It is a good idea to have a home security system, especially if you have a lot of valuables in your home. Therefore, you will need to bolster your security. To learn more about home security, read on.
Place the spare key that you make on your dog. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. Just hide a spare house key on the inside of your dog’s collar. Then when you need an extra key, you will be able to access this one.
When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.
When looking for a system to secure your home, do comparison shopping. Prices vary significantly, even for similar levels of protection. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.
If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. The doormat is too obvious of a place to hide it, as robbers will look there first. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.
Do not allow anyone you do not know into your home. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. Some criminals will come in, case your house and then come back when you are away.
In the summer, remove all the dead trees from your yard. They pose a fire risk. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.
Avoid coming across as overly shy. Talk to your neighbors. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.
Install lights that use a motion-sensor. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.
Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Be certain that skylights in your home can be locked securely.
If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.
Were you aware that your home’s wires are valuable? People don’t realize this until it is stolen. Copper, found in many wires, can be removed in little time, and is worth quite a bit of money. Therefore, ensure you hide your wires so that burglars cannot see them, or make the wires extremely hard for the burglars to get to.
Rotten Wood
Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door. Replace rotting wood with new wood to stay safe.
You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. Go through different websites and investigate testimonials about different companies and packages. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.
Don’t limit security to the inside of your home; the outside needs attention too. Shrubs, trees, fences, etc. should not obstruct the view of your doors and windows. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.
An important part of vetting any security company before you sign a contract with them is finding out how long they’ve been providing security services in your community. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. You may not feel as safe if you opt to go with a company that has not been in business for long or that does not have a stable history.
Taking steps to improve your home’s security is a much better plan than optimistically hoping it’ll never attract criminal attention. You don’t have to live your life in fear, but you should take some preventative measures. Keep these tips in mind if you want some good ways to improve the security of your home.
