How To Keep Your Home Protected

January 16, 2020 - Comment

Is home security something you care about? Do you think home security companies are too expensive? Do you want to utilize cheaper options? There actually are some, and they are within reach. The article below has the tips you need. Place the spare key that you make on your dog. Really this works only if

Is home security something you care about? Do you think home security companies are too expensive? Do you want to utilize cheaper options? There actually are some, and they are within reach. The article below has the tips you need.

Place the spare key that you make on your dog. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. 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! Your dog can actually safeguard a spare key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. 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. Do a background check on them. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

TIP! The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. When giving your house cleaner the key to your home, you need to be sure that they are reputable and honest. Check their references fully. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.

Talk to the police department in your area to see what safety programs they have. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

TIP! Home protection program details may be available at your police station. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen.

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. You should hide it in your dog’s collar.

No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.

TIP! Be sure your expensive belongings are not visible from the home’s exterior. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This will give your home added security. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.

A good home security system monitors all entry points to your home. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This can keep your family much safer.

TIP! A good home security system monitors all entry points to your home. It should protect the windows too.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. Some people just want to know if there is a security system so they can plan on coming back later or not.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. They show the world you have money and lots of valuables inside.

TIP! 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. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.

Garage Doors

Just moved in? Time for new locks! Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

TIP! Just moved in? Time for new locks! You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Besides, other tenants or owners might have copies of the key if the previous owners did not change the locks.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is secure. It is possible for an intruder to get in the garage and then gain access to the house; however, you can do something about it. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! Keep your wiring hidden or inaccessible to potential burglars.

TIP! Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves. The copper in the wiring is valuable and can be stripped off of the outside of the home in a relevantly short period of time.

If you do not reside in a big city, you may not worry as much about home burglaries. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

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 awhile show that they can provide reliable support. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

TIP! Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to.

Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

What do you need to personally feel safe? A home security system is a good idea; however, it is not the perfect solution for every home. In some neighborhoods, it may be better for you to have a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself. Know what you want and make your decisions based on that.

TIP! Before you go shopping for a home security system, take a moment to think about your specific situation and unique requirements. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home.

Are you aware that the wires located on the exterior of your house have value? People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. Copper wiring is very valuable and susceptible to being stripped from the outside of your home. Hide your wiring to secure it.

If you’re planning to be out of your home for a period of time, have a neighbor remove any fliers placed on your door. Thieves have put them up in order to see if people are home to take them down. A flier that hangs around for days on end lets burglars know that there’s no one in the home.

TIP! If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Burglars sometimes tack these up and watch to see whether or not they are removed.

Rotted Wood

Stand out in your street, and look toward your home. Are you able to see the numbers of your home? In the event of an emergency, police officers may have trouble finding your house if they cannot read your address numbers. If you notice a problem, you should be able to fix it fairly cheaply, though.

TIP! Are your house numbers visible from the street? Make sure they are large in case emergency personnel need to find your house. Luckily, you can fix this quickly and cheaply if you see there’s a problem.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Home invaders interested are able to pry off any rotted wood to get inside. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.

Inquire with your company if they allow both leases and purchases of equipment. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. 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! Ask if your company offers options to both buy and lease your security equipment. While you will pay more to buy, you don’t have to keep paying for it month after month.

The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. You’ll find it easy to narrow your choice down to three top contenders; your next step is to arrange to meet each of them to discuss your specific security needs.

If you have a numeric keypad on your door as your lock, don’t make the password your birthday. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access 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.

TIP! Be sure not to use your birthday as the password on your door lock’s numeric key pad. Your birthday is easy to obtain, and you don’t want your house to be easily accessible.

Consider your own personal safety needs and security risks before exploring home security systems. While alarm systems are great, they aren’t necessary for every family. In certain areas, it may be just as useful to learn self defense or buy a dog, whereas other places may require added measures. Understanding your neighborhood, risks and budget constraints can help you to make the best choices.

If your door isn’t either metal or solid wood, replace it with one that is. These doors hold really good. A burglar could not kick a solid wood or a metal door. It is easy and affordable to replace all of your home’s exterior doors, so ensure you do this immediately.

TIP! If the door isn’t solid wood or metal, then replace it with a door that is. Doors made of metal or wood are much sturdier than those that aren’t.

Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Burglars sometimes place fliers as a means to see if anyone is home to remove them. A flier that hangs around for days on end lets burglars know that there’s no one in the home.

Does your security firm offer lights with motion sensors? This is often an option from a good company. Motion sensitive lighting turns on when a person approaches your home in the dark. This further protects you from having unwanted guests enter your home.

TIP! See if the security company has motion sensitive lighting. Many providers can supply this, and it switches exterior lights on whenever anyone comes near a point of entry.

Empty Boxes

Go through a company to buy your security system. Middlemen tack on extra charges and offer very little in the way of guarantees. 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! Avoid purchasing a security system from a third party. Instead, buy directly from the manufacturer.

If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target. Break down the empty boxes whenever possible.

External wiring on a home is often a very easy target for potential thieves. The copper inside wiring and other components is a valuable commodity. Keeping your wires hidden prevents the thieves from seeing them and wanting to take them.

TIP! Burglars and thieves may target your external wiring. The copper from your electrical system could be traded for a good price.

Find out about the various lengths of contracts your chosen home security company has on offer. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Your bill may be lower with a long-term contract, but you could wind up paying for a service you’re not using if you decide to move. A shorter term allows for flexibility, but it might be expensive.

Try not to leave any toys in the yard when your children are not out there playing with them. This makes it fairly obvious that a woman lives in the house. This will make the home a target, as thieves assume women will have valuable jewelry and will be less able to defend themselves.

TIP! Don’t leave toys lying around your yard children are not at play. Thieves might think women live there.

Home security does depend on what exactly you can afford. If you are unable to afford the costlier options, you can employ several less expensive solutions. The above article has some good home security choices. Not only will they provide you with the utmost protection, but they will also save you money.

As a matter of course, you should install new locks any time you move into a house or apartment. This is correct regarding home purchases and rentals, so discuss it with your landlord, or perform the lock switch yourself.

TIP! No matter who lived in the home before you moved in, replace the lock or rekey it. Find a locksmith to replace the lock or talk to your landlord.