Regardless of whether you own a home or rent one, you want your place to be as safe as possible. You may wish to know more about how to secure your space. This article will help you make your house much safer.
If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.
Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. You should not let cleaners have your keys if you feel like you cannot trust them, or if they will be working in your home while you are away. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.
You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.
Is your dog outside even if you are away? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Put the key on the dog’s collar. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.
Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.
Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Keep the safe hidden somewhere remote.
Never open the door for a stranger. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.
Comparison shop when you are ready to buy a home security system. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection. You really owe it to yourself to solicit firm quotes from three different providers before you sit down to pick one.
If you have an attached garage, make sure it is secure. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.
If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.
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. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.
Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.
Don’t forget about the skylights when securing your home. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.
Police Department
Walls make the perfect hiding spot. If you have valuables that are small in size, you may want to hide them within your walls. You can use the opening provided by an electrical switch plate or other device that is not being used. You can also install a fake one.
Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. They often offer home inspections, seminars and even the ability to purchase items. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.
Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to check it annually. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. If it’s not visible, you might not even know there’s a problem.
Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. While you may feel that you are keeping yourself safe by allowing a way in for yourself, you are also allowing everyone else to visit whenever they want. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.
Be bold. Speak to your neighbors. Keep your eye on their houses, and ask for help to keep yours safe too. Pay attention to gossip as well. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.
If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. This way, you will be safer.
Install lights that use a motion-sensor. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.
Are you aware that the wires located on the exterior of your house have value? This is something few homeowners realize until they become victims of wiring theft. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and may be stripped off the exterior of the house in a short time span. Hide the wiring and make it harder to access to prevent this from happening.
Find a home security company you can trust. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. Do some background research on the company you select, and look for people who make you feel safe.
Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. Rotting wood is easy to remove and take apart if someone is trying to get in. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.
Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.
Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. A background check is also a good idea, so that you know what their criminal history looks like. Anyone you bring into your home to work could be your worst enemy.
Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. Your safety will increase.
One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. This is a fairly inexpensive way to provide light and security to your property. They also help to keep intruders away, because an intruder does not want to come close to your property if they know they might be spotted.
Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. 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.
If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. They don’t wish to be seen. Making your home’s exterior nice and bright will make it impossible for crooks to go undetected. Have lights that come on when they detect movement for best results.
Check references before giving anyone access to your home. A background check may also be a good idea. You can’t always be sure that maids, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.
Determine how much experience a home security company has before you decide to do business with them. Look for a security company that is well-established and has extensive experience in the industry. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.
Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. In the dark hours, these lights will provide the illumination necessary to protect your home and also save money by staying off when they’re not needed. They also help to keep intruders away, because an intruder does not want to come close to your property if they know they might be spotted.
If you purchase a new, pricey electronic like a TV or computer, don’t leave the empty box near your curb. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.
Make sure your home’s exterior is well lit. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. Be sure and have a light next to any entry point in your home. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.
See if your security company only sells equipment, or if they will lease it to you instead. Buying will cost you more initially for the equipment, but will save you a monthly bill. Leasing is usually cheaper, but monthly fees can be high and you will need a contract. Compare both avenues to see which one is better suited for your needs.
Prior to purchasing a security system, think about what you need it for. Generic systems aren’t for everyone. In some neighborhoods, you might be better off taking a self defense class or owning a dog, while in others, the latest innovations in home security will protect you best. Understanding your neighborhood, risks and budget constraints can help you to make the best choices.
If you have a door that isn’t solid wood or metal, change it for either one. These doors are much more sturdy. A burglar trying to kick in such a door is going to be in for some pain. It shouldn’t be too costly to replace your exterior doors, so go do it.
Now that you know more about home security, get the process moving! Do not waste time and allow these ideas to slip away. Use them to help create your own ideas so that you can better secure your house. When your home is safe, you’ll have peace of mind.
See about purchasing security systems directly from the firm instead of a reseller. Dealers just want to make money, and sometimes they do not back up the products that they carry. When dealing directly with the company, you can rest assured that you are not paying additional fees, and also that the company will be there to continuously service your equipment.
Blue widgets is a complex topic, which is why you should take the time to research it some more. Thankfully, this piece has given you information to help you do it. Use the information you’ve learned, and get busy.
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