Many homeowners are unsure of what is necessary in home security. It can be easy to over do it as well as not have enough security measures in place. Learning the middle ground will help you secure your homestead effectively. Use the tips below and create a home security plan that will work for you.
If you happen to lose your keys change your locks right away. There is no telling where your keys are and if someone has them, they may end up paying your house an uninvited visit. Changing your locks is a much better option and can assure that your house is safe from losing your keys.
“Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in” says maisons en bois EcoKit experts in home buildings. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.
Your garage needs to be secure. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. Using a C-clamp on the garage door will prevent it from opening by staying on the door’s track.
Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. 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. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
Never leave a spare key outside your home. Many crooks know of the locations where people leave keys. A great place to put your spare key is on your dog’s collar. There are not many people who will come up to your dog to investigate if it has a key on its collar.
Install outside lighting to deter intruders, especially if you live on a dark street or a rural area. To save electricity and enhance the surprise factor, install motion detecting light fixtures that only activate when there is activity. Mount these fixtures, using bright lights, at entrances and other potential points of unauthorized entry.
If you need to hide a spare key, do so in a safe manner. Putting it under your doormat, in a plant hanging by the door, in your garage hung on the wall or in the mailbox are all poor choices. Instead, bury it somewhere and mark it in a non-descript way.
If any spot around your home is dark, install a motion sensitive or infrared light detector there. This turns them on only when someone lurks there, allowing you to save money on electricity while thwarting anyone who might be casing out your home. No one will rob a home which is well lit!
Plant a sign that discourages people from soliciting near your house. This will prevent people from coming to your door that you do not know. If you have this sign posted and there is someone who wants to rob your house, they may feel uncomfortable coming up to your door as it will look suspicious.
If you are the only person in your home, take your keys to bed with you. The remote to your car has an “alarm” button. If something happens, and you are concerned that a burglar may be trying to get into your home, hit that button and activate the alarm. The noise should scare the intruder away.
You can increase your home security by updating your entry method. Key locks can only do so much for your doors. You can try a high tech addition in the form of a digital lock. Some digital locks use key cards, while other use fingerprints or even keypads. Any one of these options can be a viable security boost.
If the home security system you are looking to hire uses an outside monitoring company, make sure to research that company well. Monitoring is an important component to any home security system, and you want to make sure your monitoring is handled in a professional way. Make some phone calls, research the monitoring company on the Internet and check with companies like the Better Business Bureau.
Facebook is your enemy when it comes to being burgled. When you announce that you’re headed to Florida for two weeks, you’re letting the world know. This means that everyone understands that your home is standing empty. Share your photos once you get home instead of alerting the world to a vacant property.
The sliding doors made of glass that you see on many modern homes are actually a big security concern. They can be unlocked very easily if you shake and lift them. A piece of pipe or wood (e.g. a hefty broomstick) cut to the proper length and used to block the door channel can provide affordable security if you don’t have an alarm system. This can keep your door tightly closed and make it tougher to force wide open.
Burglars and intruders can use the landscape of your home to hide before breaking and entering. You can minimize their hiding space by trimming your bushes. The more open and visible spaces in your lawn, the less chance an intruder can get by undetected. This is especially important near windows.
Find out how many other customers your security system company has. While you do not want to hire the smallest company in the market, you also want to avoid hiring one that is so overwhelmed with customers that they cannot adequately monitor your home and service your ongoing security needs.
Avoid common spare key hiding spots. Never store a spare key on the door frame or under the mat, as these are the most common areas. Even fake rocks are now well-known. If you must hide a spare key, invite your friends over and have them try to guess its location. If they find it quickly, your hiding spot isn’t good enough.
Effectively securing your home will make a big difference in the way you feel when at home and when leaving it empty. You now have the information that you need to make it happen. The above tips are just a starting point for you, so take them and get to work on your home security plan today.
