All homeowners need to be aware of safety and security. It takes a lot of time and research if you look at the different sources of information. The following tips will help you figure out what you need to be doing so that you and your family are safe.
After you buy your new house, get new locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.
Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Do a background check on them. If they work for a firm, call the local Better Business Bureau to find out that firm’s reputation.
Buy fire-resistant building materials. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. Preventing a fire is important since it can cause a lot of damage.
Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. A loud ring that goes unanswered can alert people to the fact that you aren’t home. This makes you more likely to be the victim of a burglary.
Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. You should make sure you only open the door to your home for people that you know and are expecting.
End your shyness. Speak with your neighbors. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. Listen to gossip also. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.
Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. These lights will make you aware of, and can also scare off, potential burglars. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.
Go with your gut when choosing a home security company to install a system. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. If you don’t feel comfortable, go with someone else. You want your new system to protect you, not be the way the thief gets into your home.
Use your wall spaces to hide your valuables. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?
When in the process of selecting an alarm system, you should select a system that protects more than simply the doors of your home. It should protect the windows too. Get an alarm that will trigger if either the doors or windows are opened. This can keep your family much safer.
If you purchase big-ticket items, don’t throw their boxes in the trash before trash day. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.
Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history. You never really know if you can trust a service person, and giving access to the wrong one can prove disastrous.
You can find an excellent home security company with a simple Internet search. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. Then, you can set appointments to make price and service comparisons before you choose.
Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.
Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Thieves will drop off flyers to see if home owners are away. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.
Homeowners need to learn everything that they can when it comes to security. Sadly, many give up when they see the mountain of information available. When you do come across security info you find helpful, (hopefully, including the article you’ve just read) it’s a good idea to hang onto it for future reference.
