It takes some research to learn more about the products and habits you can use to protect your home. Read on to learn more about making a home security plan.
A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. Parents of children can track their kids this way.
Check out their references very carefully. If it is a known company, check with the BBB.
Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.
Do you let your dog outside if you leave the home? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your spare key. Put it on the dog’s collar.This is especially useful if your pet does not respond well to strangers.
Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. Your friends have gone through both bad and good experiences and they will be able to share them with you. Keep asking to get the advice that will help you make the right choice.
Don’t allow anyone you don’t completely know into your house. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, ignore them. This is the joint to see if there is home security equipment.
Never allow any strangers into your home. While their story may seem legit, that doesn’t mean it is true. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.
You should never want to open your door to a stranger without proper identification. People try many ways to trick others into letting them in so they can commit burglary or worse. Make it a rule forbidding anyone to open the door to people who you were expecting.
Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars from entering your home through an attached garage. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door from being opened.
Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.
Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or in a planter. These are the first places for you when you misplace your key. Thieves know common hiding spots.
It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. There are many things that can reduce the quality of your system. Sometimes, you may need a professional to locate the problem.
Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from the outside. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but they also allow outsiders to see inside your living space.
Try not to have a shy attitude. Meet your neighbors. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. Pay attention to gossip as well. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.
Replace all the locks in a new house.The old owners may seem nice, but you can’t know that for sure.
You need to change our locks as your first step to ensuring your safety. Maybe you’ve had a roommate leave or a bitter ex-lover, so changing the locks can keep you safer. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.
Always check references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work on your home. A background check may also be a criminal history. You don’t know whether the contractor, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.
Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.
Keep safety at the forefront when doing landscaping. If these things can be seen by the naked eye, there will be no place to hide. This will give your safety.
Walls are great for hiding things. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Simply take advantage of an unused switch plate, electrical outlet, or phone jack. If you’re using all your outlets, you can install phony ones.
The areas outside of your house should be kept well lit. Burglars prefer the cover of darkness to commit their criminal activities. Install some outside lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. This can include the garage, doorways, garages and lower windows.
Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.
Consider purchasing a wireless home security system for your home. Wired systems might be a bit less expensive, however it usually means you’ll have to rewire your home, and can become faulty during a power outage.
If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. Empty boxes might draw the attention of robbers and let everyone know you own new and expensive goods.
Don’t leave empty boxes of any high priced electronics on your house. Burglars will see these boxes and know what kind of valuables you have. Cut the boxes and hide the garbage truck comes to put them outside.
You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. This can come in handy if someone has cut your power and is attempting to break in.
Make sure your address numbers are clearly visible from the street. If you have an emergency, emergency vehicles may not locate your home in a timely manner if the numbers don’t stand out.
Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. Burglars prefer the cover that night provides their criminal activities. Be sure all vulnerable exterior areas of your home are equipped with good lighting. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.
Anyone can easily get your date of birth from a Facebook and could have access into your driver’s licence.
Invest in a high quality paper shredder. A thief looking through your discarded papers can find a lot of information you do not want them to have. They may even learn your schedule, so they can burgle your home while you are away. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.
This helps the lights stay on and off when you’re away from your home.
If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. Wireless systems are of course convenient, but unfortunately you have to change numerous sets of batteries regularly. If you neglect to switch out the batteries regularly, your security system won’t function properly. Buying new batteries to replace the old ones can get expensive.
Replace your doors with some that are solid wood or metal versions. These types of doors are much more sturdy. A burglar is very unlikely to be able to kick in a hollow door. The cost of replacing your doors is very minimal if they were to break.
If you turn lights on and off around the same time, try using a timer. This makes it easy for you because you do not have to turn the switch. It also makes the lights go off and on even if you are not at home.
Being friendly will make them more likely to alert you great security.
Secure valuables that are truly irreplaceable. Some of these items can include legal documents, jewelry, passports, and priceless family photos. Floor safes are great for keeping these items inside the home. You can also rent out a safety deposit box.
Although locks that are sealed inside are fine, they are useless if they can’t be locked from the outside. A deadbolt meets this requirement and outside is one of your best choices.
A lot of people try avoiding the neighborhood gossip. Try to listen to them when you need to. If someone who looks suspicious is hanging around your home, this busybody might notice it first. When you’re on good terms with them, you are more likely to receive word of any unusual activity.
Having a dog with a scary bark is helpful. Burglars would not want risk being attacked or attacked.
The best locks to choose are deadbolts which have captive keylocks. Deadbolts have a thumb latch for an extra layer of protection. If you are home, have a key inside the lock so you can easily exit if a fire breaks out.
Don’t let your children leave toys in use. This will inform potential burglars that females live there. Homes with women are usually targeted more attractive targets because they probably have pricy jewelry inside.
Do not leave toys in your yard if the kids are in the house. This will clue the thief in that a woman lives in the house. You will then become a target, since women are likely to own valuable jewelry.
Video surveillance systems are a criminal’s worst nightmare. Burglars don’t wear masks that are seen in movies. Many home burglars will not wear anything to cover their faces at all since they have no intention of ever being seen.
Does your home have an alarm system? If so, it is important that potential burglars know you have one. Window stickers and signs in your yard can act as deterrents for would-be intruders. If the burglar doesn’t know you have an alarm, he or she may go in and grab some of your stuff and get away.
Search for a company that offers you more than just installing a home security system. Great home security companies are willing to come assess the house and make some recommendations that can keep your family much safer. These ideas may include installing additional locks, trimming back bushes or installing more secure windows. You want to make sure your company truly cares about your security, and will discuss those issues with you.
Change your garage opener code! This is because all of the units come standard with the same code. Criminals know this and will use an opener on every door on your street, looking for one that opens.
Home security is crucial and one thing that many people don’t know much about. This topic needs to be the number one priority for all who want to keep their family safe and protected. The above article should be an excellent starting point for establishing your knowledge on home security.
Be sure to install new locks when you move to a new house. Who knows who has a key? A new lock system means that only you and your loved ones have access. If your keys are ever lost or stolen, it is also a good idea to change all the locks.