Having a home that is safe from intruders is something upon which you cannot put a price. Understanding the ins and outs of home security requires some real study and investigation. Fortunately, the article that follows below is full of valuable tips that can aid in your quest to achieve a fully secured home.
When you move into a new home, change all the locks; even though the previous homeowner may have given you keys to the house, there might be a key out there that someone has. To be sure you are as safe as possible, get all new locks for your new house.
There are cheaper alternatives to installing a home security system that deters criminals from breaking into your home. Simply putting up a fence or a “large dog” sign can help immensely. Criminals want to make the process as simple as possible for themselves, so dealing with a large dog would deter them.
Do not open your door to strangers. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.
Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.
Those that live in rural areas are not as concerned about having their home invaded as those who are located in the city. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Still, there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.
If your front door does not have a peephole, it is wise to have one installed. Peepholes allow you to see who’s at your front door before you open it. Some homeowners choose to have two peepholes installed to allow for the difference in the height of those that live in the home.
Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. If you’ve got street-facing windows, be sure and keep them covered.
If your front door does not have a peephole already, install one immediately. A small peephole can let you see who is at your doorstop without giving them a view of the inside of your home. If your intruder uses the front door to get into your house, a peephole can give you a head start on calling the cops.
Fingertip locks are a common, effective way to protect intruders from entering your home. With these locks, the only way someone can get through your front door is by you programming their fingerprints into the system. If someone not in the system attempts to use their fingerprint to get in, you will be alerted.
If you live in a building that has a secured door, do not allow anyone into the building that you don’t know. Many people will hang around and pretend to be a resident or someone else that should be there, so be very careful. If you do not recognize the person, let them know that you cannot let them in.
Put down a fence in your yard to secure the area that is yours and prevent burglars from coming in. Make sure that this fence is high enough so that it is very difficult for any robbers to get over it. This will add a strong layer of protection around the perimeter of your house.
If anyone knocks on your door and asks to use your phone, tell them you can make the call for them. In this day and age of cell phones and pay phones, there is little reason for anyone to appear on your doorstep asking for help. Take it as a red flag.
Keep your most valuable possessions, such as your jewelry and large amounts of cash, inside of a safety deposit box. The bedroom is the most common place to keep one of these boxes. Having a safety deposit box is wise because if a thief were to get into your home, at least they cannot get to these items.
If you live in a snowy area, remember that a lack of footprints in your yard can signal to a burglar that you are out of town. If you are planning to be away, then ask one of your neighbors to walk around your yard for you so that no one will be the wiser.
If you are going on a vacation, ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and check your home for flyers. Thieves will drop off flyers to see if homeowners are away. If the flier is not taken down, the burglar assumes the homeowner is not in town.
A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders. There is no need for a guard dog. Any size dog will drive criminals away, as the barking will be too much noise for them to be stealthy.
Keeping your home secure can be as simple as keeping your mouth shut. If you are planning on going on vacation, do not discuss it at the local beauty parlor. The person who is working there can figure out where you live and let their accomplice know that you are going to be on vacation and ready to be robbed.
Making certain that your residence is safe and protected at all times is something you truly ought to do. But, you may be wondering what steps are required in order to accomplish that goal. Hopefully, the information found above has given you the insights you have needed all along.