Arming yourself with home security knowledge is something everyone should do. How can you figure out what you need to learn? The article below is intended to help distill the most important concepts and assist you in developing a home security strategy that really works.
Your dog could carry a spare key for you. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!
There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. The majority of systems are able to be set to put out an alert when any individual enters the home. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.
Purchase ceiling, flooring and roofing that is fire resistant. This ensures your home won’t be a tinderbox. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.
Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. It does not take long for thieves to steal your expensive stuff.
You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. You want a security system that monitors all your windows and doors. With this method, your family will be safer.
Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. Doing so is like giving a burglar an invitation to target your home; he or she will know there is something good inside.
The wiring outside of your home can be valuable. Lots of people don’t know this until their wires are stolen. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. Hide your wiring for optimum security.
If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. Previous tenants may have given the keys back to the landlord, but it is always possible to make copies of keys. You can purchase and install locks yourself to make sure only you have the key.
Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Thieves may say they are from a certain company to get into your home. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. Be careful to avoid this sort of danger.
Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. It is not a good idea to give anyone a key to your home, even contractors or repairmen.
Motion Detectors
A great way to achieve extra security is to install exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors. 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. If positioned correctly on the exterior of your home, the motion detectors make it virtually impossible for an intruder to sneak onto your property.
Be certain to read the entire contract when you hire a home security firm. There may be hidden costs to doing business with them, including early termination fees and surprising equipment costs. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.
Keep safety at the forefront when landscaping your property. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.
If you don’t have a paper shredder, you might want to buy one. You would be surprised at how often thieves look through trash to find personal information to find out when you will be away from home so they can break in. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.
Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Burglars sometimes place fliers as a means to see if anyone is home to remove them. If the flier is not taken down, the burglar assumes the homeowner is not in town.
Home security is an important consideration for all homeowners. However, it isn’t always easy to sort the good information from the bad. Keep these tips handy, so you can refer back to them as you proceed to make your home more secure.