Safety Concerns? Look Here At These Home Security Tips
Understanding the home security systems on the market will help you make better decisions for your situation. This is not a decision you should take lightly. You need to pay close attention to the security and safety needs of your family.
If you’ve recently bought a home, make sure you change the locks and alarm passcodes. Many people take these items as is and don’t give them another thought, but consider that just about anyone could have a copy of the key or the passcode. That can include neighbors who you don’t know. Be safe and change out both when you buy.
Home security systems offer other triggering features besides having an alarm sound. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.
Make sure your attached garage is secure. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.
Keep your external home wiring undercover. You don’t want your wiring to be obvious to the wrong types of people. It also invites the risk of a criminal cutting your phones and electricity. It also is often something thieves seek out! Copper (often in wires) can be sold for a decent price.
For alarms to protect your home, they need to be obvious. While alarms can calm your mind and make sure help is on the way after a breach, they can also be used to prevent one. Criminals should know that you have alarms ahead of time. It would be best if you prominently displayed the notice that has your alarm company’s name on it outside of your house. When these signs are hidden, possible thieves don’t see your home as any less of a target than other homes in your area.
It can be especially helpful if you are an older adult who remains living in your home to have a home security system installed. This will not only alert the authorities to any fires and intruders, but it gives you a direct link to help if needed, allowing you to keep your independence.
Pretend you are a burglar and go to your house. Can you find ways to get in without breaking a window or kicking down a door? How strong are your doors? What if the burglar did kick in a window? How can you, as a thief, be thwarted from even trying to rob your home?
If you are going on vacation, do not change your answering machine telling everyone that you will be away. Burglars will call this number and see that it is open season on your house. Keep your regular message and advise friends and family members to contact your cell phone when you are away.
Ensure your home security company offers a guarantee on their products and services, preferably for at least a year. You want to make sure you are satisfied with the service they offer, and you also want to make sure you will not be charged extra if the equipment they install is faulty.
Install metal security bars on all sliding doors and windows. Sliding doors and windows are vulnerable to being forced open by a determined intruder. A simple metal bar, set into the track, adds considerable security for a small price. Ensure that the bar is long enough that the door or window cannot be opened far enough to fit through.
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 bushes outside your home, keep them trimmed. While the bushes may look attractive, they can provide easy cover for someone that wants to enter your home without permission. The best way to prevent this is by having open space around your house, especially near your windows.
If you want to keep your home safe when you are out and about, don’t leave Spot outback. A dog in the house provides a foolproof security system as he will bark at anyone trying to get inside while you’re out. Have your dog attend obedience classes to ensure he does the best job.
Your dog is likely to be your best friend, but he can also protect your home. When you are out, he will stand guard, barking at and even attacking anyone who attempts to enter when they shouldn’t. Train him to understand that when you let people inside, that is okay.
A great way to find any weaknesses in your home security is to try to burglarize yourself. See how easy it is for you as a novice to get inside your home. This will help you see any gaps in your security system and make improvements to secure the weak spots.
Check your local hardware or home improvement store to see if they sell alarm monitoring company signs. Quite often, you can find one that you put in your yard. Even if you don’t have a home alarm system, just a sign saying you do deters would-be burglars from targeting your property.
When you don’t want to spend a lot on maintenance, go for a hard-wired system. Wireless systems are convenient, but the batteries required can be cumbersome. If the batteries are not changed, the system might not work at all. Buying new batteries to replace the old ones can get expensive.
You should know more about home security after reading this article. It’s not necessary to dive into the world of home security without knowledge. Knowing that your family is safe is key. Use these tips as you proceed.