All homeowners ought to know about home security. How can you figure out what you need to learn? The tips in this article will help you learn the basics of how to protect your family and your possessions.
It is crucial that you change the locks as soon as you move into a new residence. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.
Change the locks after buying a new house. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.
TIP! It is a good idea to replace all the locks on the new home you buy. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key.
Does your dog stay outside while you are gone? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.
If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.
The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if their firm is well-reviewed.
TIP! The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest.
Don’t let strangers into your home. Criminals can be endlessly inventive when it comes to generating a convincing story to force their way into your home. No matter how sympathetic the story, remember that it could all be a put-on. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.
Be sure to secure your attached garage. 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 can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.
There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.
TIP! Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home.
Security System
Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Ask the security company to send a technician out to give your system a thorough inspection. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.
Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Each company has different rates for their security system. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.
TIP! Comparison shop when you are ready to buy a home security system. Prices vary greatly in regards to the same protection for each company.
Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.
If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.
Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Try to find somewhere less obvious.
TIP! A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame.
Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. It can be a quick job for a burglar to steal items of great value.
Rotted Wood
Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.
TIP! Get roofing, flooring and ceilings that are fire resistant. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location.
If your door is set in a rotted frame, you must replace the frame. Rotted wood can be easily removed by thieves. Therefore, replace rotted wood with fresh wood to ensure your home’s safety.
A simple way to increase your home security is to add motion lights around the house. They lights will light up your property at night and they are cost-effective and efficient. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.
Use your garage for your car and not for storage. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders from vandalizing or stealing it. Hiding your car from plain view will also keep potential intruders from tracking when you are home and when you aren’t.
TIP! If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage.
One effective home security trick you can use is by installing outdoor motion sensor lights. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. This includes doorways and porches, the garage, and windows on ground floors which may invite intruders.
If you get home and notice an open door, do not go in to see what has happened. This is very dangerous due to the fact that the thief can still be inside your property. Just contact the police and sit tight until they arrive.
Be bold. Talk to your neighbors. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.
TIP! End your shyness. Talk to your neighbors and those on your block.
Put in a surveillance system. Video cameras are an excellent way to keep your home safe. Also, you can capture the intruder in the act. Nowadays, you can track your surveillance on your own cell phone.
Ask the security company about various contract lengths. There are usually pros and cons in each contract. Long contracts may cost less each month, but it could leave you with a larger bill if you decide to end your service. A short contract may seem more expensive each month, but you have more freedom.
Motion sensor lights are a great investment. These are lights that turn on whenever any living thing gets too close to your home. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.
TIP! Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house.
Spring Latch Locks
Don’t utilize spring latch locks. Just one credit card can get a burglar access to your home. The card is slid into the crevice between the latch and the door, pushing the latch back and springing the lock open. If you already have spring latch locks, install a deadbolt for added security.
Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. Thieves can steal a lot of valuable stuff in mere minutes.
TIP! Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door.
Every homeowner needs to learn about home security. That said, organizing the useful information from useless information can be hard. For this reason, you should remember the information in this article when you consider keeping your home secure.