Security isn't something to laugh at. It is something you need to consider at all times of the day. Whether you are home and sleeping or out at work, who is guarding your home? The simple tips listed below will give you some guidelines to follow to make your home secure.
You should only provide a house cleaner your key if you completely trust them. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they're trustworthy and reliable. One way to do this is to check their references. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.
Make sure that your home security system has a backup power source. Many burglars cut wires inside home security systems before entering a home. If you have a backup source, the alarm will continue to work as it should. It may be more expensive to install this type of system, but it will be worth it.
If your security system alarm goes off and scares the burglar away, you can be fined for a false alarm. If the police send someone to check your property in response to a security alert and no burglar is there, it is considered a false alarm. You can be fined and charged because your security system worked.
Keep your windows locked. It seems like an obvious step to take, however many people simply forget to check the locks on their windows. Thieves are always looking for the easiest way into a home, and doors and windows are among the first entrance points they check. This includes screened windows too, as screens can pop off quite easily.
Every bit of wiring for your alarm system needs to be well hidden or else it will be easy to cut. When installing a system yourself, this is important to keep in mind. Tuck it away within walls so that no one can get at it to shut the system down.
If you have to leave home for an extended period of time, do things to make the home look occupied. Put lights on timers so that they turn on in the evening and off at bedtime. Do the same with the television or radio to really make your home appear lived in.
Be careful who you give your keys to. Be especially careful with one-time contractors who work around your home. Make sure they are a reputable company. Some shadier contractors make duplicate keys to your home to break in easily later. Check with the business resources in your area to assure the contractor's reputation is clean.
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.
Do not keep your spare key in a place easy to find for intruders. Many people put the key in a mailbox, or under a plant. This is much too easy for a criminal to find. Think of an area a burglar would not look. One good way to hide a key is by burying it somewhere in your yard.
If you are going on vacation, don't cancel the delivery of your mail or your newspaper. When you do that, you never know who may stumble across the information that you are going to be away from home. Instead, ask a friend or a family member to help you out.
Never leave a note on your door for delivery or service people. A note on a door might as well be a neon sign for a potential intruder, alerting them to the fact that nobody is home. Try to arrange for a friend or neighbor to accept your delivery or let a service person onto the property if you cannot be home.
If you have pets then you might be leery about having a home security system installed, out of fear of the pets setting it off all the time. Discuss these concerns prior to purchasing a system, and a good company should be able to set your system to not be too sensitive.
After installing your security system, talk to your insurance company. Many insurance companies offer discounts to policy owners who choose to install a security system. This can save you a lot of money on your homeowners insurance, and it may help to offset the cost of the security system you have installed.
With all of this great advice at your fingertips, it shouldn't be hard for you to make your home the safest place it can be. Just take the time to use this information to ensure every nook and cranny is protected. Your family will be so proud of you once the job is done.
You should only provide a house cleaner your key if you completely trust them. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they're trustworthy and reliable. One way to do this is to check their references. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.
Make sure that your home security system has a backup power source. Many burglars cut wires inside home security systems before entering a home. If you have a backup source, the alarm will continue to work as it should. It may be more expensive to install this type of system, but it will be worth it.
If your security system alarm goes off and scares the burglar away, you can be fined for a false alarm. If the police send someone to check your property in response to a security alert and no burglar is there, it is considered a false alarm. You can be fined and charged because your security system worked.
Keep your windows locked. It seems like an obvious step to take, however many people simply forget to check the locks on their windows. Thieves are always looking for the easiest way into a home, and doors and windows are among the first entrance points they check. This includes screened windows too, as screens can pop off quite easily.
Every bit of wiring for your alarm system needs to be well hidden or else it will be easy to cut. When installing a system yourself, this is important to keep in mind. Tuck it away within walls so that no one can get at it to shut the system down.
If you have to leave home for an extended period of time, do things to make the home look occupied. Put lights on timers so that they turn on in the evening and off at bedtime. Do the same with the television or radio to really make your home appear lived in.
Be careful who you give your keys to. Be especially careful with one-time contractors who work around your home. Make sure they are a reputable company. Some shadier contractors make duplicate keys to your home to break in easily later. Check with the business resources in your area to assure the contractor's reputation is clean.
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.
Do not keep your spare key in a place easy to find for intruders. Many people put the key in a mailbox, or under a plant. This is much too easy for a criminal to find. Think of an area a burglar would not look. One good way to hide a key is by burying it somewhere in your yard.
If you are going on vacation, don't cancel the delivery of your mail or your newspaper. When you do that, you never know who may stumble across the information that you are going to be away from home. Instead, ask a friend or a family member to help you out.
Never leave a note on your door for delivery or service people. A note on a door might as well be a neon sign for a potential intruder, alerting them to the fact that nobody is home. Try to arrange for a friend or neighbor to accept your delivery or let a service person onto the property if you cannot be home.
If you have pets then you might be leery about having a home security system installed, out of fear of the pets setting it off all the time. Discuss these concerns prior to purchasing a system, and a good company should be able to set your system to not be too sensitive.
After installing your security system, talk to your insurance company. Many insurance companies offer discounts to policy owners who choose to install a security system. This can save you a lot of money on your homeowners insurance, and it may help to offset the cost of the security system you have installed.
With all of this great advice at your fingertips, it shouldn't be hard for you to make your home the safest place it can be. Just take the time to use this information to ensure every nook and cranny is protected. Your family will be so proud of you once the job is done.
Comments
Post a Comment