It is likely that you know someone who has been burglarized at one time. Home invasions are not uncommon, and it’s important to take certain precautions. Break-ins are always a possibility. In this article you will find information about improving home security.
Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times. This makes people think you’re home. This will keep people from breaking in.
TIP! Make your home look occupied at all times. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times.
Be sure your home always looks occupied. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.
Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.
TIP! Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable.
Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This can be useful if you’ve got small children that are able to open doors.
Get rid of all of the dead wood and vegetation in your yard during the summer months. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. Keeping your plants and bushes trimmed will benefit your family’s safety as well as the appearance of your home.
TIP! Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk.
When in the process of purchasing a home-security system, be sure to comparison shop. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.
Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.
TIP! Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. Has a roommate or ex-lover moved out recently? If so, then you need to change out the locks in order to keep you and your home safe.
If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. A loud ring that goes unanswered can alert people to the fact that you aren’t home. This makes you more likely to be the victim of a burglary.
Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. This is definitely the case if you’re not quite sure about the actual installation people. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.
TIP! Always go with your gut when it comes to choosing a security firm. This is very true when you feel uneasy about the person installing the system.
Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. These programs may include engraving identification codes on your valuables, home inspections, and advice about home security. Call them up to find out more.
Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. While they are there to let light in, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.
TIP! Don’t forget about the skylights when securing your home. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home.
Security System
While choosing your alarm system, ask about protection for windows and motion detection as well as doors. The best systems are those that cover windows as well. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This will help to keep your family safe.
TIP! Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves.
Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Get a security comapny tech to check it. Wild animals, domestic pets, and weather are all factors that can affect the reliability of your home security system. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.
If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.
TIP! If you buy expensive electronics or appliances, throw the packages away the day that your trash pickup occurs. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.
Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. Remember to keep working bulbs in them at all times.
Replace all locks in a new house. Although you may trust the previous homeowner, you cannot be 100% sure of their character. Keep in mind that other families might have lived with them, too.
TIP! If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks.
Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.
When moving into a previously owned home, change the locks. While you may trust those who lived there before you, you have no idea who lived there before them. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.
TIP! The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there.
Motion Detectors
When you hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.
TIP! When you consider a security company, be certain you read the details and fine print of the contract you’re about to sign. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point.
If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. With good positioning and properly set motion detectors, intruders will not be able to sneak up on your home unnoticed.
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 you cannot afford a paper shredder, rip papers up into small pieces.
TIP! Invest in a high quality paper shredder. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home.
Don’t think about home burglaries only occurring only at expensive homes. Thieves will target any home that looks promising. Protect your family and your home against burglars by following the tips presented here.
Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. You can make a huge difference in your home’s security by putting in cameras whether they’re concealed or out in the open. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. A lot of surveillance systems may be accessed through a cell phone, letting you check on your house when you’re away.
TIP! You need a home security system. Adding video cameras on the property can be a good idea.