Don’t know much about home security? Are you unsure of where to begin? If so, knowledge is power. Continue reading to discover what is available to you.
Always make your house appear to be occupied. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. This gives off the appearance that someone is home. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.
Spare Key
Use your dog as the protector of your spare key. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.
Never open the door for a stranger. Criminals can be endlessly inventive when it comes to generating a convincing story to force their way into your home. No matter how sympathetic the story, remember that it could all be a put-on. Be sure that everyone in your home knows not to open the door to strangers and unexpected visitors.
Hide your valuables in the walls. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. You could use a phone jack, electrical outlet or a switch plate. You can also install a fake one.
Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.
If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.
Just moved in? Time for new locks! Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. Keep in mind that other families might have lived with them, too.
Rotted Wood
Rotted wood in your door framing should be replaced. Home invaders interested are able to pry off any rotted wood to get inside. Replace wood that is starting to rot with fresh new wood to keep your home as safe as possible.
Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Teach everyone in your home to use the flashlights so all family members can see and help each other.
When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. You’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.
The Internet is great for searching for home security companies, so use it to your advantage. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. After reading about these services, you can narrow down the results and use appointments for price comparisons.
Before signing up for home security, find out how long they’ve been in business. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable. 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.
Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Frost your windows with film bought at a hardware store. Also, avoid leaving the door open for prolonged periods of time.
You don’t need to rely on keys to prevent entry to certain areas of your home. Some locks will allow you to punch in a code to gain access to the room. You can install them yourself, or you can have a home security service install them.
Spring Latch Locks
Try to stay away from spring latch locks. Spring latch locks are the easiest locks to gain entry with, as they can be opened with a simple credit card. The lock can be triggered to open by simply wedging the card in the lock. A deadbolt should be added for security purposes if you have locks that are spring latch.
Don’t hide your key somewhere obvious. It’s easy to see fake rocks. Under your doormat is also a common place burglars will look. It is probably best to find someone you trust to hold a key for you. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.
Are you now more knowledgeable on how to protect your home? You should apply the tips you just read to improve your current home security system or invest in a new one. You will not be sorry that you finally began tackling this vital task.
