If you own a home, then you know the importance of being safe. There aren’t many feelings worse than your house damaged or vandalized. Continue reading to learn more about making sure your home and family safe.
Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. This is because you really have no idea who has keys, and therefore access to your home. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. If you lose keys, make sure to do this, too.
Always change the locks changed when you buy a new home. You have no clue how many copies of the keys by the former owner. Do the same thing if you misplace a key.
Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. You should hide it in your dog’s collar.
Do you keep your dog outside when you are away from 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.
Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.
Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in one place at home. Keep your safe in a hard to find.
If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. Keeping your car out of sight is also a good way to prevent intruders from determining whether or not you are home.
This will give your home under all circumstances.
If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. Some maintain that rural dwellers have greater risk since their neighbors live farther away. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.
Turn the ringer off on your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.
Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Skylights are commonly used by thieves to enter a home. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.
Don’t let any person you don’t completely know into your house that you don’t know. Even if the person has a compelling story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home secure.
Don’t ever put your spare key under your doormat or in a planter. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.
See if your area police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. Call and see what programs they offer.
Lock up your house every time you leave. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.
Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, you need to check it annually. Get a security comapny tech to check it out.You may not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.
Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.
Don’t put extra key under doormats or in planters. These are the first places criminals will look when you misplace your key. Thieves are aware of all these hiding spots.
Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. This leads to danger. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.
Hide the wires of your home security system’s wiring.Intruders can get around security systems and into a system if they see the wires. This can make you much safer.
Motion sensitive lights are an inexpensive way to increase your home’s security. At night, not only will these lights be handy to light up areas around your home,they are also a cost-effective and efficient security addition. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.
Check references carefully before giving anyone access to your home. A background check may also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and blindly giving them access to your home can be a huge mistake.
Before you think about home security, consider personal security and safety. Generic systems aren’t for everyone. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Understand completely the risks and rewards in order to make an informed purchase decision.
Be certain to read all of the entire contract when you hire a security firm. There are sometimes fees if you break a contract or need additional equipment down the road. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so know about them up front.
Consider a wireless home security system. These systems are much more efficient and can save you time and hassle. The wireless systems are simpler to maintain and install and they don’t need power from the home to run.
Landscape around your home with safety in mind. If you have them visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. This should be planned in advance for your home additional safety.
Install a home surveillance system. Video cameras are a great deterrent. Visible cameras have a deterrent effect, and if they are disabled, hidden cameras can capture the events that unfold. A lot of surveillance systems are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.
Keep your outdoor areas illuminated well. Burglars prefer the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Install some outside lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. This can include garages, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.
If you buy a new, expensive electronic, such as a television or computer, do not leave the empty boxes on your curb. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. Break the boxes down, or take a scissors to them to help them fit in your trash can.
Thieves may look through garbage to obtain personal data that will help them enter the house. Rip your important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a shredder.
Don’t keep your car registration in the glove box of your car. These documents contain a lot of sensitive personal data, like your home address. Keep them on you or hide them somewhere else in your vehicle. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.
Don’t neglect your garage in order to ward off robbers. Don’t let your door hang open for lengthy periods of time when working there.
If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. Rocks that aren’t real are easy to notice. Another obvious location is underneath the doormat. This will be one of the first places that a burglar will look for your spare key. The best strategy is to have a neighbor or good friend hold a spare key in case you need it. If you cannot do that, try to be creative when it comes to hiding places.
You may have locks which require a code. You can even install these locks yourself or have them professionally installed.
It is always best to go with a solid heavy wooden door, or a metal door for extra security. These doors hold. If the burglar tries to kick their way in, they have a hard time doing so. It shouldn’t be too costly to replace your exterior doors, so go do it.
Think about getting a hard-wired security systems if you have concerns about long term maintenance issues. It can be expensive to replace batteries.
A sliding glass door can make your home less secure. They are easy to unlock, all they require is a bit of lifting and shaking. You have to secure them, so use a piece of pipe in the track. This can keep your door tightly closed and make it tougher to force wide open.
This will ensure that they turn on and off when you’re away from your home.
Having a big dog with a loud bark is beneficial. A threatening dog makes a powerful deterrent to any would-be intruder or burglar. A good big dog will protect your home and provide companionship for your family.
You want to invite people peeking in through your window. If the crooks can see what you own, they might think about paying you a visit. Make sure you’re discreet concerning your belongings so as to reduce the likelihood of being robbed at a target.
Look for a home security company that offers more than just a security system. A great company will visit you at home and give you recommendations that will keep you and your family safe. These ideas may include installing additional locks, trimming bushes or installing windows that are more secure. You need to ensure that the firm really takes its work seriously, and you will be able to see that through such a consultation.
Solid Wood
A window air conditioner needs to be secured with a bar or other device. An intruder could remove the unit and enter through the window. Remove your window air conditioners in the wintertime for better security.
Replace flimsy doors with solid wood or metal. Metal and solid wood doors hold tight and fast. A burglar would not be able to kick that door is going to be in for some pain. The cost of replacing your doors is very minimal if they were to break.
Make sure any valuables cannot be seen through a window. This includes items such as electronics, paintings, firearms, or anything else of high monetary value. People are less apt to break in to steal items they do not know are there.
Try not to have rooms visible to the outside world. If you’re able to see a computer or TV in a house, burglars will see them as well. Consider putting up drapes or blinds in order to prevent people outside your home from seeing your interior furnishings. If this is not a possibility, keep valuable things in other rooms.
Program your garage door code to something that you will remember, but that would be hard for someone to guess. The code you get is standard for all units and can open many garages. Sometimes thieves try going from home to home just looking for a garage that their opener will work on.
Your home’s security depends on your trash you throw away. If a would-be thief spies a big-screen plasma TV box on the curb, a burglar will take not of the boxes you’ve thrown away. Even a simple appliance can signal intruders that you’ve got money and that you’re a thief.
If your shed has a ladder inside, then make sure you lock the door. This can be easy access into your home for burglars. Keep anything that can be used to climb, such as building supplies and garbage cans, locked up.
As you can see, it is hard to protect your home. You need to have some knowledge about home security. Utilize these great ideas in order to maximize the security of your home. Every single one of the tips you just read will improve your chances of keeping your home safe.