Home owners have a responsibility to keep their houses as safe as possible. Alarm systems are not the only way to keep your home safe and secure. Continue reading for some expert tips on making your home a safer place.
Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.
Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Prices vary significantly, even for similar levels of protection. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.
Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.
Keep your car in your garage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Storing your car in the garage will also make it difficult for anyone casing your home to figure out when no one is going to be there.
Don’t be shy. Speak to your neighbors. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and do the same thing for them. Don’t disregard gossip either. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.
A wall is a great hiding place. If you own smaller things that need protection, think about keeping them hidden in the walls. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.
Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. They can get a ton of stuff quickly and be long gone before you return.
When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. Windows need to be monitored too. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.
Change the locks on any new place you move into. The previous owners or tenants might have made some copies of the key. It is possible to purchase and put in locks on your own so you can be assured you have the only keys.
Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. Don’t be afraid of conducting background checks to determine if they have a criminal history. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.
Always go over the small print on contracts offered by your home security company. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.
Ask a home security company to come to your house and design a security system that is perfect for your needs. All homeowners and homes differ. If you have found a company that could cater to your needs, then it is easy to get the security that will make you and your loved ones comfortable.
You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. Even though these security systems can guard you and your family, that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. You could, for instance, invest in an alarm system, some outside lights, adopt a dog or take some self-defense classes. Know the risks so that you can make a better decision.
If you will be away from your home, arrange to have whoever is collecting your mail to also pick up fliers placed inside your door. Burglars sometimes tack these up and watch to see whether or not they are removed. Fliers that are left behind signal to the burglar that there is no one at home.
You can proceed to protect your home now that you know what to do. Even though improving your home’s security is not always an easy task, the importance of your family’s safety makes it worth expending some extra effort. These tips can help.