible entry points. This is great for keeping the family secure.
TIP! When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief.
Rural Areas
Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.
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.
People in rural areas are not usually as worried about burglaries as people in cities. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.
You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. If they are positioned correctly outside of your home, your motion detectors can make it impossible for strangers to sneak around.
TIP! You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient.
Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. This does not mean that you should make alterations to your walls. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. Perhaps you could deactivate a few unused electrical sockets to use as a place to store stuff.
When you landscape your house, make it safe. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. Plan these features for further away from your home.
TIP! Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants.
You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but it can make it easier for criminals to see inside. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.
A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves are likely to steal documents that include your personal information if they can find them. Cutting the papers into small pieces with a pair of scissors is another option.
TIP! If you don’t have a paper shredder, you might want to buy one. Thieves often find the trash cans to be a gold mine of pertinent information about potential victims.
Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.
Put a surveillance system in your home. Installing hidden and visible video cameras are great for securing your house. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. Many surveillance systems may be easily accessed through a cell phone so that you can check on your house while you’re away.
TIP! Consider a surveillance system for your home and property. Having visible or hidden cameras can help immensely.
Don’t just consider alarming your doors when you’re considering an alarm system. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.
Make sure the inside of your garage isn’t visible. Cover windows using frosting, which you can buy at large hardware stores, to keep people from peeking in your window. If you use your garage for working on projects, don’t forget to lock it when you’re through working for the day.
TIP! Could burglars see inside your garage? Make sure that they can’t! Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house. Don’t leave the door unlocked for a long time, either.
Security System
Keeping a dog provides a great way to boost your home’s defense. They are protective about their territory, plus they make noises that keep burglars at bay. A common misconception, though, is that you have to have a large animal to be safe. Even tiny dogs that make a ton of noise will deter a potential crime.
TIP! Dogs make a great security system. Dogs become extremely protective of their families and bark when uneasy.
When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. Intruders can easily disable your home security system by cutting or unplugging the wires. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. You will be much safer.
Keeping people out of various areas of your home does not have to involve using multiple locks and keys. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. You can have your home security company install it for you, or you can do it yourself.
TIP! If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key.
Making your home safer through home security does not always have to cost a small fortune. There are some things that can be done cheaply. Keep this advice in mind as you strive to increase security around the home.
When checking out security companies, ask whether they allow you to choose between buying or leasing the system. Purchasing your equipment may cost more in the beginning, but this is a one-time cost which does not recur. Leasing is cheaper, but it can involve contracts and pricier monthly fees. Evaluate both alternatives and choose the best option for yourself.
TIP! Ask whether or not your home security company gives you the option to lease and/or buy your equipment. Buying equipment can be pricey upfront, but it’s a single cost versus a monthly cost.