Do you know anything about home security? You should do more research on this topic if you want to find the ideal home security system. Keep reading, because it's a costly investment for the safety of you and your loved ones.
If you have a door in your garage that leads to the inside of your home, make sure that you keep your garage door down when no one is out there. Having an open door gives a burglar a place to enter, which means you and your family may be in danger.
You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. This is definitely the case if you're not quite sure about the actual installation people. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.
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.
Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.
If you are going on vacation, do not change your answering machine telling everyone that you are going to 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 call your cell phone when you are away.
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.
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.
Invest in solid wood or metal entry doors. Many inexpensive doors are hollow, making them easy to kick in or destroy by a determined intruder. A metal or solid wood door is more secure, especially if you take the extra step of installing it into a metal frame as well.
Many people have spare keys in case they get locked out, but they often leave them in places where intruders can easily find them. An optional place to hide a spare key is with your outdoor dog. Attaching the key to their collar will allow you to hide a spare and keep it safe, as the dog will scare off intruders.
Discuss various contracts offered by any home security provider you are exploring. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Long contracts may cost less each month, but it could leave you with a larger bill if you decide to end your service. Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom at a higher cost.
A time-tested way to know your home is safe when you're not there is to let your neighbors know you're going away. They can keep watch over your home to ensure nothing is going on which shouldn't be. They can also collect flyers, newspapers and mail for you, all of which can alert burglars that you're not home.
Don't post too much information on social media sites. If you are going away on vacation, for example, don't "check in" at a particular location or mention the fact that you are going to be gone for a week. Even if you think your information is set to private, you'd be surprised at how much information hackers can access, and you never want anyone to know you are going to be away for extended periods of time.
All doors leading into your home should be made from solid wood or metal. Doors such as these stand their ground. This makes it much more difficult for a burglar to kick in the door and break in. You should be able to replace each of the exterior doors in your home for a minimal amount, so do so as soon as possible.
If you buy a home which already has an alarm system in place, call the company to find out if there are any upgrades available. Sometimes new home owners can get great deals when they move in, giving them better hardware, a few free months of monitoring and more.
If you are a person who travels a lot, consider hiring a security company that offers live video feeds of your home that you can view remotely. Many offer this, and you can usually view the video from your phone or laptop. Seeing that your home is safe offers you an extra sense of security, and it gives you the ability to contact local officials if anything looks "off" at your home.
You must always keep second-floor windows locked. Burglars may not use the front entrance, so this is important for you to do. Oh, but they will. A burglar will attempt to get in any way they can.
If you are going on vacation, stop your mail and newspaper deliveries. Nothing alerts potential invaders to an easy target faster than a pile of newspapers or a overstuffed mailbox. If your area gets frequent snow, arrange for a friend or neighbor to keep your walkway cleared. You can return the favor when they go on vacation.
Now that you've reached the end of this article, you should feel confident that you can make your home a secure one. Never forget that you can always improve your security decision-making by learning more on the topic. Keep the guidelines in your mind when making these choices today.
Orignal From: Home Security: Everything You Need To Know About
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