Understanding the home security options on the market will help you make better decisions for your own situation. This is not a decision to take lightly. Rather, be deliberate about deciding what your family needs in terms of home security.
Protect your spare key by using your dog. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.
A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. The majority of systems will give an audible alert when someone enters the house. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.
If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.
Fire Resistant
Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.
Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. Some folks will enter to scout for security systems, and upon seeing you lack one, will resolve to return at a later time.
In summer, take care to trim back branches and plants near the house. They pose a fire risk. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.
Spare Keys
Don’t put your spare keys under floor mats or plants. While you may need to prepare if you have a spare key, it is wise to choose ways that do not increase the risk of a criminal gaining entrance to your home. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Rather, keep your spare keys with a neighbor you trust.
Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. Regardless of how you feel about the sellers, you never know someone’s true intentions. Bear in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous owner.
Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.
Motion Detectors
If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. If strategically placed, motion detectors ensure that it’s difficult for intruders to break into your home sight unseen.
When about to sign a contract with any home security firm, read all the small print. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.
It’s smart to use the Internet when you are looking for a good security company for your home. Check out different websites, and read through package details and customer testimonials. From there, you can make appointments with your top three selections to compare final package pricing and specific details about plans and monitoring.
As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.
Ideally, you’ve got a few new ideas to consider about making your home safer after reading this article. There is no need to venture into home security matters blindly. It is essential that you put the safety of your family in the highest priority. Remember these tips as you proceed with your plans.