You need to definitely be concerned about home security. You can never tell if and when a burglar will target your home. Read the tips in this article so you can get ideas on making your house safer.
When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.
Does your dog stay outside while you go out? This is a good spot for your spare key. Put the key on their collar. This works especially useful if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.
Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.
Don’t talk about an upcoming vacation anywhere on social media. It’s exciting going to new places and enjoying your time, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.
Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.
Don’t allow anyone you don’t know into your house. Even if their story is compelling, do not let them in. This is the first rule of keeping your home security equipment.
Never allow a stranger to enter your home. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.
They are a fire risk. Clear your yard so it looks good and is safe.
Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. Many programs include how to use some engraving tools to create code numbers for identifying valuables that are stolen, home inspection, and advice on protective measures. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.
Motion sensor lights are a great idea.These kinds of lights will pop right on if someone walks near your house. Just do not forget to replace the light bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.
Alter the combination of the locks in your home. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.
Some people feel that rural dwellers have greater risk since their neighbors live farther away. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.
Be on the lookout for rotten wood anywhere near your doors or windows. Rotten wood can be removed in order to get inside your home. Always replace rotting wood with fresh wood immediately to keep your house strong and secure.
Don’t forget skylights when securing your home. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Be sure that skylights for your home can be locked securely.
The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. You can then make three solid selections and make appointments with them.
When in the process of selecting an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. Burglars often enter through your windows as well. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all your windows and entry points. This will help to keep your family will be safe.
Make an appointment with a home security company to evaluate the security needs of your home specifically. Everyone has different needs, and your security system should be designed to protect your home and family. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.
Replace all the locks in a new house.Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you cannot be 100% sure of their character.
Light up your home’s exterior. Dark houses invite burglars who prefer to operate under cover of darkness. Add lights to any areas you believe are potential entry points for burglars. All doors, porches, garages and windows should be well lit.
If the home you are moving into is not brand new, make sure you get the locks changed. The person who used to live there may still have made some copies of the key. You can install your own locks yourself to make sure you’re the only one who has a key.
If the front door is open when you get home, resist the temptation to go in alone to find the reason. This can be dangerous since the intruder might still be on the property. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.
Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work on your home. A background check is also be a good idea. You never really know if you can trust a service person, and blindly giving them access to your home can be a huge mistake.
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. Crafty burglars will leave fliers on homes, and check to see if they’re being removed as a means for determining whether or not the home is vacant. If the flier is not taken down, the burglar assumes the homeowner is not in town.
Don’t leave the boxes for big-ticket purchases outside on your house. Burglars will see those boxes and recognize that there are new valubles in your home for them to get. Cut the boxes and wait until the writing when you put them outside.
Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. Personal information, such as a birthday can be acquired on the Internet. If you use this as your password, you may make it easy for a burglar to rob you. Use a password that you can remember but that no one else will be able to guess.
You can have locks without keys that need a code. You can even install them yourself or you can hire a home security firm.
Devote extra security to your irreplaceable possessions. Passports, financial records, jewelry, photos or legal documents should be locked away. Floor safes are excellent locations for keeping these particular items safe inside your home. If you can, a safety deposit box that is outside your home is even better.
Keep your curtains pulled tight when you aren’t at home. Intruders can see into your house if they are up. You should also have them closed while you are asleep.
If you have a living room window that faces the street, draw your curtains at night. You want to avoid having people peek through the window. If possible burglars see your valuables, they may see your home as the next target. Minimize your chances of burglary by minimizing what in your home is visible to the public.
Think about hard-wired security systems if you’re worried about long term maintenance issues. It can also be pretty expensive to replace a ton of batteries.
Your alarm will only work if the police are notified. The wiser investment is in centrally monitored security systems. These alarm services ensure that the police will be called whether anyone is home or not. Don’t count on neighbors to hear the alarm and call the police.
Rather than hoping nothing bad ever happens to your family or you, have a more realistic view of the world. Anything can happen unexpectedly, so you should try to be prepared. Keep in mind what you have learned from this article to make your home safe for your loved ones.
Always lock second story windows. These are easy to overlook because no one expects a criminal to make the effort to break in through an upstairs window. Oh, but they will. Never underestimate the ability of an intruder to get into your home if they are really determined.