Home Security Dos And Don'ts

Home Security Dos And Don'ts

Your home is an important financial asset. But more than that, it's the center of your family's life. It's a place where you find shelter and serenity. It's a place where you should feel safe.

Your REALTOR® can guide you to a neighborhood with a low crime rate, but unfortunately break-ins can occur anywhere. Recent FBI data indicates that one burglary occurs every 14 seconds. For residential burglaries, 63% involve forcible entry, and more than half occur during daylight hours. These are frightening statistics, but there are steps you can take to minimize your chances of becoming a victim.

The following guidelines are commonsense tips that can help protect your home and your family.

Do:

• Protect your doors. Statistics show that 80% of all break-ins are through a door.
• Keep your doors visible and well lit.
• Install dead-bolt locks. Simple door locks are easy to get past, and offer virtually no protection.
• Purchase a timer that will turn your lights on and off automatically when you're away.
• Have your mail and paper delivery stopped if you will be out of town for an extended period of time.
• Ask for identification if service people come to your home. Call the company for verification if you have any doubts.
• If you see a strange vehicle on your street, jot down the license plate number.
• Keep important papers and documents in a safe deposit box.
• Mark all your electronic equipment with a permanent etching of your name and driver's license number. This helps identify property and makes it harder for a thief to sell.

Don't:

• Hide a spare key in the mailbox, over the doorway or under the mat. These are the first places a thief will look.
• Leave a note on the door, saying that you're gone. You don't want to announce to the world that your house is empty for the weekend.
• Keep a lot of cash in your house.
• Enter the house if you arrive home and see any signs of a break-in. Call the police and let them go inside first.

Electronic security systems

For the ultimate in home security, you may want to consider an electronic security system. These systems typically include a combination of door and window censors, motion censors and smoke detectors. You can spend under $100 for a simple do-it-yourself kit, or up to several thousand dollars plus a monthly monitoring fee for more elaborate services. With a monitored system you have the assurance that someone is 'watching' your home at all times -- as long as you remember to set the alarm when you leave the house. No matter what kind of system you decide to set up, be sure to keep it activated during the day, when most break-ins occur.

Take some of these simple steps to heart and protect the things that matter most. Go a step further and investigate the advantages of an electronic security system. An investment in your home's security may earn you a discount on your homeowner's insurance, and will certainly pay off in peace of mind for you and your family.

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