8 Easy Ways To Keep Your Home And Family Safe | Home & Garden

8 Easy Ways To Keep Your Home And Family Safe

Article by Cindy D. Lombardo

There are many things you can do to keep your home and possessions safe that don?t cost a lot of money. Experts say intruders prefer homes that are easy to get into, and it is often the simple things that give them the opportunity they need to invade your home. Therefore, even if you don?t invest in an expensive home security system, you can still make your home more secure and unappealing to intruders.

1. Get rid of hiding places next to doors and windows. Intruders don?t like to be seen. Bushes by windows make ideal hiding spots that allow invaders to lurk and work unseen. It is best to plant flowers or short plants next to your house instead of tall bushes. Better yet, grow cactus under your windows!

2. Let the light shine. Outside lights are very inexpensive and easy to install, yet they can ward off intruders and keep you safe when you come home after dark. Solar lights won?t even be a burden on your utility bill. If you don?t like lights burning all the time, install motion activated lights that automatically turn on when they sense movement near your home.

3. Install secure locks and doors. Your doors are the primary protection from intruders yet many people have doors and locks installed that can be easily kicked open or jimmied. Experts recommend the use of dead bolts for optimum security. Peep holes are also important so you don?t have to open doors to strangers. In addition, your doors should be made from reinforced steel. If your door has a window, make sure an intruder can?t break it and reach inside to unlock the door.

4. Secure windows and sliding glass doors. Windows are definitely a weak spot in your home. Intruders usually don?t like to break them out though because of the noise it makes. Instead, they work to slide them out or lift them. You can buy kits at any home improvement store to prevent this from happening. Charlie bars and pins can be inserted that keep the doors or windows from sliding open and may be all it takes to keep your home safe from invasion.

5. Don?t advertise your wares. Keep your curtains pulled, especially at night when the lights are on so passersby won?t see your valuables inside. Be careful about allowing strangers and service workers to have access to your home. Keep valuables out of site. Fire Safes are ideal for this. They keep valuables hidden and also protect them from fire and water damage. Good fire safes are too heavy for intruders to pack away and are too difficult for them to break into. Some can even be hidden under the floor or built into a wall for maximum safety.

6. Don?t let strangers know your business. Be careful who overhears you talking about going on vacation. Don?t post vacation updates online on sites like Facebook or Twitter until you return because everyone who reads it will know your home is vacant. When you do go away, take steps to ensure it looks like you are still home by having your mail halted and putting your lights on a random automated timer.

7. Use the buddy system. Befriend your neighbors. Watch out for them and ask them to watch out for you. Your neighbors can keep an eye out for suspicious activity when you are away from the house. The more eyes that are alert to strangers in your neighborhood, the better.

8. Install basic alarms. Home security systems come in all kinds of configurations and costs. You may or may not want to invest in a security system, but at the very least, you should have basic safety alarms such as fire and carbon monoxide alarms. Home dangers do not only come from intruders. Fire, flood, and other disasters are a constant risk you need to guard against. Alarms can give you the valuable time needed to get your family to safety.

No one likes to think about home invasions or disasters striking. Being prepared for them in advance can give you great peace of mind. The basics don?t cost a lot of money yet they could save your valuables and protect your family and investment.

About the Author

Cindy D. Lombardo has written this article.

Source: http://homeegarden.in/8-easy-ways-to-keep-your-home-and-family-safe/

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