Evaluating Your Home Security

Are you doing all you can to discourage burglars from targeting your home? Is your home as safe as it could be? Even if you have a complete home security system, chances are that your home could be safer – and it might take no more than a few simple projects to make it safer. A home security inspection can help you pinpoint weaknesses in your security plan and which changes you can make to make your home more secure.

What to Expect from a Home Security Inspection

In the area of home security, some police participate in a program that provides free home security inspections to homeowners. You can schedule a security inspection by calling your local police department to get instructions on how to prepare and schedule an appointment with one of their trained officers. Many home security companies also offer home security consultations with no obligation to buy anything from the company.

Home security inspections are quick, generally taking less than an hour. The inspector will go over a checklist with you and take a look at your property as a whole to identify areas where your home is vulnerable. He or she will check your windows and doors and the locks on them, and may make recommendations about landscaping, lighting and other things that can make your home more or less secure.

Some of the suggestions a home security expert might make include the following.

• Trim back trees and shrubs so that they don’t block the view from your doors or windows, as well as any overgrown landscape that can provide a hiding place for burglars to hide while he tries to break into your house. Shrubs should be no higher than 3 feet and trees should have branches trimmed up to 6 to 7 feet above the ground.
• Consider using cactus, yucca or shrubbery with sharp, pointy leaves in front of ground floor windows to discourage burglars from attempting access that way.
• Keep the exterior of your home looking clean and fresh. Homes that look as if they are well-maintained are less likely to invite vandalism.
• Any nameplates on your door or mailbox should only have your last name. Anything that indicates gender or marital status can give burglars information about who lives in the home.
• Make sure that your house number can be seen and read clearly from the street. This will make it easier for police or fire department to quickly locate your home in an emergency.
• Invest in a home security system that includes a burglar alarm and alarm system monitoring to alert the authorities if someone attempts to break into your home.

For up to date information about the types of home security systems that are most appropriate for your home, contact a local home alarm company and schedule an inspection or consultation.

Before You Install a Home Security System

Protecting your loved ones from harm is one of the most important considerations for any homeowner – with protecting your property from theft and damage running a close second. You can’t always be there to watch over your family and your property, but a good home security system can help keep you, your family and your belongings safe. Everyone would love to have a top-of-the-line alarm system, but the right security system for your home isn’t always the most expensive option. If you’re in the market for a home security system and alarm monitoring, Houston home security company Safeguard Home security offers a number of tips to help you make your decision.

Secure Your Property First

A home alarm system provides an added layer of security and safety, but your first line of defense is taking common sense precautions to make your property as safe as possible. Believe it or not, in close to one-fourth of all burglaries, the thieves entered the home through an unlocked door. You can make your home more difficult for burglars by installing secure deadbolt locks on all doors that lead into your house, including the door between your garage and your home.

Burglars also prefer properties that give them places to hide while they’re breaking in. Keep all bushes trimmed away from doors and windows, and avoid obstructing the view of entryways and windows from the street.

Lighting is an important part of your home security system. Install motion senor lights at all approaches to your home, including your front door and the back of your house. Motion-activated lights can actually be a more effective deterrent than lights that are always on because they startle would-be burglars and alert you and neighbors that someone has approached your home.

Ask for a Home Security Consultation

A consultation with an experienced home security professional can help you determine the right type of system for your home security. Houston police in most neighborhoods also have trained officers who can evaluate your home and make home security recommendations for your property.

Opt for Alarm Monitoring

There’s far more to a home security system than a burglar alarm. One of the most important parts of your security is home alarm monitoring. When you choose an alarm system with home alarm monitoring, you can be certain that someone will react if your burglar alarm is activated.

Have Your Alarm System Installed by a Professional

Professionally installed alarm systems ensure that everything is installed and working properly. In addition, many insurance companies will discount your property insurance if your home is protected by a professionally installed home security system.

Alarm System Monitoring Helps Deter CrimeMonitoring

Can you afford to lose nearly $1,800? That’s the average loss reported in home burglaries around the country. There are ways that you can protect yourself from burglary losses, and one of the most effective is a burglar alarm with alarm system monitoring. These systems can be especially effective in cities like Houston, where the burglary rate is high and home security is an important part of protecting your family. How effective is alarm system monitoring? Safeguard Home Security, a Houston home security company, offers statistics that make it obvious how a burglar alarm with alarm system monitoring can reduce the risk of being targeted by burglars.

An unprotected home is 2 to 3 times more likely to be burglarized than one with a home security system. According to statistics compiled by insurance companies, homes with burglar alarms are much less likely to be the targets of burglary than those with no home security system. Burglars actively avoid homes that are outfitted with burglar alarms and home security systems – it only makes sense, after all. Why break into a home where you risk being caught by an alarm monitoring company?

