Home security can quickly become a priority once you have children. When you have someone that you care about more than yourself, you may do anything to protect them. Take the steps in the right direction in order to create a sense of safety in your home with these tips.
If you are planning to be away for a while it is important to stop your paper delivery and put your mail on hold until you return. Newspapers piled up in your driveway or mail spilling out of your mailbox is a red flag that no one is home, and this leaves you vulnerable to thieves.
Have sensors installed on all of your windows. This allows you to leave windows open when you are not home, as well as when you are sleeping, without having to worry about an intruder being able to sneak in. They are very inexpensive and can be found at your local department or hardware store.
For alarms to really protect your home, they need to be obvious. While alarms can calm your mind and make sure help is on the way after a breach, they can also be used to prevent one. Criminals should know that you have alarms ahead of time. You should prominently display the notice that has your alarm company’s name on it outside of your house. When these signs are hidden, possible thieves don’t see your home as any less of a target than other homes in your area.
Do not leave notes on your door for family members or people that are coming to service your home. You may think nothing of it, but it is letting everyone know that no one is inside. It is a good idea to give people a call ahead of time and give them instructions.
You should change the locks to your new home as soon as you buy it. Even if the owner tells you that you have all of the keys, there may be a chance this is not true. You don’t want to take the chance that some unknown person will have access to your home.
Do you have sliding patio door in your home? If you do, be sure that you have taken steps to make them more secure. One inexpensive way you can do this is to purchase a closet rod and cut it to fit tightly into the track behind the door which slides open and shut.
Where are your door’s hinges? If the hinges for your door are on the outside of your home, you should move them to the inside of your house. Having outside hinges is an easy way for burglars to grant access to your home. All they have to do is knock the pin out of the hinge.
If you live in a building that has a secured door, do not allow anyone into the building that you don’t know. Many people will hang around and pretend to be a resident or someone else that should be there, so be very careful. If you do not recognize the person, let them know that you cannot let them in.
If your home security system goes off a lot because it is faulty, or you accidentally set it off yourself, fix the problem immediately. A home security system is one of the best ways to prevent break-ins, but your neighbors will ignore it they hear it set off a lot.
Make sure your home has quality locks on all the windows and the doors. Windows must have locks to keep burglars out, and they should have burglar-proof glass. Your doors should either be made of metal or solid wood. They should have heavy-duty, reinforced strike plates. The best locks to have for them are either knob-in-lock sets with dead latches or deadbolts.
Make sure your home security company offers a guarantee on their products and services, preferably for at least a year. You want to make sure you are satisfied with the service they offer, and you also want to make sure you will not be charged extra if the equipment they install is faulty.
Home security systems not only protect homeowners from burglaries, but are also useful in the case of an emergency. If your home catches on fire, your security system alerts the police and local fire department. In the case of a medical emergency, your system can be used to call for help.
If you are going away on a vacation, don’t brag about it to friends, co-workers or on Facebook. If you share the fact that you are going to be out of town for several days, you might come back to an empty house. Even though your friends or co-workers are totally trustworthy, you do not know who else they may inadvertently tell who may not be so honest.
Have someone you trust come and cut your lawn if you will be out of town for awhile. If you do not want to hire someone, have a family member or friend do it. If you grass gets too high, burglars will know that no one is home, giving them the desire to break into your home.
Never give anyone the password to your home alarm system unless it is absolutely necessary. Even if you know someone well, you should be very wary about this. If you have to give it to someone for whatever reason, make sure that you change it soon after to avoid any issues.
If you often turn your lights off/on around the same time, consider using a timer. This makes your life a bit easier, and it means that your lights will still be lit even if you are away from long periods of time.
Instead of hoping that nothing bad will ever happen in your home, be a little more realistic. Even taking small steps, like putting a fence or extra locks on your door, can make a world of difference. Remember the tips in this article if you’re thinking about your home’s security.
