The Best Ways to Keep Your Home Secure

It's not something we like to think about, but fires, home invasions and thefts are all very real threats in our towns today. Home security is something that should be important to everyone - it doesn't matter if you live in an apartment, just purchased a townhouse or have lived in the same quiet neighborhood for the last 10 years.

Doesn't knowing that your house is protected give you peace of mind? Regardless of if you are out of town on vacation, at the office, or sitting in your basement enjoying a movie, you'll know your home is safe and protected.

But what if you have a great police department, highway patrol and fire department? You won't need a security system, right? Technically, you still do. There are a lot more homes in your city than there are police officers and who knows how many thieves there are floating around. It's absolutely crucial that you do everything you can to make your home a safe and secure place - without relying completely on other people.

Let's be honest, when you think of protecting your house, you think about purchasing one of those really expensive home security systems with all the bells and whistles - you know the ones I'm talking about, they send their people door to door selling and installing them all summer long. And, while those systems are a great options, there are other security measures you can take that won't break the bank. Depending on your home and neighborhood, you may decide you don't need a fancy system; but if you live in an area with a lot of crime, it may be worth it to pay the money to get a high-quality security system in your home.

If you aren't ready to take the plunge and get a home surveillance system, there are quite a few small and simple things you can do to make sure your home is as protected as it can be. Sometimes people worry about big home security systems and forget to think about the small things. Making sure these small things are done can add up quickly and help your home become a safer place.

Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they work. Dust and lint can build up on the sensors and cause them to perform poorly, so make sure they are clean and have fresh batteries. Also, if you can, try to install interconnected smoke alarms. These alarms are pretty amazing. If one alarm is triggered, all the alarms will go up - which will ensure you wake up in case of a fire in the basement or other end of the house. Choose roofing that is fire resistant. Don't leave notes on your front door for delivery or service people if you aren't home. That's a big tipoff to burglars that your home is empty (and open!). Don't use indoor extension cords outside. A freezer can hold food safely for 48 hours after the power goes out. Don't try to charge non-rechargeable batteries, the batteries can explode. Don't toss oily rags into the trash. These rags combust easily, even if they aren't exposed directly to a flame. Hang the rags outside to dry and then throw them away in a metal can with a lid. Use a locked mailbox at your home. Try not to send mail with your personal information in an unsecured out-box. If you are going to be away for an extended period of time, turn your phone ringer down to the lowest volume possible.

If you don't have the money to invest in a home security system right now, try starting small. By following these simple steps, you can ensure your house will be a safer place.

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Ways of Protecting Your Home From Noise

Do you live by a busy road or near a railway line? You might be wondering if there are things you can do to block out the noise. One way of doing this is to use earplugs but you might find they are not particularly comfortable or that they irritate your ears. There are, though, a number of things that can be done to limit the amount of external noise that comes into a room.

It is important to identify the noise first and, more importantly, where it is coming from, meaning you will be better placed to prevent it. In the case of road traffic, for example, it will be easily identifiable, but sometimes it isn't so simple. Some people believe they are hearing external noises when it is internal; that is to say problems in their ears such as tinnitus. Assuming this is not the case, below are some ways of protecting against noise coming into a home or room.

Double Glazing Windows

The majority of noise that comes into a home is through windows and doors rather than through walls which are thicker and more solid. In regard to windows, upgrading from single glazing to double glazing can make a big difference in the amount of noise coming through, as well as keeping warmth in.

Window Shutters

Window shutters can have much the same benefit as double glazing by providing an extra level of noise protection. Whether you have single or double glazing there is still a small amount of space between the frame and the opening of a window. Wooden window shutters are particularly effective at keeping this noise out, with solid shutters being preferable if the sole purpose of them is to keep the noise to a minimum. Wood is very effective in keeping out noise and investing in double glazing (if you don't have it already) as well as window shutters will significantly reduce noise.

Insulation

If noise is consistently a major problem then you may wish to go as far as to improve the insulation of your home or certain rooms. At the extreme end is professional sound proofing, which is fairly expensive. Other things that can be done include adding dry wall between the two boards that typically make up a wall in modern homes or to use foam-like insulation as you usually find in lofts.

Towel Under the Door

If noise through a door is the problem, for example in an apartment block, then simply placing a towel at the bottom of the door will deaden the noise coming through the gap at the bottom. This could prevent low level noise from coming through or simply quieten the noise you can here. This might be sufficient to make the difference between getting a good night's sleep and lying awake.

Carpet

For those living in flats where noise from the flat below is a problem, having carpet is much more effective at preventing you from hearing noise than wooden flooring is. Even using a mat can help a little, although that is unlikely to completely block noise out.

