If you are a homeowner, you should know the importance of being safe. Few feelings are worse than seeing your house damaged or, worse, destroyed. Your home holds your memories, your sense of security and represents a major monetary investment. This article will show you how to protect it.
Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.
When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.
If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. There are some who believe country folk are more at risk because neighbors are not nearby. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.
Hide any valuables in wall spaces. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. Your home should have a few pre-cut areas that can be used. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?
Always lock your house, even if you are only going to be away for a few minutes. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.
When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Windows are a way for thieves to enter your home as well. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. This is great for keeping the family secure.
Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and this could be a very bad mistake.
Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.
Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.
Garage Door
Could burglars see inside your garage? Make sure that they can’t! If your garage door has windows, make sure they have a frosted coating. This is easy to find at any major hardware store, and installation is a breeze. It’s also a good idea to avoid leaving your garage door open for any longer than absolutely necessary, even if you’re at home.
If there are parts of your home you want no one else to enter, there is no need to lock doors or have a set of keys on you at all times. Get key-less locks that need a code. These can be installed either by you, or a home security company.
Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. These type of lock is the easiest lock to pick, it could even be opened by a credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. Put in a deadbolt for more security if your doors already contain spring latch locks.
Make sure that your valuables are kept in a secure location. Some examples include legal documents, expensive jewelry, financial records, passports and family pictures. One option is a floor safe inside your home. Or, a better idea, is to place them in a deposit box outside of your home.
There are many simple ways to safeguard your home effectively. Take the time to learn as much as you can about home security. Give your home a security increase by using these ideas. Never put these tips to the side but instead use them to make sure that your home is protected and safe.