About 85% of home burglaries take place in residences and other buildings not protected by burglar alarms. Wouldn’t you rather put your home in the 15% of homes that are statistically less likely to be targeted by burglars? It’s as easy as making sure that your home is protected by a home security system.

Contrary to popular belief, most burglaries do not take place at night. The overwhelming majority of home burglaries happen between 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. when people are most likely to be away from home. This also means that a basic burglar alarm system, which is intended to alert homeowners and nearby neighbors that an intruder has broken in, are less likely to be effective for one simple reason – your neighbors are likely to not be home to call the police if your alarm goes off. A monitored alarm system doesn’t rely on neighbors’ availability to notify the authorities if your home is broken into. Instead, your home’s alarm system is monitored 24/7 by professional alarm system monitors. Whether your neighbors are home or not, there will be someone to notice that your alarm is going off.

Alarm system monitoring is a valuable addition to any home security system. When you choose an alarm system with monitoring, you’re making an investment that pays off in security for your family and your property.

Don’t Leave Home Security to Chance

Even home security systems and burglar alarms need some help to be effective deterrents to crime and burglary. Many people believe that they’ve done everything they have to do once they install a home security system with alarm system monitoring. While alarm systems have a definite place in protecting your home and your family from harm, they’re only one part of a comprehensive home security plan. Instead of relying completely on a burglar alarm and alarm system monitoring, make sure that you’ve covered all of these important bases in addition to installing the best home security system you can afford.

Doors Need Locks in Addition to Alarms

Every door into your house should be included in the alarm system, of course. Even ore importantly, every door that provides entry into your home should be fitted with a heavy-duty deadbolt lock. The Houston Police recommend that the bolt extend at least one inch into the door jamb with a metal strike plate installed with three inch screws.

Block Patio Sliders

Nearly every house in Houston has a major security flaw – glass sliding patio doors out to the deck or back yard. The latches on most patio doors are woefully inadequate. You should always use a track blocker to prevent the patio doors from being forced open. A wooden dowel in the track is a simple, inexpensive security tool for patio doors.

Make It Hard to Open Accessible Windows

Ground floor windows and windows that are accessible via trees, balconies and stairways are attractive targets for burglars. Make sure that any accessible windows are wired into your home security system. Use screws or other devices to prevent the windows from being opened more than six inches, and make sure that burglars can’t reach window latches through the open window. Finally, use a little creative deterrence – place burglar alarm decals prominently on ground floor windows.

Light Up Your House

Lighting is an essential part of your home security plan – both interior and exterior. Place lights where they’ll illuminate dark corners and any windows or doors that give access to the house, and put interior lights on a timer so that there’s always a visible “someone’s home” signal. Don’t just use the timers when you’re on vacation – that’s a dead giveaway to burglars who may have been watching your home.

The Place for Burglar Alarms

Any home security system must be installed and maintained properly. The most effective home security systems include a loud horn or bell that goes off when the security is breached – and that resets after a few minutes. Choose a security system with alarm system monitoring, and make sure that you keep your contact list up to date.

Your home security system is a valuable part of protecting your home and family, but it can’t do the job on its own. Making sure that you always keep your doors locked and take steps to discourage burglars from targeting your home are important factors in keeping your family safe.

The Importance of Alarm System Monitoring

Home security systems are an important tool to help keep your family safe, but many people put far more time and energy into choosing the latest equipment than they do in choosing the most important part of their home security system – alarm system monitoring. A home security system is only as good as the company that provides the monitoring for it. The best state of the art home security equipment may alert you when there’s a problem at home, but your alarm system monitoring company is an essential part of keeping your family safe.

What happens when an alarm system detects an intruder? That depends on the type of home security system you’ve installed and the services for which you’ve contracted. The most basic alarm system simply makes a lot of noise and counts on the homeowner or a neighbor to alert the police that there’s a problem. While it’s better than nothing, you can’t count on a basic burglar alarm to protect your home and family because it relies on someone else taking an action.

More advanced home security systems are programmed to dial a number when the security is breached. You choose the numbers -- often, the system is set to alert you at work during the day, but some will alert the authorities directly. The biggest problem with these systems is the possibility of false alarms, which is so high in some areas that police departments have started charging homeowners for the cost of rolling a police car to check out the alarm.

Home security systems with home alarm monitoring are the preferred type of Houston home alarm system. When you add home alarm monitoring to a security system, you’re adding in a human element. Alarm monitoring companies have people manning their monitoring stations 24/7, 365 days a year. When your home security system detects an intrusion, it sends a signal to the alarm monitoring company. The operators on duty will attempt to contact you and determine if you need assistance or if the alarm was sent accidentally. If you don’t respond, the alarm system monitoring company will alert emergency services and send them to your home.

