It is up to you as a homeowner’s responsibility to keep their home secure. You might think that getting an alarm is enough; however, but there are many other things you can do.Read on to find out how to secure your home secure.
Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.
Your dog could carry a spare house key for you. This can be done if your dog or if you’ve got a pet door. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so it is always handy.
Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. 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. Do a background check on them. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.
Above a door frame or under a mat are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. You could hide it in your dog on the collar.
Does your dog like to play in your yard? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Find a place to securely fasten the key to your pet’s collar where it’s not visible. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.
Ask friend for any advice before you choose a home security system or service. Your loved ones likely have dealt with you. Ask a better choice.
During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.
You never open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. People try many ways to trick others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Make a rule in your home that you only open your door for an unexpected visitor.
If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.
Police Department
Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. Many different things can make problems for your security system. You may not be able to tell there is an issue by yourself.
Check with the police department in your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Contact your local police department to see if they have something similar.
Avoid coming across as overly shy. Talk to your neighbors. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and do the same thing for them. Pay attention to gossip. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.
Keeping your car secured will deter thieves from vandalizing it. This can also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.
Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. Consider unwiring an electrical socket that isn’t used and storing your valuable jewelry.
Don’t forget skylights when securing your home. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Be sure that skylights for your home are durable and reliable.
If you are new into a house, replace all the locks. The previous owner may be perfectly respectable, but you can’t know that for sure. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.
Don’t hide an extra key under doormats or next you a plant box. These seem like great places criminals will look when you misplace your key. Thieves are aware of all these hiding spots.
If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. The previous tenants may have returned the keys, but they could have a copy. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.
Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from the outside. Large windows allow you to keep an eye on who is approaching your home, but they also allow others to peer into your home.
If you hire a security company, read any fine print. There are sometimes fees if you break a contract or need additional equipment. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.
Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a home through an intruder just walks in. A thief can steal your valuables in a short amount of time.
Always enlist the powers of online research to help you make a smart choice when it comes to home security companies. You can check out their packages and rates and also read some customer reviews. From there, you can make appointments with your top three selections to compare final package pricing and specific details about plans and monitoring.
Hide the wires of your home security system’s wiring.Intruders can get around security systems and into a system if they see the wires. This will make you safer.
Keep your garage shut and locked so burglars can’t peek inside. Cover your windows in frosting, which can be bought at big box hardware stores, so people can’t peek inside. Do not keep your door open long enough for people to get an idea of what you own.
Having these boxes around for a while will let thieves know the type of what is inside your home.
If you purchase an expensive item, get rid of the box rather than allowing it to sit outside your home. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. Cut up the boxes when they’re empty.
Replace rotten wood on your door frames. An intruder could pry away that rotted wood and enter your home. Replace rotting wood with new wood to make your house stays safe.
Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. They generally bark when someone comes close to their property. Your dog doesn’t have to be a big, burly attack dog. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.
Always ask for references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. A background check is also be a good idea. You can’t know for sure about the integrity of people you hire, and this could be a very bad mistake.
Ask the security company about various contract lengths. There are usually pros and cons in each contract. You may pay less if you sign up for longer, but you might also get left with a contract if you have to sell your house. Shorter contracts mean more freedom along with higher costs.
Think about a home security system that is wireless. While systems with wires are cheaper, they need your home to be rewired and they can fail due to a power outage.
Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed when you’re not home. When they are open, potential burglars get a free look in. They might see something worth breaking in to get. It’s good to have them down at night, too.
Thieves often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal data that will help them enter the house. You could also simply take care to tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.
Ask if your company offers options to both buy and lease your security equipment. Buying equipment may be initially more expensive, but cheaper in the longer term. Leasing is a good way to avoid the initial expense, but you will have to pay monthly fees. It is worthwhile checking out both possibilities before you decide on which is best.
Ask about the different contract durations that your home security company can offer you. There are advantages and cons in each contract. A long contract may lock you in even if you choose to sell the house or want to stop the services, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom at a higher costs.
If you must hide a key, hide it somewhere unusual. Fake rocks are easy to spot. Another obvious location is underneath the doormat. This will be one of the first places that a burglar will look for your spare key. Just leave your key with someone you trust. This will reduce the chances of a burglary.
Keep your curtains closed when you aren’t at home.Intruders can look into your home if the blinds are up. You should have them down when you’re asleep.
Think about getting a hard-wired system if you have concerns about maintenance issues. Although wireless security equipment is easy to install, it relies on battery power, necessitating constant battery swaps. You might forget to change out the batteries, which will result in your system not operating as it should. It’s also very costly to replace a lot of batteries at once.
You need to inquire about whether you can buy or purchasing equipment. Buying it may cost more, but will save you a monthly bill. Leasing is usually the cheaper option; however, but it can involve contracts and pricier monthly fees. Look at both of these to see what works for your personal circumstances.
If you always turn your lights on or off at the same time, use a timer. They will go on when you need them, plus they’ll also go on when you’re not home.
Legal Documents
Sliding glass doorways can pose security hazards. They are easy to unlock, all they require is a bit of lifting and shaking. If there is no security system on it, you should place a pipe inside the door channel. The pressure applied by the pipe provides added security and makes forcing a sliding door open a much less trivial matter.
Secure valuables in an area that are truly irreplaceable. Items like passports, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and legal documents are best kept in a secure location. Floor safes are excellent locations for keeping items safe inside your home. You could also rent out a safety deposit box.
Always lock all your windows, even the ones on the second floor. A lot of people assume criminals won’t try these windows. They do use this method of entry though. This is something that is a weak area, and criminals will go right to them.
A home alarm can be a good investment. The only way to ensure this is to use a system that the police always show up if it is triggered. You cannot depend on your neighbor to contact the police.
Don’t leave toys lying around your yard children are not at play. This gives thieves the idea that women live on the property. Homes with female inhabitants are usually targeted more due to valuable jewelry.
Deadbolts with keys make the best locks for your doors because they contain captive keylocks. These have a thumb latch that no one can reach around and opening the lock via a nearby broken window. When at home, keep the key inserted inside the lock so you can leave if there is a fire.
Your valuables should not be visible from outside. If there are valuables visible from the outside, thieves will be aware of this. Have blinds or drapes up so your possessions are not visible from the outside. If you cannot do this, have valuables in a room that is not visible.
Having read this article, you now know what it takes to create a safe and secure home. You must realize that these precautions are necessary in order to protect your family. The tips here should make this possible.
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