Excellent Information About Keeping Your Home Secure

January 4, 2020 - Comment

Is home security a complete mystery to you? Do you have very little idea where to begin? If this sounds like you, then all you need is more information about the matters of home security. Keep reading to learn more about what is open to you. Your home should always look like it is occupied.

Is home security a complete mystery to you? Do you have very little idea where to begin? If this sounds like you, then all you need is more information about the matters of home security. Keep reading to learn more about what is open to you.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This is an excellent technique that helps avoid robberies while keeping the property safe.

TIP! Make your house look like it’s always occupied. You could purchase timers which make lights and TV’s, as well as other devices, power on or off at varying intervals.

Make your home look occupied at all times. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. This makes it appear that someone is home. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. 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.

TIP! Protect your spare key by using your dog. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door.

Spare Key

When you buy a new house, change the locks. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.

TIP! Any time you buy a new home, have the locks changed. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. This is the perfect place to store a spare key, especially if your dog doesn’t care for strangers.

Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

TIP! Compare various home security systems when shopping. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. Prices vary quite a bit. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

TIP! Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. There are plenty of things that can be done, from a safety walk to cataloging expensive items to help protect your investment and your family.

Never allow any strangers into your home. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, do not let them in. This is the first rule of keeping your home secure.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. 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.

TIP! Keep your car in your garage. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it.

If you have a stranger at your door, do not open it. You never know who they might be, despite their story. Never open the door to anyone you do not know.

Use motion sensor lights. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

TIP! Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home.

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. Lots of people are afraid that burglars will be able to break into their garage, which will result in them breaking into the home. Thankfully, you can prevent this. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. Break-ins are often the result of unlocked windows and doors. They can get a ton of stuff quickly and be long gone before you return.

TIP! Even if you’re not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. The weather and animals are two things that may cause havoc on your home’s security system. It’s quite possible for there to be a fault in your system even if you can’t see it.

Choose an alarm which monitors other areas outside your doors. Windows are a way for thieves to enter your home as well. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. They are the most effective.

TIP! Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Intruders can enter through your windows too.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

TIP! Before allowing any security company reps to come into your home, make sure they have on a uniform and they have valid ID. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables.

Alter the combination of the locks in your home. Maybe you’ve had a roommate leave or a bitter ex-lover, so changing the locks can keep you safer. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Determine how much experience a home security company has before you decide to do business with them. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

TIP! Talk to any companies you’re considering hiring to install a security system about how long the company has been around. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations.

Walls are the perfect place to hide. Keep small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. Generic systems aren’t for everyone. Sometimes just taking a class in self defense or adopting a loud dog is enough, while at other times a full fledged security system might be the way to go. Know the risks so that you can make a better decision.

TIP! Think about your specific needs and risks prior to investigating security systems. Generic systems aren’t for everyone.

Are you aware of the value of your home’s wires? Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. Hide your wiring for optimum security.

If you don’t own a paper shredder already, you might want to get one. Thieves can get lots of information simply by looking through your trash. If you can’t get a paper shredder, try ripping papers into smaller pieces.

TIP! If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. You would be surprised at how often thieves look through trash to find personal information to find out when you will be away from home so they can break in.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. They should take your concerns seriously and address any issues you have. Working with a business that will look out for your specific interests will help you be much safer at home.

You need a home security system. Installing hidden and visible video cameras are great for securing your house. Visible cameras are a deterrent to most intruders, and should they decide to disable them, a hidden camera will continue to capture footage. Many surveillance systems will allow you to access them through your cell phone; therefore, you can ensure your home is safe even when you’re gone.

TIP! It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. Both hidden and visible security cameras are effective in protecting your home.

If you see that the door is open, do not enter the house. A thief might still be in there, which could put you in danger. Your best bet is to call the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.

Keep your drapes closed at night. It’s best to discourage peeping toms. If possible burglars see your valuables, they may see your home as the next target. Keep your possessions out of the public eye to minimize your chances of becoming a burglary victim.

TIP! If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. People who can peek through your windows might find your home inviting.

Buy a paper shredder. Unshredded documents can offer up a wealth of valuable personal information to thieves, including enough of your schedule to allow them to pinpoint the best time for a burglary. If a shredder is too expensive, at least tear relevant paperwork into small bits.

Buying home alarms is terrific, but only in the case where someone will contact the police when they sound. Having it centrally monitored is your best bet. You don’t want to have to rely on just your neighbors.

TIP! A home alarm investment is well worth the money, provided someone contacts 911 when it is set off. Purchase one that is centrally monitored and the police will come when it is activated.

When you aren’t home, make sure your windows are covered. If you keep them up, intruders will be able to see right into your home. They’re going to want to get in your house if they can see items they want. Your window dressing should also be closed while you sleep.

You want to always make sure your second story windows are locked. People think no burglar will get up to that floor. This could not be further from the truth. This is known as a common weak spot, and criminals know all about this.

TIP! You must always keep second-floor windows locked. A lot of people forget to lock the windows on the second floor, but intruders will use these windows.

You need to inquire about whether you can buy or lease the home security equipment. You’ll spend less money in the long-run if you buy the equipment outright. Leasing is a good way to avoid the initial expense, but you will have to pay monthly fees. Investigate each option and determine which makes more sense.

Look for captive keylocks when picking out a new deadbolt. They have a thumb latch, making it impossible for someone to break the window, reach in and turn them. When you are home, keep the key inserted inside the lock so you can leave if there is a fire.

TIP! Deadbolts featuring captive keylocks are usually your wisest choice. The devices are equipped with thumb latches that prevent people from reaching around to open the lock via a an adjacent broken window.

Birth Date

While a lock that can be secured inside are good, it is useless if you cannot also lock it after you are outside. Deadbolts are the best option. Double key locks are good as well, since burglar can’t easily open them.

TIP! It’s good to have interior locks, but they really aren’t effective without exterior locks. One of the most secure locks is a deadbolt that has a key to lock it from both sides of the door and cannot be opened by an intruder.

Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. People can easily access your birth date in order to gain entry to your home. Rather, try and make your combination the answer to an equation so that you only need to remember an equation instead of an actual series of numbers.

A dog trained to bark will keep you safe. Anyone who breaks into your home wouldn’t want to be attacked. Of course, the animal should be protective and also safe as a companion to your children or yourself. A dog with a temper may be scary, but the animal must also be friendly enough to interact with you.

TIP! Dog owners, especially those with large, tough pets, have a leg up in the home security game. Burglars are unlikely to desire an encounter with such an animal.

Now at this point you should a better grasp on your options. You should apply the tips you just read to improve your current home security system or invest in a new one. You will feel a lot better and probably avoid some stressful situations once you have a reliable home security system installed.

Don’t purchase your home security system from a re-seller. Resellers are interested in profits, not continued long-term service relationships. When going through the company, you generally won’t have to pay as much, and you can rely on them to fix anything that goes wrong with the system.

TIP! It is better to buy equipment from a security company directly, instead of from someone re-selling it. Re-sellers are after making a profit; therefore, they don’t have your best interests in mind.