How secure is your home? I don’t just mean from disasters or pests, but from thieves as well. You need to ensure nothing can hurt those you love, be it a fire or a foe. This article details many ways to ensure your home is completely protected, so read on to find out what you can do today.
If you have a vacation home that you do not spend much time at, a home security system could be a worthwhile investment. This will automatically alert you and the local authorities if something happens to your home while you are away such as a fire, break-in or other problem.
Man’s best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so it is always handy.
Trim back the brush aside your home. It may look pretty, but you are giving criminals a hiding place right near your house. Instead, keep an open grassy area between your home and your landscaping. This will help keep unwanted people from getting a close eye view through your windows.
Cut the bushes around your home. If someone is interested in breaking in, the first thing they are going to do is look for a place where they can hide as they try to find their way inside. If you want your yard to look aesthetically beautiful, plant flowers instead.
Get to know your neighbors. Your neighbors are a valuable resource that can help keep an eye on your home when you cannot. When neighbors watch out for each other, you can be alerted if anything suspicious is occurring. Keep an ear out for neighborhood gossip too! If you hear about houses in your area being broken into, it might be time to step up security.
Make sure that you have smoke alarms in every sector of your home to stay safe at all times. This is important as you will need some sort of notification when you are sleeping and unable to notice that a fire is occurring. If you have a one level house, one smoke alarm will suffice.
Do not do any landscaping that will obscure the entrances of your home. While you may think it is a good idea to plant a huge rosebush in front of your living room windows, this gives a thief a place to hide while they figure out a way to get into your home.
When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This will make your family safer.
Every bit of wiring for your alarm system needs to be well hidden or else it will be easy to cut. When installing a system yourself, this is important to keep in mind. Tuck it away within walls so that no one can get at it to shut the system down.
There are some disadvantages to a wired home security system. One considerable drawback is the fact that the system cannot be moved if you should sell your home. Another factor to consider is the initial cost of the installation. Since running the wires requires the services of an electrician, the cost is much more than a wireless system.
If you would like a home security system, but cannot afford the expensive installation and monthly fees, you have another option. You can purchase a wireless DIY home alarm that has most of the features you desire for less than $200.00. In addition, there are no monthly fees and the system is portable.
If anyone knocks on your door and asks to use your phone, tell them you can make the call for them. In this day and age of cell phones and pay phones, there is little reason for anyone to appear on your doorstep asking for help. Take it as a red flag.
If you are going on vacation, don’t cancel the delivery of your mail or your newspaper. When you do that, you never know who may stumble across the information that you are going to be away from home. Instead, ask a friend or a family member to help you out.
If you are the only person in your home, take your keys to bed with you. The remote to your car has an “alarm”? button. If something happens, and you are concerned that a burglar may be trying to get into your home, hit that button and activate the alarm. The noise should scare the intruder away.
Install a peep hole and chain lock on your door. A peephole and chain will allow you to communicate with someone at your door without allowing them full view or easy access to your home. If a stranger is at your door, do not unfasten the chain until you are confident that you are safe.
Keep your tools and garage equipment safe. One good way to make your tools less appealing for a thief is by painting them an identifiable color. Good colors would be baby blue, purple or even pink. This immediately identifies the tools as yours. A thief is less likely to take something that can be so easily traced back to you.
If you are planning on going on vacation, you need to hire someone to look after your home. Savvy thieves know what to look for when scouting out homes to rob. Uncut grass, newspapers piled up on the doorstep and unshoveled snow on the side walk are all signs that a homeowner is away on vacation.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so put yourself to the task of protecting those you love. You’ve read this article, now put its advice to work. Once you have a secure, safe home, you’ll be happy to have everyone you love there day after day.
