How much is home security worth to you? Can you afford a monitored security system? Do you want to know about cheaper solutions? There are some great alternatives that you can use. Read on for simple and effective ways to secure your house. Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key.
How much is home security worth to you? Can you afford a monitored security system? Do you want to know about cheaper solutions? There are some great alternatives that you can use. Read on for simple and effective ways to secure your house.
Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This will come in handy if your dog is outdoors most of the time or if it can go outside through a pet door. Just hide a spare house key on the inside of your dog’s collar. Then when you need an extra key, you will be able to access this one.
Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Check their references fully. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.
Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. Attach the key to the dog’s collar so that it is hidden from view. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.
Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.
Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. You really owe it to yourself to solicit firm quotes from three different providers before you sit down to pick one.
If you have a lot of unfamiliar people on you social networking accounts, avoid letting everyone know you will be going on vacation. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.
Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.
Buy fire resistant flooring, roofing and ceiling. This will give your home added security. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.
Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, do not let them in. Some people just want to know if there is a security system so they can plan on coming back later or not.
Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to check it annually. Make certain the security company you choose provides for regular inspections. There are many things that can reduce the quality of your system. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.
Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.
It will not benefit you to be shy. Engage your neighbors in conversation. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Pay attention to gossip. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.
Motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home is a great idea. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.
Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. Your local police department will help you with preventive measures, inspect your home and show you how to mark your valuables so they can easily be found. Get in touch with the department to determine their offerings.
If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.
Walls are the perfect place to hide. Small items of value can be hidden for safety in your home’s walls. You can use the opening provided by an electrical switch plate or other device that is not being used. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.
Don’t be shy. Talk to your neighbors and those on your block. Watch their homes and ask them if they’ll watch yours as well. Pay attention to gossip as well. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.
You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. Intruders can enter through your windows too. The alarm and monitoring system should be set for all windows and doors. Doing this will help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.
Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Hide the wiring and make it harder to access to prevent this from happening.
If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. However, understand that regardless of where you live, a theft can occur anywhere. Therefore, you need to be prepared.
Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Be very careful with who you let into your home.
Walls make the perfect hiding spot. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.
If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.
Having your house lit up during the night is a good way to scare intruders. They want to avoid being seen. It makes it look like you are home and makes it difficult for thieves to hide. Keep those lights shining brightly at night.
Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.
Your budget will tell you which security measures you can put in place. If the pricy choices are not an option for you, there are more affordable choices. The tips that you’ve read can be great alternatives for home security. They might just do the trick.
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