Maintaining the security and integrity of your home is surely something you take very seriously as a homeowner and something that you refuse to let fall through the cracks. There are a lot of options to choose from when developing a home security system. The piece below is sure to offer the direction you need.
When you buy a new house, change the locks. You simply do not know how many keys to the old locks are floating around. Have a locksmith install a brand new lock. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.
Home security systems are able to do more than just sounding the alarm whenever you have an intruder. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.
Valuable Items
Get a safe to protect your valuable items. This will keep your stash of diamonds, gold and other valuable items out of view and inaccessible to burglars. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.
It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection. Look at a number of different companies and get at least three quotes before selecting what you feel is the ideal plan for your home.
Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.
Use your garage for your car and not for storage. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.
Put motion-sensor lights into your home. The lights will be triggered when someone gets too close to the house. They will notify you of any movement and can deter any possible burglars since they like remaining inconspicuous. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs when they burn out.
Don’t put your spare key in an obvious place near your front door. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves know about all these hiding spots. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.
Change the locks on any new place you move into. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.
Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. There are early termination fees, and there may be fees for extra equipment procured in the future. You should avoid such expenses if you can, so make yourself aware.
Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Burglars prefer the cover that night provides their criminal activities. Be sure all vulnerable exterior areas of your home are equipped with good lighting. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.
Shred any documents and junk mail that contains identifying information. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. Rip paper into tiny pieces if you can’t afford to purchase a paper shredder.
If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. These boxes are a signal to burglars that you have something worth stealing. Cut the boxes up when they are empty.
A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders. A dog with a vicious attitude and large size isn’t necessary. Little dogs can also make big noise, which is the main thing that burglars care about.
You must make it a priority to keep your home safe for your well being and peace of mind. There is no doubt about it. Sometimes it’s hard to know what steps must be taken. Fortunately, these tips have shed some light on the matter.
