Making sure your place is safe and secure is definitely the job of every homeowner. There are many inexpensive ways to secure your home from break-ins. Keep reading for some cost-effective methods for securing your home.
Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key. Make sure you verify all references. If they work for a firm, call the local Better Business Bureau to find out that firm’s reputation.
Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.
Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This is important if you have small kids.
Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.
Do not be shy. Be friendly with people that live in the neighborhood. Watch their homes for suspicious activity and get their word that they will do the same thing for you. Also consider listening in on some of the neighborhood gossip. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.
Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. You need to feel secure with the entire process.
Rural Areas
Those living in rural areas often don’t worry as much about intruders compared to city dwellers. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.
Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.
Always lock your home, even if you plan on coming back within a few minutes. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.
If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. That will make you safer.
If you’ve bought large or pricy items, avoid throwing out boxes until the day the trash is scheduled for pick-up. Empty boxes might draw the attention of robbers and let everyone know you own new and expensive goods.
Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.
There is a lot of value in copper wiring. Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. Hide your wiring for optimum security.
You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.
Security System
It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. You can make a huge difference in your home’s security by putting in cameras whether they’re concealed or out in the open. Visible cameras deter the majority of intruders, and if they try to disarm them, a camera that is hidden will keep capturing footage. Find a security system that gives you the option to view the video feed from your phone so you can check on your home at anytime.
If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. If the burglars see the empty boxes, then they will realize you have the items in your home. As a result, they’ll be more likely to break in so they can steal it. Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put it out.
With the above advice, you can better secure your home. Start with small changes. Soon, the home will feel safer every time of day. That will give you great peace of mind.