Most people don’t know enough about the important topic of home security. There are a lot of different purchases that you can make to keep your home secure. The following information can give you the best chance to safeguard your home.
You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. This way, your house will always look occupied. It is also another way to secure your home.
TIP! Always make your house appear to be occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers.
Spare Key
Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. If an intruder breaks into your home, at least these valuables will be secure. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.
TIP! Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc.
You can hide your spare key on your dog. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.
If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.
TIP! Before leaving for vacation, turn off the ringers in your house. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.
Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This is the perfect place to store a spare key, especially if your dog doesn’t care for strangers.
Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.
TIP! Don’t let strangers into your home. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help.
Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Fire prevention is always a good idea, and sometimes it can be a lifesaving idea!
It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. Mother Nature and wild animals can also cause issues with your home security system. Sometimes, you may need a professional to locate the problem.
TIP! Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. The security company should have a specialist come to look at it.
Local Police
Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. Anybody wanting to break into your house can just pry off rotted wood and get inside. Replace this old wood if you want to keep your house safe.
TIP! Replace rotted wood around entryways. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home.
Talk to your local police department about what they offer. They often offer home inspections, seminars and even the ability to purchase items. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.
Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. 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. This is dangerous for your family and your possessions. Make sure you are as cautious as you can be.
TIP! When a security company wants in your home ask for an ID and see if they’re in uniform. 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.
If your house has a garage, keep the car there, not just your junk. Having the car in the garage will prevent it from getting broken into or stolen. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.
Before you let anyone go into your home, look at their references thoroughly. Conduct background checks if necessary. You do not know if the people you hire are trustworthy, so do not give them a key to your home.
TIP! Always ask for references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history.
Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. A number of factors can cause problems with your security system, including wild animals and mother nature. Sometimes, you may need a professional to locate the problem.
Get some professional assistance by asking a home security company to come to your house and work up a plan for a customized security system. Every homeowner has specific needs for their home and their family. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.
TIP! Be sure to get a home security service that will inspect your home and tailor a home security system just for you. Everyone has specific wants and needs when it comes to securing their home, family and belongings.
Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.
The outside of your house should be well lit. Burglars prefer the cover that night provides their criminal activities. Put a light anywhere where an intruder can enter your home. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.
TIP! Make sure the outside of the house is well lit. Burglars love to operate in the dark.
Don’t think you’re not at risk just because you don’t live in a big city. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.
If you get home and see the door is slightly open, don’t go inside by yourself to investigate. Your home and the area surrounding it may still be in danger. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.
TIP! If you arrive home and you see that your door is ajar, never enter to investigate on your own. The thief may remain inside.
It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Burglars are well aware of these hiding places. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.
Always request that your house or pet sitter remove fliers from your door. Burglars sometimes place fliers as a means to see if anyone is home to remove them. Fliers that are left behind signal to the burglar that there is no one at home.
TIP! If you are planning to be away, and you have someone picking up your mail, ask them to also double-check your door for fliers. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed.
Don’t give outside people the ability to see into your home. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. You should cover any windows that are facing the street so your valuables will be safe.
Keep your garage shut and locked so burglars can’t peek inside. Have your windows frosted so they aren’t as easy to see through. Do not keep your door open long enough for people to get an idea of what you own.
TIP! The best method of preventing a burglar from breaking into your garage is preventing people from seeing inside. Frosted windows will keep a burglar from being able to see inside.
Ask for ID before letting anyone into your home. Thieves can pass themselves as workers, which can end up in a robbery of your home. This can put your family and possessions in danger. Use caution to stay out of danger.
Ask the company if they offer systems for lease and sale. Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. Sometimes it’s more affordable to begin with a lease, even though a continued lease may be costly in terms of ongoing higher monthly fees. Explore both options to see which works best for you.
TIP! Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. Although purchasing the equipment will likely cost you more money initially, this cost will only occur one time.
When searching for methods of improving your home’s security, a great, inexpensive method of doing this is purchasing exterior lights with installed motion detectors. 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 the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.
Think about getting a hard-wired home security system if maintenance costs are an issue for you. While wireless systems are great, they do require batteries on a consistent basis. The system will cease to work properly if the batteries are not fresh. Replacing all of those batteries will cost a lot, too.
TIP! If the cost of maintenance is a concern, a hard-wired system may be your best choice. While there is a greater level of convenience if you go wireless, there is also a requirement that several batteries be changed, sometimes multiple times a year.
Home security is vital to protect you and your family from robbery. Not every person knows how to really protect their home and possessions. Hopefully, the article has helped you see how to secure your home any time of day.
It is always best to go with a solid heavy wooden door, or a metal door for extra security. This sort of door will deter intruders. Burglars would have a hard time kicking such doors down. Replacing doors is not very expensive and should make a real difference.
TIP! All doors leading into your home should be made from solid wood or metal. These doors hold.