When you’re faced with a burglary, minutes are important. When you or someone you love is in the home with intruders – or any other emergency – an immediate response can literally save lives. When you choose a home security system with alarm system monitoring, help can be on the way within seconds, minimizing damage to your property and injury to the people you love.

Top Reasons to Have a Home Security System

Top Reasons to Have a Home Security System

Securing your home is a must when wanting to protect not only your family, but also your personal property that you worked so hard for. Unfortunately many people are not sure of all the benefits having one of these security system installed in their home. Here are some of the top reasons why you should have a security alarm system installed in your home.

The most common reason why a person has an alarm system installed in their home is for protection of their family. Having a Security System installed in your home can give piece of mind knowing that your family and home is protected. These state of the art alarm systems can now monitor windows, doors and telephones lines to alert the 24 hour monitoring station if any of these things are tampered with when the alarm is engaged.

Home owners that travel for work find having an alarm system gives them added protection when they are away for extended periods of time. Since the home is monitored 24 hours a day when the alarm is turned on, one does not have to worry about their home being left unprotected when they are away. These digital monitoring systems will notify the monitoring station if the home is burglarized. The proper authorities will then be notified that there is a problem in your home. The monitoring station will also notify you as well.

A fire can be devastating to not only a home, but also to a family. When the Houston Home Security is engaged and a fire breaks out in your home, the state of the art security system will notify the monitoring station. Once the monitoring station is alerted, they will then notify the proper authorities of the situation. This cannot only help to reduce the damage to the home if a fire breaks out, it can also alert those that are in the home as well.

Many alarm systems are now equipped with a panic button on the control panels. This type of Security System is a huge plus in a home. If there is any type of emergency in the home such as a home invasion, fire or other type of serious emergency, all one has to do is push the panic button for help. The panic button will still work even if the alarm is turned off. This gives added protection if an emergency arises and a phone cannot be reached to call the proper authorities.

These are only a few of the reasons to have a Houston Home Security alarm system installed. These systems can be customized to fit your individual needs and many budget sizes. So instead of leaving your home and family unprotected, have an alarm installed to protect your most precious possessions.

Houston Police Offer Home Security Inspections

Keeping up on the latest tips and trends in home security can help you keep your family safer. Your home should be your retreat, the place where you go to get away from the world’s dangers and discomforts. Investing some time and money into protecting your home pays off big dividends in peace of mind and family safety. When it comes to family safety, Houston home security resources are available.

By Texas law, your home insurance company will discount your home insurance premiums by 5 to 20% if you make certain home security provisions on your property. In order to qualify for this mandatory home security discount, your home must be inspected by a state-certified inspector for home security. Houston police departments often have one or more officers who have attended the training sessions and become certified. You can call your local police department to find out how to schedule a Houston home security inspection through them.

Houston Home Security Inspection

The home security inspection generally consists of two visits by a police officer who is certified by the Texas Department of Insurance. These officers receive special training on home security systems and measures that Houston homeowners can take to help safeguard their property and their families. The officer will inspect the physical locks on your windows, doors and garage areas and look for specific things around your home.

How to Qualify for Insurance Reductions

According to the Texas code, your home will qualify for a 5 percent discount on your premium if it meets the following requirements:

Any exterior door must be a solid core door at least 1 3/8 inches thick. They must be secured by a deadbolt lock that locks with a minimum throw of one inch and penetrates a metal strike plate that is secured firmly to the door frame. If there is breakable glass within 40 inches of the lock, it must be a double-keyed deadbolt unless it is prohibited by the safety code.

Metal doors must also be locked by deadbolt locks that meet the same specifications. If you have double doors, they must also meet the same specifications. In addition, the inactive door must be secured by header and threshold bolts that seat into metal strike plates. If there is glass within 40 inches of the header and threshold locks, they must be flush-mounted.

Any sliding glass doors must be secured by a secondary locking device. Garage doors must be equipped with key-operated locks. Windows must be secured by auxiliary locking devices – in other words, the slide-catch locks on most windows are not enough. Those devices can include screws, wooden dowels and other methods that prevent windows from being opened far enough for entry.

Your property can qualify for a 15 percent discount if it is equipped with an electronic burglar alarm that meets certain specifications. Those specifications include contacting all exterior windows and doors, an interior and exterior siren, and alarm system monitoring by a U.L. approved central station. In addition, the installation, service and monitoring of your Houston home alarm system must be done in compliance with specific statutes of the Texas code, and the alarm company must be licensed by the Texas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies.

Installing a qualifying home security system is a win-win situation. Your family will be better protected, and you’ll save money on your home insurance premiums. How can you lose with a deal like that?