A concern for anyone, despite class or personality, is keeping their homes safe. Whether there are children present or the neighborhood is known for crime, there are different factors for everyone. Read this article for some simple tips on how to make yourself feel safer when you are at home.
Never leave spare keys under doormats or any place in the exterior of your home. This is vital, as burglars will look here first to see if you made this mistake. Keep keys and lock combinations with you at all times to maintain the highest level of protection for your home.
If you are moving into a new home, the first thing you should do to make your home more secure is to change the locks. You do not have to change the actual locks, a locksmith can re-key the locks to make them inaccessible with any of the previous keys.
It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Any thief knows all the typical hiding spots. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.
Pretend you are a burglar. By taking on the role of an intruder, you can check for vulnerable areas around your property. Really think hard about ways you would get into your home if you were a criminal. Check the garage as well as sheds or other places you keep valuable possessions.
It can be especially helpful if you are an elderly person who remains living in your home to have a home security system installed. This will not only alert the authorities to any fires and intruders, but it gives you a direct link to help if needed, allowing you to keep your independence.
Make sure to choose an alarm company that offers monitoring. An alarm that just buzzes if an intruder tries to enter is statistically shown to be mostly ineffective. When you add the additional monitoring however, you have a direct link to someone who can call the police and get you help. There may be an extra charge for a monitored alarm, but it is well worth the cost.
If your front door does not have a peephole already, install one immediately. A small peephole can let you see who is at your doorstop without giving them the view of the inside of your home. If your intruder uses the front door to get into your house, a peephole can give you a head start on calling the cops.
Always lock your home up tight. Even if you are just popping over to a neighbors house, you need to ensure your house is secure. Most break ins happen with no damage at all – the thief just walks through an open door or slips through an open window somewhere.
If you have to leave home for an extended period of time, do things to make the home look occupied. Put lights on timers so that they turn on in the evening and off at bedtime. Do the same with the television or radio to really make your home appear lived in.
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.
As silly as it may seem, stop having newspapers delivered if you are going on vacation. Intruders will see all of the papers piling up and will realize that no one is home, making it more likely for them to break in. Call the delivery company and tell them when you will come back and when you want them to start delivering again.
Never put your full name in the phone book, on your mailbox or in a buzz code directory. Include only your first initial and last name to ensure people can’t take that information and use it to make you think they are someone you should be letting into your home.
The outside of your house should be well lit. Darkness allows for all sorts of nefarious activities. Motion sensor lights can work great because they can also alert you when someone does come onto the property. This means by the garage, in the doorways, around windows and much more.
To secure your sliding doors, put a metal pipe in the track and then jam it against the door frame. This will stop the door from sliding and ensure that it can’t be opened from the outside. To choose the right length of pipe, measure the entire track and buy a piece that big.
Consider all of your individual security needs before looking into any alarm systems. Though such systems can be terrific for many, not everyone really needs one. In some particular neighborhoods, classes for self defense or acquiring a dog may be the best option. However, the newest home security technology may be the best protection in other regions. Ensure that you have considered all your options before making a final decision.
Buy a fireproof safe that can be bolted down for the important papers and irreplaceable things in your home. This will protect them from fire damage and will keep them from getting stolen if ever your home is burglarized. Knowing that these items are secure will give you more peace of mind.
According to many consumer reports, many of the lower-priced systems have better service and are actually of better quality. This huge difference between price and quality should be on your mind as you move towards making your purchase. This doesn’t mean the cheapest system is the best, but it certainly doesn’t mean the most expensive is either.
You do not have to install an expensive home security system in order to make yourself feel safer. There are simple alternatives and many ways to deter criminals. If you remember the tips in this article, you will have an easier time making your home safer and more secure for the family.
