Keeping your home secure is a lot like maintaining a healthy lifestyle: If you prioritize it and develop good daily habits, then your chances of staying safe and healthy are vastly improved.
While there's no ironclad security strategy that's absolutely fail-proof -- especially when you factor in the element of human error -- the following security tips will help make your home a safer and more secure place for you and your family.
We all want our homes to be secure, but do we really take the steps that are necessary to make security a priority in our homes? Between home security and neighborhood security, you’ll want to do whatever you can to keep both your home and your neighborhood safe. Below, you’ll find some tips to help you select and maintain a safe home an neighborhood. From the moment you move into a new home, you should have your eyes peeled for ways to make your home and neighborhood a safer place to live. Some often overlooked parts of home security are:
If you do research before you even buy a home, you can avoid living in an area where you will regret moving to. There are plenty of online resources to help you see where crime is prevalent as opposed to where safer neighborhoods are. Doing this research can be extremely valuable to your home search. Some search engines even provide a certain amount of data that’s available by street as to when and where incidents have happened. Although you may not want to get that detailed, you can use the data you find to help you in your home search. A neighborhood with a large number of incidents may not be where you want to start your home search.
Once you close on a home, one of the first things that you should do is asses the security inside the home. This means changing the locks, checking the windows, looking for entrances such as a basement door, and more. Check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well. This can really help to ensure that your new space is safe in a few simple steps. To get more heavily into security, install a security system. You can get a system that’s professionally monitored or a simple home alarm to ward off thieves.
If you take the time to get to know your neighbors, your neighborhood is more likely to be secure. If you are acquainted with the people next door, they’re apt to keep an eye out on your property and vice versa. You may even want to get involved or begin a neighborhood watch program to help keep the neighborhood safe.
The key to home and neighborhood security is vigilance. The more observant you are, the better chances you have of preventing crime from striking your area.
There are certain home disasters most of us would prefer not to think about. A house fire, a flood, or even a break-in are all some of a homeowner's worst fears. But being prepared for the worst is always the best choice in the long run.
One of the most important things people lose in home disasters are their vital documents. If your documents are lost in a fire it will take a lot of time and money to replace them all.
There are two main ways to insure the security of your documents: physically and electronically. However, neither method is 100% secured. Just as some safes can be broken, so can some electronic storage systems. In this article, we'll cover the documents you should secure and the latest and best ways to secure them.
Once you've lived in your home for a while it's easy to become relaxed on security. Maybe it's because you live in a safe neighborhood, or maybe you just have a habit of not locking doors. Regardless of the reason, practicing good security can pay off in a huge way protecting yourself, your family, and your belongings from harm.
In this article, we're going to cover some home security basics that you might be forgetting and help you build a habit of taking care of them. Read on to learn some tips for security at home.
The Security of the home is a point of paramount significance to all homeowners. Burglary is one of the most common crimes committed in the United States. It is estimated that every 15 seconds, someone falls victim to this felony. Knowing that a criminal has violated their personal living space, homeowners can become fearful and feel insecure in their own homes. Worrying about whether or not your home is safe can affect the whole family's feeling of security. Together, the family can make some simple changes that may help deter a felon from entering their home.
Helpful hints to secure your home against burglary:
Do not leave valuables lying around in plain sight, inside or outside of the house. This could be an open invitation to thieves. Personal belongings that would be tempting to a burglar should be kept out of sight in a secure location. There is a wide variety of home safes available today that provide secure storage. It is also important to protect your belongings outside of the home. Leaving expensive items such as toys, bicycles, or tools unattended in an easily accessible area of your yard is an unsafe practice. The criminal mind is always looking for a quick pick !
Be aware of how much personal information your trash can provide. After purchasing a new appliance or electronic device, avoid placing the box in its entirety out with your trash. Cut it up, place it in a large trash bag, or bring it to a recycling center. To a criminal this is great advertisement that there is an brand new plasma TV in your house!
Burglars tend to come around when no one is home. If they get the impression someone is home, it discourages them from entering. Therefore, when leaving the home, it is best to create an illusion that someone is still there. Leave on some music, a lamp by your favorite chair and maybe your coffee cup on the table. When you need to be away from your home for an extended period, the use of timers on the inside and outside lights will improve the authenticity that someone is actually home. The minimal amount of electricity that you will be burning to implement these safety measures will be well worth it if you can deter a break in.
Securing all possible entry points of your home is also key. Older sliding doors and windows may need to be secured with an extra measure of protection as some can be easily popped off. Bulkheads and basement doors need to be locked and secured to avoid easy access. Window air conditioning units can be easily removed allowing quick access if not installed securely. An unlocked door on an attached garage can be open invitation to a criminal. Keeping your doors locked may not deter all break ins, but it is a simple step to take in making your home more secure.
Although it may seem like a good idea to leave a spare key under the doormat, this type of behavior should be avoided. Most burglars are aware of the common hiding places and will quickly locate your "hidden" key. A safer option is to give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or friend. You can keep a spare key hidden in your vehicle or secured with a combination lock somewhere outside of the home. Remember, never place any information that identifies your house on the key just in case it ever ends up in the wrong hands.
There are many things a homeowner can do to keep their home safe. Fortunately there is also a wide variety of home security systems available for individuals that desire a higher level of security. Taking the preventative measures that you can and seeking the guidance of a security system professional is the best way to confirm your home secure.