Read this article to learn how to protect your home and family. Security measures can be expensive and time-consuming; it’s important to educate yourself before picking the ones that are right for you. Knowledge is what you need to make a sound decision.
Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times. This will give your home the appearance of someone being there. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.
Be wary of salespeople that come to your door. Make sure to ask for their credentials if they ask to come into your home. Ask them to slide their identification under your door. There are many professional burglars that will use this tactic to check out a home. If You’re feeling doubtful about them, Try checking with their office before allowing them in.
Consider hiding a spare key on your dog. If you have dogs who have free access to the outdoors, try taping a key securely to the inside of one of their collars. This will make your key accessible should you lock yourself out while keeping your home safe. If you have multiple dogs, choose the dog who is least friendly with strangers.
Do not use price as the main factor in choosing a company to provide security for your home. While it is always nice to find something that is not very expensive, this can have a lot of drawbacks. Cheaper security companies are notorious for providing less than attentive service, which means your home may be at risk.
If you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time, give people the illusion that someone is there. Leave a TV, radio, or light on, so burglars will skip over your home when they are on the hunt for a house to break into.
You should make sure that you have a good lock on any doors to the outside. Deadbolts can really provide that extra home security that you need. Deadbolts can not be jimmied open as easily as a standard knob lock. A door that is not secure is an open invitation for trouble.
Protect your valuables. Some common ways to do this are by storing them inside a safe-deposit box or storing them in a heavy home safe that’s nearly impossible to move. Make sure the safe is fireproof. You can use a chiseled-out space at the very top of your door for smaller valuables. You can even create a hiding place in an acoustical ceiling by removing a tile and restoring it with something like magnetic fasteners. Make sure to avoid leaving fingerprints with this method.
Make sure you always do your research before hiring a company to install your home security system. Find company reviews on the Internet and make sure they are in good standing with the Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau. You are hiring this company to furnish your home with a security system, and you want to make sure that you can trust the company you’re dealing with.
Broken windows can cause the cold to get into your house. Worse, it is an open invitation for a burglar to enter your home. So, if one of your windows is broken, be sure to have it fixed right away. The same applies to broken front doors, back doors, and garage doors.
Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.
If you are moving into your new home, ensure all the old locks are replaced. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Keep in mind that other families might have lived with them, too.
If your home security system goes off a lot because it is faulty, or you accidentally set it off yourself, fix the problem immediately. A home security system is one of the best ways to prevent break-ins, but your neighbors will ignore it if they hear it set off a lot.
If you see anyone in your neighborhood you don’t know who seems to continually pop up, including a questionable car, ask your neighbors if they know them. If not, a call to the police will only protect your home, even if it is at the expense of someone who happens to be loitering in a peaceful manner.
As silly as it may seem, stop having newspapers delivered if you are going on vacation. Intruders will see all of the papers piling up and will realize that no one is home, making it more likely for them to break in. Call the delivery company and tell them when you will come back and when you want them to start delivering again.
The simplest way to keep your home secure is to lock the doors and windows. This may seem like common sense, but many people leave their doors and windows unlocked. Sometimes a crook will steal because an opportunity presents itself, and if the door is unlocked, they have full access to your home and valuables.
Some home security system companies require their customers to sign long-term contracts. Depending on which company you purchase your system from, the terms of the contract may be negotiable. Do not avoid getting a home security system if you feel you need one just because you do not want to sign a contract.
If you do not have any technical know-how, you should never attempt to install your home alarm system yourself. While it may look fairly easy, there may be things you don’t quite understand. This means the system will not be installed properly, which means your house will be at risk.
If you have learned something from this article, you are prepared to proceed. It is essential to understand the importance of the situation since it concerns keeping your family and home safe. Use what you have learned to help make this a daily reality.