Having someone come to your home to install a security system may seem like the most annoying project you have ever started. But there are simple things that you can do on your own. The tips included below will help you secure your home without a lot of additional hassle. Home security systems offer additional
Having someone come to your home to install a security system may seem like the most annoying project you have ever started. But there are simple things that you can do on your own. The tips included below will help you secure your home without a lot of additional hassle.
Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.
When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You cannot be sure of the number of key copies that the former owner gave out. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.
Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.
Is your dog outside when you are away? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.
See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they’re available in your area.
Keep your jewelry, vital documents and other expensive items in a safe. If a burglar enters your home, he or she will have a hard time making off with your possessions. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.
Is your garage used for storage? Consider removing those items and keeping your car there instead. It will be far more secure against thieves. This will keep thieves from stealing it or harming it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.
Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. People will check your doormat and frame first. Try to find somewhere less obvious.
Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.
Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. Keeping fire hazards away is a great safety precaution since fire can cause lots of destruction.
Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. While they are nice and help with lighting, they also provide the burglars help with access to your home. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.
Your friends may have some great advice for choosing the right company. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.
You can hide things in your walls. If you own smaller things that need protection, think about keeping them hidden in the walls. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. If there are no unused plates, you can easily install fake ones.
Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. 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.
Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. If you have big windows near your big entertainment system, it can seem like an invitation to thieves. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.
Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. As things heat up in the summer, items may catch on fire and threaten your home. To make sure your home is safer, clear your yard periodically.
When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. Burglars can gain entry through your windows as well. Be sure your home alarm covers all entry points into your home. This will make your family safer.
Hide your security system’s wiring. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. Don’t make it easy for an intruder, have the wires buried or hidden within the home’s walls. You’ll be safer.
Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.
Take advantage of the Internet while comparing your home security options. Review different websites and review comments from previous customers. Then, you can set appointments to make price and service comparisons before you choose.
Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. These lights will come on if someone walks near your home. These lights will make you aware of, and can also scare off, potential burglars. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.
You should find out how many years of experience your home security service has. 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. Realizing you at involved with a stable firm will give you a sense of calm that is important.
Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.
Get a paper shredder. 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. If you can not afford to purchase a paper shredder, just rip the paper into smaller pieces.
A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.
If someone looks after your house when you’re gone, have them remove fliers from the door. This is a way people who are casing out your house can tell whether you are home or not. If the flier isn’t removed, the burglar knows the homeowner isn’t there.
It is important to always have fresh batteries and flashlights handy around the house. The flashlights are important because they make you able to get around the house in an emergency. Train your kids how to use flashlights so that all members of the family can contribute.
Put in a surveillance system. Video cameras are a great deterrent. 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 are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.
Don’t let any service people into your home without checking their references completely. You should do a background check as well to find out their criminal history. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.
Break down the boxes from your new TV or computer rather than leaving them on the side of the road. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target. Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.
Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. A burglar prefers to sneak around in the dark, and a well lit house is always a deterrent. Be sure and have a light next to any entry point in your home. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.
If there are areas of your home you want to keep locked off, you do not need keys. You can instead get key-less locks that work using a code. You can install these locks yourself or have them professionally installed.
Install a home surveillance system. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home safe. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. It is possible to use your cell phone to look at your surveillance camera, meaning you can see your house when you’re gone.
When you are out of the house, your drapes and blinds should be fully closed. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. They may break in if they spot something that they like. Do not forget to close your shades before going to bed.
Are you able to see the numbers on your house from your street? If there’s an emergency, it will take longer for the police to locate your home if the numbers are concealed in any way or too small. If you notice a problem, you should be able to fix it fairly cheaply, though.
If your door has a numeric lock, make sure the combination isn’t your birthday. Personal information, such as a birthday can be acquired on the Internet. If you use this as your password, you may make it easy for a burglar to rob you. Think instead of a more creative way to keep track of your code.
Keeping people out of various areas of your home does not have to involve using multiple locks and keys. There are key-less locks that open with a push-button security code. You can install them yourself or you can hire a home security firm.
If you’re worried about how you’re going to be able to maintain a wireless system, you may want to opt for a wired one instead. Wireless systems are convenient, but they require multiple sets of batteries that have to be changed out on a regular basis. The system will cease to work properly if the batteries are not fresh. What you spend on batteries, additionally, can really add up!
Although locks sealed inside are okay, they are useless if they can’t be locked from the outside. 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 fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. Spring latch locks are the easiest locks to gain entry with, as they can be opened with a simple credit card. They can put the credit card in between the latch and door to open the lock. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.
Avoid leaving toys on your lawn if your kids aren’t out there with them. This makes it fairly obvious that a woman lives in the house. Homes that have women living there are targeted more since they are more likely to have valuable jewelry than men are.
Whether you decide on a home-security system or not, these tips can help you secure your home. There are quite a few options. You could put stronger locks on your doors, build a fence and/or purchase a weapon. It’s really up to you. Put what you’ve learned in this article into practice!
Video surveillance systems do a great job deterring invaders. Burglars that wear masks that are seen in movies are fake. Most thieves won’t cover their faces simply because they don’t plan to run into anyone. If a surveillance system is clearly visible, they probably will leave.
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