External noise is something that many find a problem. There are things you can do to prevent this being an issue though. If it is unrealistic for you to keep noise out you could use other sounds to prevent external noise from frustrating you. You can use a fan or music for this effect.

Andrew Marshall ©

Alarm Systems - The Different Types   Help Prevent a Home Burglary With These 10 Easy Steps   Boost Your Home Security - Guaranteed!   Staying Safe in Your Home   Learn the Benefits of Buying a Wireless Home Security Alarm Online   

Surviving a Home Invasion

No matter where you go, be it a large metropolitan area, mid-sized American city, or small rural town Americans have taken their personal security for granted. True, there was a day when we could leave our windows and doors unlocked without having to worry about a burglary. But those days are gone.

Waiting until something happens in your neighborhood before you take action to protect your home and family is not a wise decision. That "something" could find you as a victim.

Installing an Alarm System

Alarm systems represent one of the most practical ways you can protect yourself against burglary and vandalism. Basic systems monitor for forced entry into your home using sensors placed on your doors and your most vulnerable windows. When a basic system is connected to an alarm monitoring company anything triggering it will cause the alarm company to automatically dispatch emergency services unless you dictate otherwise.

More advanced systems can provide further security by way of additional options like:

• extra sensors on unprotected windows • motion detectors in strategic places • video surveillance cameras • sensors to detect smoke, water, and carbon monoxide

Adopting a Safety Mindset

As great as alarm systems are there's no way they can provide 100% protection. Being safe at home also requires the entire family to adopt a safety mindset that motivates them to use common sense approaches that fill in the gaps left by alarm systems. For example, one of the things burglars look for when targeting homes is a yard that is not well maintained. A yard that's in rough shape is an indication a homeowner may be careless in terms of locking doors and windows, protecting valuable assets, etc.

Part of the safety mindset is to keep the exterior of your home in good repair. It also means keeping clutter out of the yard and making sure toys and lawn tools are not left out. When homeowners stop and consider what type of image their homes are presenting to potential burglars it makes it easier to see whether or not they are likely victims.

Teaching Children to Be Safe

Lastly, parents need to teach children how to be safe at home. That includes teaching them how to use alarm systems, how to use the 911 phone system, and how to recognize potential problems before they occur. Parents should also make sure there are one or two families in the neighborhood where children can go if they are in trouble.

Don't wait until something happens in your neighborhood. Take the necessary steps right now to protect your family, yourself, and your property. Hopefully you'll never experience what it's like to be the victim of a crime. But at least be prepared should that day ever come.

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Secure Your Valuables - Hide Them in Plain Sight

While many burglaries are indeed random acts of crime taken by opportunistic thieves, there are many professional burglars that go to lengthy and meticulous lengths in order to choose the right victim and make out with as much loot as possible. These "professionals" typically have a list of things that they look for, and will spend extensive amounts of time casing a home before acting. During interviews with some of these long-time criminals, there are several things that stand out. The main theme with all of them is that most houses did not even need to be broken into.

After choosing a home to break into and spending some time learning the habits and schedules of its inhabitants, a professional burglar will then enter through an open window or unlocked door. This is not only easy for them, but also leaves behind the least trace that anyone was there. After entering the home, professionals say that they spend 10 minutes max in each home. During this time, they search for cash, handguns, jewelry, credit cards and any other items that are both valuable and small enough to grab.

Naturally, these career criminals have a pretty solid system for choosing and looting the homes that they burglarize. Aside from the obvious step of always locking all doors and windows, what else can you do to foil their plans? Over time, robbers develop habits that they follow fairly closely after entering a home. As a rule, homeowners tend to keep their valuables in very similar and predictable places. One of the best ways to avoid your valuables being picked up is to put them in places that are not so predictable. Believe it or not, one of the most secure places to hide something during a home invasion is in plain sight.

While most people choose "hidden" places, such as shoeboxes, pillows or underneath beds, these are the first places that a robber will visit to find your property. Hiding your items in plain sight doesn't necessarily mean leaving items out on a table. Although this can sometimes work, your best bet is to hide your items in something that is seemingly invaluable. One great invention for doing this is the diversion safe or hidden safe.

The diversion safe is an item that appears to be a regular household item. It could look like anything from a soda can, to a bleach bottle, to a flower pot or even a book. You can incorporate these into your everyday décor, keep them in your pantry or place them on your bookshelf. Because these safes are often difficult to open, and blend into the decorating scheme of your home, they are typically the last place that a burglar will look in the 5 to 10 minutes that they are in your home.

By employing basic home security and home surveillance principles such as always locking doors and windows, closing your garage door and employing diversion safes for cash, valuables and weapons, you can be more likely to not only deter thieves, but to divert them away from your actual valuables. When you do this, you can sustain smaller losses and less disruption in the event that your home is actually targeted.

