It takes some research to learn more about the products and habits you can use to protect your home. Continue reading to learn how to develop a good home security strategy.
Any time you buy a new home, have the locks changed. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.
Your dog can keep your spare key. This can be done if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so it is always handy.
Do you have an outdoor dog? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.
You never want to open your door to someone you do not know. People try many ways to trick others into letting them in so they can commit burglary or worse. Make it a rule forbidding anyone to open your door to people who you were expecting.
Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Remember to keep working bulbs in them at all times.
There is a way to prevent burglars from entering your home through an attached garage. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened.
Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.
These can pose a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Clear your yard so it looks good and is safe.
While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. Make sure the wires are installed inside the walls of your home. This will make you much safer.
Police Department
After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. Empty boxes for expensive new gear serve as advertisements to potentials thieves; don’t make it easy for them to spot such tempting targets.
See if your local police department offers any home security programs. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. Contact the police department to find out if they offer this type of program.
You should change all the locks if you just bought or rented a new home. Regardless of how you feel about the sellers, you never know someone’s true intentions. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.
Keeping the car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. This will also keep people from knowing your schedule.
Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. Your doors and windows should not be obstructed by shrubs or fences. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Plan these features for further away from your home.
The first thing to do for home security is to get new locks. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, so changing the locks can keep you safer. It is usually inexpensive and you can do it in less than a day.
Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. A wireless system is easy to install, and will not become inoperable if your power goes out.
Don’t ever put your spare key under doormats or in planters. These are the first places criminals will look when you misplace your home. Thieves are aware of these spots.
Get a paper shredder. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. If paper shredders don’t fit into your budget, you can manually rip up important documents yourself.
Having these boxes around for a while will let thieves know the type of what is inside your house.
If you have rooms that are off limits to kids and company, the following is a great solution. You can have key-less locks which require a code. They are fairly simple to install, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing so yourself, you can ask your home security company about it.
Always check references before letting anyone you are considering hiring to do work on your home. You need to do a background check as well to find out their criminal history. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, repairmen or maids you trust with being alone in your home.
Keep your curtains pulled tight when you are away from home. Keeping them up can let intruders see directly inside your home. They might see something worth breaking in to get. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.
Be certain to read the fine print to any contracts you hire a security company. There might be hidden costs or other things you were not aware of. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, you need to know of their existence.
Ask if your company offers options to both buy and lease your security equipment. Buying outright costs a lot more in the beginning, but one time costs might lower or eliminate some monthly fees that add up over time. Leasing is usually cheaper, but monthly fees can be high and you will need a contract. Look at what you can afford, as well as what is offered and make an informed choice.
Landscape your home with an eye to safety. If criminals know you can see them, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. This will give your safety.
Don’t hide your keys in obvious places. It is easy to find fake rocks. Doormats, too. You should just give a spare key to a trusted neighbor instead. If that isn’t possible, think outside the box when you hide it.
Ask the home security company how long they have been running prior to signing up. A company with a long history has proven that their service to people. Knowing that you are dealing with a fly by night company gives you calm when making this important decision.
Hard-wired home security systems can help you to cut down on costs. Wireless systems are of course convenient, but unfortunately you have to change numerous sets of batteries regularly. If you forget to change the batteries, your system will not work correctly. Replacing batteries can get costly.
While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t necessary for every family. In some areas, a class on self defense or a guard dog might be more suitable, yet in others, the latest innovations in home security will protect you best. Know the risks so that you want and make a better decision.
Always keep valuables you can’t replace secure. Passports, jewelry and expensive electronics must be secured at all times. A fireproof floor safe is ideal for this. You can also rent out a safety deposit box.
Your dog is a great tool for protecting your home security weapons. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is amiss. It doesn’t need to be a big tough dog.Even small dogs that make a ton of noise when committing crimes.
When the windows in your family room are facing the street, it is best to close your curtains every night before you go to bed. You don’t need to have an invitation to people through your window. If burglars spot the expensive items in your house, they may want to hit you next. Be careful about how much others can see.
Anyone can easily get your birthday from a Facebook and could have access into your house.
Sliding glass doors are a big security problem in many homes. The glass doors can easily be unlocked or broken. You have to secure them, so use a piece of pipe in the track. This jams the door so it just can’t open.
Think about getting a hard-wired system if you’re worried about long term maintenance costs. It can be expensive to replace many different batteries.
Deadbolts featuring captive keylocks are usually your wisest choice. A thumb latch prevents outsiders from accessing your door locks through an adjacent window. When at home you should keep the key securely in the lock. In this way you will be able to exit quickly in case of emergency.
You wouldn’t want to make it easy for folks to peer into your window. If valuable items can be seen from outside your home, they may want to hit you next. Make sure and minimize what is visible to the public so you can keep your chances of becoming a target.
When it comes to pets, large breed dogs are an excellent security addition. Burglars are often deterred from homes with scary sounding dogs, as they want to avoid bites and attacks. If you own a dog, it can double as a playmate or companion and a security benefit.
Although home security is very important, many people know nothing about it. This is a subject which all homeowners should know about intimately. Surely this article has provided some helpful information to get you thinking about security in your own place of residence.
Try to screen the interior of your home from being seen from the exterior. If there is a huge TV or nice computer visible, then surely a thief can also see it as well. Put up window coverings so that anything of value is hidden from outside view. If you cannot do this, place your valuables in another room.
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