Do you know much about home security systems? If you know little and do not know how to proceed, some additional knowledge may be helpful. This investment might be pricey, but it gives you peace of mind and security to those you live with.
When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. This is because you really have no idea who has keys, and therefore access to your home. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.
When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. This is because you really have no idea who has keys, and therefore access to your home. Have a locksmith install a brand new lock. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.
Get a safe to protect your valuable items. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.
Do not give the key to your home to your cleaning person unless you are certain they are worthy of your trust. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.
Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.
Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.
Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. While their story may seem legit, that doesn’t mean it is true. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.
Police Department
Go with your gut when choosing a home security company to install a system. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.
See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. Many police departments will offer expert advice, arrange inspections, sponsor neighborhood watches, and help you mark and register your valuables. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. Rather, give your key to a neighbor you find trustworthy.
Avoid coming across as overly shy. Meet your neighbors. By knowing the people in your neighborhood, you can rest a little easier knowing that people are looking out for each other. Don’t disregard gossip either. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.
If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.
Use your wall spaces to hide your valuables. No need to damage your walls. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.
Keep flashlights in your rooms. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Make sure your whole family knows where to find them and how to operate them.
Don’t put your spare key in an obvious place near your front door. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.
Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.
While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. If the wires are exposed, an intruder can bypass the system by cutting its wires. Make it hard for intruders and bury the wires or hide them inside your walls, if possible. This makes it much less likely that your system will be compromised.
Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. 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.
Do you know how valuable the wires within your home are? Many people never realize this value until wires are stolen right out of their home. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access to keep this valuable property safe.
Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.
Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Teach everyone in your home to use the flashlights so all family members can see and help each other.
Install a home surveillance system. You can have great home security with both hidden and visible video cameras. Also, you can capture the intruder in the act. Many surveillance systems may be easily accessed through a cell phone so that you can check on your house while you’re away.
Having a bright and lit-up home at night deters crooks. They do not want to be seen. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. Keep the lights on if you want your home to be secure.
Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. Spring latch locks are the easiest locks to gain entry with, as they can be opened with a simple credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.
Have your home security company inspect your home and suggest safety improvements. There are always going to be unique things about your home as well as your specific needs, so make sure you think about these things. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.
It can be worthwhile to invest in a security system that is hard-wired into your home. A wireless system is handy, but the frequent battery changes can really amount to a large expense. If you don’t replace the batteries, you’ll find that your system stops working correctly. Furthermore, it can be costly to replace multiple batteries.
Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Burglars like using darkness to hide. Install a light in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. Consider all your doors, porches, patios, decks, garages and all ground-level windows.
Secure valuables that are truly irreplaceable. Irreplaceable valuables, including financial records, family photos, legal documents, passports, etc., should be secured at all times. You can keep these things in a floor safe placed in a secure area of your home. What is even better is the safe deposit box at your bank.
If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. Burglars pay attention to this, and it will make them want to break in and get the items. You should cut up the boxes once you empty them.
If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. You never want to make it easy for folks to peer into your home. If one happens to be a criminal, they have an instant visual of many valuable items in your home, making you an easy target. Reduce the risk of being burglarized by being careful about what people can see.
From the road, are your house numbers visible? The police will find it difficult to locate your home quickly if your address numbers are difficult to see. Fortunately, it doesn’t require much to fix this problem.
Replace flimsy doors with doors made of solid wood or metal. These doors are much more sturdy. It would be very hard for a burglar to kick it and go inside. You should replace each exterior door in the home before doing the minimal amount, as soon as you can.
Do not make a number-code password your birthday or other obvious number. Anyone can get personal information online which they can use to access your home. Make it something that is unique and that you can remember.
The sliding doors made of glass that you see on many modern homes are actually a big security concern. They can be unlocked very easily if you shake and lift them. A pipe cut the right length should be wedged in the door if you have no security system. This keeps the door shut tightly and makes it difficult to force it open.
Security System
Most people like to avoid their neighborhood gossip; however, you should consider having them on your side. The nosy neighbor may be the one to alert you that someone was snooping around your house. By befriending this person, you will always have updates on the latest neighborhood news and threats.
If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. Wireless security systems are great, but need frequent battery changes. Your home security system will not function properly if you do not change the batteries. Also, having to replace batteries on a regular basis can quickly become costly.
While locks which are sealed up on the inside are dandy, if you can’t lock it from the outside, it won’t be of much use. A deadbolt is always the best choice, and those with keys inside and outside guarantee a burglar cannot open it.
Do you feel better since you know more about security systems for your home? The more knowledge you have, the easier time you will have of it. Remember these tips when you start.
You may think that the previous homeowners are extremely nice, but the truth is that you really do not know them. Therefore, replace all the locks in your home. Find a locksmith to replace the lock or talk to your landlord.
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