Every homeowner needs to keep their family and home safe. Sad to say, home burglaries, fires and damage caused by natural disaster are quite common. Read this article to learn great tips and tricks that will ensure your home and family remains safe from any threat. Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar.
Every homeowner needs to keep their family and home safe. Sad to say, home burglaries, fires and damage caused by natural disaster are quite common. Read this article to learn great tips and tricks that will ensure your home and family remains safe from any threat.
Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.
Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.
When in the process of purchasing a home-security system, be sure to comparison shop. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.
Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Do a background check on them. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.
If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.
Does your dog like to play in your yard? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. This is an especially good idea if your dog doesn’t like strangers, and gives you easy access to get in your home.
When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. After all, you’re investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.
Compare various home security systems when shopping. Prices vary greatly in regards to the same protection for each company. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.
Walls make the perfect hiding spot. Jewelry and other small items can be protected very well when placed in hiding places in your walls. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. You put in a fake plate if there aren’t any unused in your home.
Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. Though trips are always fun to talk about, you may be doing little more than telling burglars the best times to visit your house.
Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. You may believe you are making life easier for yourself, but you may just be giving thieves simple access to your house. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. Instead, give your extra key to a neighbor whom you trust.
You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.
Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.
Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. They pose a fire risk. Keeping your plants and bushes trimmed will benefit your family’s safety as well as the appearance of your home.
Before you let anyone go into your home, look at their references thoroughly. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.
When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. You should avoid such expenses if you can, so make yourself aware.
See if your area police department has any home security programs. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.
Don’t limit security to the inside of your home; the outside needs attention too. All of your windows and doors should be unobstructed by plants, shrubs, trees or fences. This makes it where people can’t hide in different nooks and crevices. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.
Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.
Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. Look for a security company that is well-established and has extensive experience in the industry. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.
If you reside in a small town or rural area, then you might not be as worried about someone breaking into your home as city dwellers may be. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Some people, though, believe that you will not be at risk for a burglary.
A wireless security system for your home is a great option. While a wired system is more affordable, it also requires more extreme modifications of your home’s existing wiring. This could be a potential problem in the event that your power goes out. Wireless systems are much easier to maintain and also to install, and they are not reliant on your central power source.
If you will be away from your home, arrange to have whoever is collecting your mail to also pick up fliers placed inside your door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.
Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. With this method, your family will be safer.
It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. Installing video cameras, both visible and hidden, are a great way to secure your home. Most intruders are discouraged by visible cameras. But, if they attempt to disable the camera, you will still be able to see them if you have a hidden camera. It is possible to use your cell phone to look at your surveillance camera, meaning you can see your house when you’re gone.
Believe it or not, the wires on your house are worth stealing. Many people do not realize this until a crook steals it off of their home. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.
The best method of preventing a burglar from breaking into your garage is preventing people from seeing inside. Have your windows frosted so they aren’t as easy to see through. Don’t let your door hang open for lengthy periods of time.
Perform landscaping for your home which enhances your home’s safety. All of your windows and doors should be unobstructed by plants, shrubs, trees or fences. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.
Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. These lengths can be both good and bad. While your monthly rates may be lower with a lengthy contract, you have no recourse should you list your home for sale or terminate your contract. With a shorter contract, you will have a greater level of flexibility. The downside is you will also have larger monthly bills.
It’s a good idea to install a surveillance system in your home. Installing hidden and visible video cameras are great for securing your house. Visible cameras can scare intruders, and hidden ones can catch them in the act. Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, allowing you to check up on your home when you are away.
Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes. Intruders just have to slide a card in between the latch and door for the lock to pop open. IF spring latch locks are already in place, add a deadbolt for that extra layer of security.
Your precious pooch is one of your best home security weapons. Dogs can be extremely protective of their space and are great at barking when something is afoot. It doesn’t even have to be a big tough dog. Little dogs can also make big noise, which is the main thing that burglars care about.
Never keep the registration papers for your vehicle in your glove compartment. This is not wise since anyone who has access to them will know where you live. Instead, keep them with you at all times, or hide them somewhere else inside your vehicle. They have to be available if the cops pull you over.
Replace flimsy doors with solid wood or metal versions. These doors will hold. These materials make it difficult for a would-be thief to break down the door. Make sure to replace exterior doors for the cheapest amount possible.
Don’t utilize spring latch locks. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. Intruders simply use a credit card inside the latch, making the lock open. If you already have spring latch locks, install a deadbolt for added security.
Though it is often good to avoid neighborhood gossips, make sure you are friendly with those in your area. A busybody who likes you is sure to tell you about suspicious characters in the neighborhood. If you make friends with them, it’ll be like having another set of eyes watching your home.
When you aren’t home, make sure your windows are covered. Keeping them up can let intruders see directly inside your home. If something desirable is visible, you can expect a break in. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.
Women are much more likely to be targeted for a home invasion, especially if they live by themselves or with children. One way to throw off would-be assailants is to put a large pair of muddy boots on the front porch, to suggest the presence of a big man. This will drive away thieves.
Choose an out of the way place to hide your spare key, not the obvious ones. Everybody knows about fake rocks. Someone is going to look under your doormat. Just leave your key with someone you trust. If you cannot do that, at least find an unusual place to hide the key.
Though inside locks are great, they do little if they cannot also be locked externally. Deadbolts are the best locks. The ones that are key operated on the interior and the exterior are burglar proof.
Because of all the threats to a home, every homeowner should take steps in protecting it as much as possible. This very article will contain several different ideas and suggestions that will help protect your family and your home from these threats. Use these concepts as a means to increase the safety level of your home.
See about purchasing security systems directly from the firm instead of a reseller. Dealers just want to make money, and sometimes they do not back up the products that they carry. When dealing directly with the company, you can rest assured that you are not paying additional fees, and also that the company will be there to continuously service your equipment.
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