myHomeAdvise.com

Home security

Today, there is a large, very important need for home security. There seems to be no limit to what the ‘bad guy' can accomplish. They can come in when you are right there sleeping. They can monitor your home in ways in which you will simply never be able to tell. And, they can provide you with a terrifying approach to life each and every day after they have attacked you. By using effective home security, you can really cut down on the times and the abilities of these things happening to you.

Home security is quite versatile. There is something out there for everyone on any budget. In fact, simply putting a home security tag in your window from a company can be a deterrent for robberies itself. Nonetheless, there are many things to consider. First, consider probably the best option and that is monitoring systems that work to monitor the home when you are not there. Should something trigger it, it will react and someone can see just what is happening or can send someone down to look at it.

Other options in home security including home alarms that when triggered can call police or emergency services. You can also use a variety of locks that cannot be broken into as well. There are so many ways in which you can effectively protect your home that there is no reason not to.

When it comes to protecting your family and your home, nothing should stand in your way. You need to safeguard all aspects of that home so that you can sleep easy every night knowing that someone or something is out there looking out for you. And, when you are away from your home, you need to know that it and all of your possessions are safe as well. Home security can do these things for you.

Should you consider a home security system?

Maybe there's been a string of robberies in your area. Maybe you've recently come into the possession of a few priceless valuables. Or maybe you just decided that a double lock on your door wasn't secure enough. You need a little more than that. Whatever your motivation, you're ready to install a security system. Security systems—there are so many of them. What is a person hungry for a secure home to do?

Contact the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) or your state burglar and fire alarm association and request a list of companies in your area which are a member. Call several of these companies, and confirm that their employees are trained and certified by the NBFAA. Do the companies have appropriate licensing?

Do they screen their prospective employees before hiring? After you've narrowed it to a few companies, request the name of the person who will call on you, and make sure he arrives when all members of your household are there. When he gets there, ask for company I.D. Ask for an inspection, recommendation, and a quote—all in writing. Compare different price quotes and packages.

A security system's price depends on how sophisticated it is. One of the good ones is the full-perimeter system, which has a series of sensors that detect when a door or window is opened, broken, or messed with. When a detector is tripped, an alarm sounds, and if the security system is comes with off-site monitoring, it will also notify local police. A number of other security systems protect you if someone makes it through your perimeter system and enters your home.

There are motion detectors, which sense significant movements within a certain range with infrared beams (these should be placed in central hallway, such as the main hallway or stairway), and floor sensors which, by the weight of her footsteps, can detect an intruder. Window or door screen wires activate if the screen is removed or cut away from the frame. Panic buttons can be placed within reach and can be activated if you suspect your home is being broken into—panic buttons also come as necklaces. Neat, eh?

But your security system is only as good as the monitoring service. Basically all companies monitor 24 hours a day, but there are other factors you should consider.

Security systems are monitored via the phone line, but that could be disabled by the intruder, and even by bad weather, so it's a good idea to find a monitoring company that offers cellular or radio back-up should the traditional phone system go down. Find a company that offers annual maintenance, and also make sure your company signals your system to test it around once a day, and that the company responds when the system fails to.

But there are steps for your safety which you can take that go beyond your security system, and even without purchasing one. If you don't want a security system, pretend you do. Get stickers that claim you are protected by such-and-such security and place them on your doors and windows. Acquire a Beware of Dog sign, whether you have a dog or not. Install dead bolt locks, and replace old doors with doors made of metal or hard wood.

Don't surround your house and windows with trees and bushes. Make sure any sliding glass doors you possess have proper locks and can't be lifted out of their frames from outside. Get rid of the chain on your door and replace it with a peephole. And, finally, know your area!

The best indication of how far you should go in regards to installing a security system is whether you are in a low or high crime area, whether your home is more accessible to burglary (for example, lower level apartments are more likely to be hit than those on higher floors), and so on. Know your situation, know your options, and protect yourself, your family, and your possessions

By Fashun Smith & Matthew Noel