Home Security Basics

If you own a home or rent a home having adequate home security is a must these days. The days of leaving the doors unlocked without a care in the world are a thing of the past. Our parents may have been able to get away with it back in the day, but those days are long gone. Sadly, these are truly different times, and we need to do what ever it takes to protect our families and property.

Making sure our homes are adequately protected involves taking a comprehensive approach. Purchasing a home alarm system, is certainly a good move, but it's only a portion of what needs to be done to keep your family safe. Putting together an overall plan will greatly improve your odds. The good news is that DIY home security is not only readably available, but inexpensive too. We'll take a look at a number of home security basics:

Bushes Around the House – Overgrown bushes and shrubs pose a number of home security issues. First, they give potential criminals a place to hide. Second, you should always have a clear view of the street and surrounding areas, from all of your windows. Make sure all bushes and trees are well manicured. This way you can monitor what's going on outside of your home, from multiple angles and locations.

Secure Windows and Doors – All exterior doors should be made of strong material and have adequate deadbolt locks. Windows should also be in good shape, with an adequate locking system. Remember, that second story windows should also be secure. These are often targeted during break in. Old doors and windows should be replaced if they're in poor working order.

Sensor Lights – Installing sensor lights is a very economical way to improve your homes security. They are triggered by motion, so any would be thief will usually think twice about breaking into a well lit home. If you get home late at night, they'll turn on, ensuring you more safety and visibility. They're also a great convenience, providing a bright pathway to your front door.

Cameras – Security cameras are an excellent way to monitor and protect your home. In the recent past these were an expensive luxury item reserved for the ultra wealthy. Thanks to the advancement in technology they no longer break the budget. And they now come with some really cool features. There are wireless varieties available, making install a snap. They come with motion sensor technology, so they only record when triggered. Installed at the front door you can see who's at your front door. Is it an important delivery or just a pesky salesman? A real modern day convenience. And best of all, you can view the video stream form anywhere you have internet access.

Protect Your Valuables – Protecting your valuables inside your home is a must. Important documents and valuables such as jewelry and currency should be kept in a safe and secure place. A safe is a good option for this, but make sure it's bolted down, so it can't be easily removed. The harder to find the better, as it’s the easy targets, like jewelry boxes and file cabinets that are most often hit. Consider an off site safety deposit box, these are typically available at your local bank branch.

Neighborhood Watch – Joining an informal group like Neighborhood Watch is good way to insure that you have some extra eyes on your property. Yes, having to deal with an overly nosey neighbor can be annoying at times, but it's worth the added protection. Having a group of neighbors that you are friends with can easily play the same role. They can look after things when you're out of town; report suspicious activity, collect your newspaper, and mail. Remember, the buildup of mail or newspapers is a sure way to advertise that you're out of town.

Lights On in Your House – Make sure that when you're away from home at night or vacation that you have some of your interior lights on timers. These will give the impression that someone's always at home, and will reduce the chance of break in. A pitch-black house is a sure way to attract burglars.

Home Insurance – Having adequate home insurance can protect your valuables from theft, as well as disaster. Considering your home is probably your largest investment, home insurance should be an absolute must. Make sure all your items are covered, however. You'll typically need additional coverage on higher ticket items like expensive pieces of jewelry, for example. Consult with your insurance company to see what is and what is not covered on your policy. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your home and its contents are protected is well worth the premium.

A home alarm is one of the best ways to insure that your home is protected. If you've spent any time at all looking into home security systems, you realize that there are several options to choose from. This may seem confusing, but it's not too complicated. Home security monitoring and do it yourself home security are two popular options.

Home Security Monitoring

When we think of modern home security systems we think of the big box companies that provide an alarm system along with home security monitoring. Lets face it, home alarms without any monitoring provide only a fraction of the protection found with home security monitoring services. An audible alarm is nice, but it can't rival the authorities showing up. And that's one of the big advantages of home security monitoring.

Monitored home security watches your home when you're at work, sleeping, or on vacation. When you're away you know that your home is protected. If a break in occurs, the police and your neighbors are notified. You have a team of people at a central location that respond should the need arise. They'll call you to make sure everything if okay. This is why these services are so popular. They even give you a security sticker or a sign to put in your yard. This actually works very good as a deterrent, and if it prevents a break in, it has served its purpose. Thieves are three times more likely to break into houses that don't show visible signs of protection.

There are a few things to look out for when purchasing a home security monitoring service. There is a disturbing trend developing with the some of the major security companies. Their goal is to get as many people on the books as possible. Sense there business derives its revenue from service, the more customers the better, in their eyes. One way to do this is offer a cheap or free installation. Now, this is all fine and good, but these tempting installs often cut corners. They don't offer the thorough protection (at these rates) that you deserve. So, an important point of entry may be left unprotected. Putting in a motion sensor and hoping for the best, just isn't adequate protection. Often back windows and even doors are left unprotected. Easily assessable second story windows are commonly ignored. Though it will cost more, it's always recommended that you get full protection for you and your family. Insist on full protection.

DIY Home Security

A do it yourself (DIY) home security should always be considered if you're looking into purchasing a home security system. This is especially true if you're on a budget. Home security kits offer everything you need in home security without the high cost. You can find a variety of kits on Ebay. The trade off is that you'll need to install everything yourself. Now, if you're mildly competent with DIY projects you should have no problems. The wireless technology in sensors and cameras has made installation easier than ever.

DIY home security actually comes with some advantages when compared to its conventional counterpart. Aside from the obvious cost saving, you get full flexibility. This means that you can customize your home alarm in any way you choose. If you want cameras everywhere, a sensor at all possible locations, and remote monitoring it's all a possibility. You can even get fingerprint scanning, and iris recognition will be here before we know it. Most traditional home monitoring security companies either don't offer this high level of security, or they'll charge you an arm and leg if they do.

DIY security isn't for everyone, but for some it's the only way to go. What's nice about the DIY yourself approach is that you can combine the best of both worlds. You can get everything you want for cheap, yet with complete protection. You can even get everything set up they way you wish, and then hire a company to do the monitoring. This is invaluable, as home security monitoring plays such an important role in the overall protection of your home.