It takes some research to learn exactly what steps are most effective in attaining and habits you can use to protect your home. Read on to learn what it takes to come up with a great security plan to use for your own home.
Be sure your home always looks occupied. Timers can be used to turn lights and televisions on and off when required. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This helps you keep your house burglar-free.
Does your dog remain outside while you are gone? They may provide you with your key. Put the key on their collar. This works especially useful if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.
When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.
You should never open your door to a stranger without proper identification. People often think of ways to convince others into letting them in so that they can steal from them. Make it a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.
Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Instead, try hiding a key on the collar of an outside dog.
These are vulnerable to fires and put your home. Clear your yard so it looks good and is safe.
Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. A ringing phone that goes unanswered may signal to a burglar that nobody is home.
Talk to the people who live in your neighbors.
If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.
Put motion-sensor lights around your house. These lights will come on when they detect motion near your home. Just do not forget to replace the light bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.
Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. They often offer home inspections, seminars and even the ability to purchase items. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
This is particularly true when you feel uneasy about the person installing the system. Don’t hesitate to request a different technician or get another company. The point of having a security system and the company should put your mind at ease.
When choosing a home security firm, trust your instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.
Walls can serve as a great hiding spot for your valuables. You can hide small valuables within your walls.You can use phone jacks or other device that is not being used.You can also install a fake plate if there aren’t any unused in your home.
Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.
Do not place your spare key under your doormat or in plant boxes. These are the first places criminals will look when you misplace your home. Thieves know common hiding spots.
It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.
If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, make sure you get the locks changed.The person who used to live there may still have made some copies of the key. You can do your own installation to make sure that no one who has a key.
Choose an alarm which monitors other areas outside your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all windows and entry points. Doing this will help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.
It is very common for thieves to present themselves as representatives of a company in order to gain access to your home. This can put your home and possessions in danger. Be careful if you want to avoid any potential dangers.
Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. Copper wiring is very valuable and susceptible to being stripped from the outside of your home. To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.
Always check references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. You should do background checks in order to find out their criminal history. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and giving access to the wrong one can prove disastrous.
Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. They might not be who you think they are. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.
Keep the outside areas of your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars prefer the cover of darkness to commit their criminal activities. Install lights in any area a potential intruder can use to enter your home. This extends to doorways, windows, garages and lower windows.
If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. They want to avoid being seen. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. Keep lights on in the evening for a safer home.
Make sure that your address numbers are visible from across the street. If an emergency occurs, emergency vehicles may not locate your home in a timely manner if the numbers don’t stand out.
If you arrive home and you see that your door is ajar, never enter to investigate on your own. This can be a dangerous scenario, as the criminal might still be present. Just contact the police and sit tight until they arrive.
You may have locks that need a code. You can install it yourself.
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 a paper shredder is not in your budget, consider tearing your documents into tiny pieces or even burning them.
Ask about different contract lengths that a security company can offer you. There are of course pros and cons to each. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, you may have to continue paying the bill even if you move or discontinue with their services. Shorter contracts mean more freedom at a higher cost.
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. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed. By your neighbor taking the flyer, it appears as if you got it yourself.
Anyone can easily get your date of birth from Facebook and could have access into your driver’s licence.
A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. They are protective of their home and owner and will alert you if someone is on your property. It doesn’t even have to be a big tough dog. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.
This helps the lights stay on and off when you can’t be at home.
Install a hard-wired system if you want to minimize maintenance costs. Wireless security systems are great, but need frequent battery changes. If you forget to change the batteries, your system will not work correctly. Additionally, it can cost a pretty penny to buy batteries again and again.
You want to avoid having people peek in the window. If potential burglars see the valuable possessions inside your home, they may see your home as the next target. Make sure you’re discreet concerning your belongings so you can keep your chances of being robbed at a target.
Find out if your alarm company offers lighting with motion sensors. Many providers can supply this, and it switches exterior lights on whenever anyone comes near a point of entry. This will make you more safe as you walk up to your house, and it can keep intruders away.
Deadbolts with captive keylocks are the most secure locks to get. These have a thumb latch so that prevents others from reaching around and opening the lock via a nearby broken window. If you are home, simply lodge the key on the lock.
A sliding glass door is not very safe. You can easily unlock them by shaking and lifting them. If you haven’t hooked them up to your security system, you can install some pipe to fit within your door channel. The pressure applied by the pipe provides added security and makes forcing a sliding door open a much less trivial matter.
Women who live alone or with children are the most likely targets for home invasion. Place big muddy boots near the front of your home to give off a male lives there. This can deter criminals from choosing your home.
Most people try to avoid the neighborhood gossip, but you should try to get them in your good graces. While much of the information these folks pass around is useless, they’re also the first to pick up on suspicious activity in the neighborhood. You will even be able to ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your home if you are going on a vacation.
Always change the keys and locks when you move in.This is correct regarding home purchases and rentals, so make sure you hire someone to help, or change the locks on your own.
There are obviously benefits to owning a large dog with a scary bark. Burglars are often deterred from homes with scary sounding dogs, as they want to avoid bites and attacks. Of course, the animal should be protective and also safe as a companion to your children or yourself. A dog with a temper may be scary, but the animal must also be friendly enough to interact with you.
Your garbage needs to be as secure as your home’s security. If you put out boxes for expensive items, thieves may see the boxes in the trash and decide to return later on to grab the goods. Even a simple appliance can signal intruders that you’ve got money and that you’re a thief.
It is better to buy equipment from a security company directly, instead of from someone re-selling it. Re-sellers are after making a profit; therefore, they don’t have your best interests in mind. 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.
The security of your home is extremely important, but many people are lacking information about it. It is important that all homeowners who are concerned about their home’s security take the time to learn about the subject. The above article should be an excellent starting point for establishing your knowledge on home security.
Having a firearm handy is important to protect yourself from a burglary. Think about signing up for gun training, and consider purchasing a firearm. You may feel more secure with a firearm in the house if you have obtained it legally and have received proper training.
About The Author