Alarm Systems - The Different Types   Help Prevent a Home Burglary With These 10 Easy Steps   Boost Your Home Security - Guaranteed!   Staying Safe in Your Home   Learn the Benefits of Buying a Wireless Home Security Alarm Online   

Getting Your Yard Ready for an Aluminum Fence

If you've recently made the decision to install an aluminum fence on your property, then congratulations are in order! This is an excellent way to bring added security, value, and attractiveness to your home or other establishment. Before you place your fencing order, however, it's important to make sure that your yard is up to the task. There are a few things you need to know and make sure are in order before you get started on this process.

First and foremost, you need to be aware of what the zoning codes and other restrictions surrounding fencing are in your area. Keep in mind that the rules as they apply to your location could be quite different from the rules governing a fence placed just a few miles away! This is especially true if you live in a subdivision or other housing development where rules have been passed for the entire neighborhood. There could be restrictions on where your fence may be placed, how tall it can be, and more. It's best to be aware of these restrictions beforehand so that you can stick to them, rather than later, after you've wasted a lot of time, money, and effort!

Also, it might sound overly simplistic, but it's incredibly important to know exactly where your property ends and your neighbor's property begins. Many people think they know their property line, but end up encroaching on their neighbors' property accidentally. This can not only cause legal battles and the tearing down of your fence, but it may also breed some pretty bad blood between you and your neighbors. Since nobody wants that, make sure you get the details down for sure. This might mean checking your deed of sale or calling the city. Also, remember that it's always a good idea to build your fence a few feet inside of your property line, rather than right on the border. This makes everyone more comfortable, and can prevent trouble between you and your neighbors.

You'll also need to make another important call to the city before you get started on your vinyl fencing project. This is one you should make to find out where your utilities are located. Pipes and other important parts of your water and sewage systems are buried in the ground, and you don't want your fence hitting them and causing major problems and expenses. Therefore, it's important to know exactly where everything is located so that you can avoid erecting your fence in all the wrong places.

Finally, make sure to get your yard-especially the area where the fence is to be placed-nice and tidy. Remove any debris, like leaves, sticks, or fallen tree branches. Also give your grass a good mowing if you're putting up your fence during the summer months. This will make it easier to see what you're doing, to identify any potential problems with the placement of your fence, and to get the job done right all around!

Alarm Systems - The Different Types   Help Prevent a Home Burglary With These 10 Easy Steps   Boost Your Home Security - Guaranteed!   Staying Safe in Your Home   

Home Safety and Children

The story of a 14-year-old Phoenix boy who shot an intruder last month sent shivers up the spines of many a parent around the country. Just thinking of what could've happened to the teenager and the three siblings he was babysitting is the stuff of every parent's nightmares. Fortunately this quick thinking boy protected not only himself and his home, but also his three younger sisters.

The story should be cause for concern as well as motivation for parents to invest in home security. This was not a case of a crime-ridden neighborhood being victimized by burglars in the middle of night. It was a typical, middle-class area where teenagers are commonly left home alone while parents are at work. And this attempted burglary occurred at 4:30 in the afternoon to boot. Perhaps the only reason the boy was able to defend himself is the fact that one of the perpetrators rang the doorbell ahead a time to see if anyone was home.

Home Security as a Deterrent

There's no way to know for sure if a home security system would have deterred the two Phoenix burglars, but statistics say security systems are effective to that end in most cases. According to research burglars who see a home security placard on the front lawn, or stickers on the windows and doors, are more likely to move on to easier targets rather than risk getting caught. They know homes that are alarmed and monitored are much too risky when compared to those that aren't.

If this Phoenix home had been alarmed, and the alarm wasn't active when the break-in occurred, the boy could have hit an alarm panic button in addition to defending himself and his siblings with his parent's gun. And if he had not been armed, the panic button would have immediately put the alarm company dispatchers in contact with local police officials to get help there as quickly as possible.

Educating Children Is Crucial

With or without a home security system, it's crucial for parents to teach children how to be safe when home alone. That starts with helping them understand the need to keep doors and windows closed and locked at all times. Children should never open the door for anyone, including people they know, unless the visit has been prearranged. When they see adults outside the home they don't recognize they should be well versed in calling for help using the 911 system.

For added peace of mind parents can install security cameras as part of their home system. Security cameras can be monitored remotely using a laptop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. This lets parents keep tabs on what's going on inside the home even when they're not there.

We are eternally grateful that the children in the Phoenix incident were not harmed in any way. We hope the unfortunate events will be used as a motivation for parents to do everything they can to protect their own children from being victimized.

Alarm Systems - The Different Types   Help Prevent a Home Burglary With These 10 Easy Steps   Boost Your Home Security - Guaranteed!   Staying Safe in Your Home