Tag Archives: home security

HOME SECURITY – THREE TIPS FOR A PEACE OF MIND HOUSEHOLD (Guest Post)

Home Security: 3 Tips for a Peace of Mind Household

By Samuel Ott of  www.nightwatch.net

There’s nothing more satisfying than coming home after a long, hard day’s work and plopping down on a nice comfy sofa. Maybe crack open a nice cold beverage or turn on the tube, or whatever is that takes the edge off from your day. Forgetting about your worries is your goal for spending quality time with your family.  However, sometimes our minds have difficulty shutting down and we continue putting stress onto ourselves by thinking about what needs to be done or what could happen. 

However, there are ways to forget about your problems, though. What it comes down to most is understanding the mind. The mind needs reassurance and positive reinforcement in order to stay at ease or focused. Here are three tips for giving yourself the serenity you are looking for: 

1)     Home Security Systems:  A great method for achieving tranquility is by securing yourself completely from the dangers of the outside world. An alarm or home security system allows for you to take a load off without having to worry about the ‘what ifs’ of a break in or theft. Let the security system worry about it, so you don’t have to.

2)      Companionship:  A man’s best friend will take any worry out of the mind of a person. Whether it’s playing with your pet, lounging around with it or simply having it sleep at the foot of the bed, the peace of mind you’ve been searching for will certainly saturate your thoughts, leaving no room for worry.

3)      Double up and double check:  Of course, you always want to lock your doors and windows, but don’t be afraid to double check to see if they’re locked. You might have locked them yourself, but someone else in your family might have opened them and forgot to lock them afterwards. It never hurts to be safe. Also, make sure your doors have deadbolts that are at least an inch deep. Too shallow of a deadbolt allows for vulnerability to break-ins. If you’re that worried about your deadbolt, sometimes it wouldn’t hurt to double up. However, the security of the entrance also relies on the strength of the door frame. If it’s an older house and the frame has never been replaced, then the weaker and easier it could be to break through it. 

Whether a home security system gives the protection you need, having someone beside you for support or maybe just the reassurance of making sure your home is locked up. Either way, when it comes down to peace of mind and home security, it’s all about making you feel safe. So, go ahead, give yourself some positive reinforcement and relax with ease.

Samuel Ott is a writer for Nightwatch Security, professional home alarm systems provider and installer. Visit their website (above) to find more information on home security and family safety.

 

WHEN MONITORED SECURITY IS NOT AN OPTION (Guest Post)

When Monitored Home Security is Not an Option by Melonie McLaurin

If you live in a highly urban area, or even a moderate-to-densely populated residential suburb, the importance of a reliable, monitored home security system for your home and family cannot be overstated.  Each year, crime statistics can vary from state to state and among cities of varying sizes and populations, but watching the nightly news will confirm that crime is on the rise in neighborhoods, including wealthy suburban areas on the outskirts of the inner cities.  A large part of home ownership involves investing in the protection of your home:  from fires, floods, break-ins, home invasions, and other dangers that could present a problem for you whether you are present or away.

In the early days of home security systems in the United States, simply having an alarm installed could suffice to keep criminals at bay.  Once they heard the alarm, they would flee the area without waiting around to see whether anyone followed up.  Today, criminals are more brazen than ever and the sound of an alarm is not by itself enough to send them away from your home.  In these times, a monitored home security system from a trusted brand like ADT is the best way to go.

Monitored home security is security that connects to a monitoring center staffed by real people who are trained to respond to your home alarms remotely, and take the correct action to insure your home is protected.  This is very different than the alarms that simply ring; these alarms are connected to people who, if after attempting to contact you to find out whether you are safe, will have authorities dispatched to the location immediately if no answer is received.  This means that even if you, for some reason, are unable to respond to their attempt to reach you, they will still send help right away.

If you entrust your home to substandard home security, or worse, no home security at all, you run the risk of inviting crime rather than deterring it. Difficult economic conditions contribute to spikes in crime attempts, especially thefts of valuable items such as laptops, jewelry, and other portable objects that can be quickly traded off for cash or other goods.  Why make it easy for them, when you could have electronic, wireless, monitored home security from ADT helping you deter crime 24 hours a day, ready to respond in the event of unplanned emergencies?  Living in the city doesn’t have to cause you worry with adequate home security installed.  Consider it an investment in your peace of mind.

 

 

WHY YOU NEED A SECURITY DOOR (GUEST POST)

Why You Need a Security Door

Remember the days you could leave your doors unlocked when you went to bed at night and not think twice? Unfortunately those days are long gone. More and more families are investing in alarm systems and security doors in order to protect their home, their family, and their possessions from forced entries and burglaries. Many burglars prefer to use the front door when executing a robbery, so it is important to add any elements of protection you can.  Installing a security door is an excellent way to ramp up your protection while avoiding the long-term monthly fees of an alarm system. Though it may seem simple, a heavy duty security door may be enough to cause prospective robbers to pass on your home in search of an easier target. Security doors are an excellent, low cost preventative measure that provides a great deal of benefits to your home.

Types of Doors

Doors come in a variety of different styles, with options for every budget. Steel doors can be purchased with single or double panes. You can choose to have a single lock or multiple locks. The thickness of the door varies as well, the highest typically being 50mm. Anywhere from four to eight hinges support the door itself, which come in a wide variety of colors and styles.

Benefits

  • Nearly Impossible to Break into

The obvious benefit of security doors is the protection it provides. A robber would have to use a sophisticated machine of some sort to open the locks on a steel door. In fact, most doors are actually drill-proof, and special devices are required to open them. Fortunately most burglars are not going to want to draw attention to themselves by attempting to open your steel door.

  • Fireproof

The material used on most security doors makes them resistant to fire. Many security doors are made from galvanized iron or galvanized steel. If galvanized metal burns at all, it will burn very slowly. For this reason, people sometimes place steel doors inside the house to prevent fire from spreading quickly.

  • Energy Efficient

A main benefit of security doors that people often overlook is their ability to reduce your energy bills. During hot months, security doors can be bolted while the main door is left open, allowing a cool breeze to circulate through the house. In winter, the extra layer of steel helps insulate the doorway from chilly wind.

  • Allows Increased Light

Closing the security door but leaving the main door open allows more light to enter the home. This can brighten up the appearance of a space, make it look larger, as well as improve the temperament of those in the home.

  • Tough and Long Lasting

Steel doors are extremely durable, and are not prone to cracks or other imperfections that result from misuse, pressure, or harsh weather conditions.

  • Visually Appealing

Despite the common opinion, security doors actually add to the curb appeal of your home. They  are now manufactured in a vast array of designs and colors to complement any home décor. They provide a polished look to the exterior of your home, while simultaneously increasing your property’s value.

  • Ease of Access

The bottom part of the door frame is welded low so wheelchairs and other wheeled devices can pass through the doorway easily. You also don’t have to worry about young children or pets injuring themselves on the door because they are welded low.

Security doors are an excellent investment. They deter potential intruders, improve the appearance of your home, and are virtually indestructible.  Even those who already have a home security  system will benefit from the many attributes a steel door provides to your property.

 

 

THREE THINGS YOUR TEEN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOME SECURITY

Raising teens presents some special challenges for parents.  You know that your child still needs your protection, but teenagers are growing more concerned with their independence and at times want to be on their own.  Furthermore, teens today are more increasingly involved with social media, which means they are susceptible to those who may have an identity other than what they claim from behind a computer screen.  Of course, there are ways you can keep your teen safe both at home and when he or she is online.  You need to make your teen aware of a few things so that he or she stays safe. 

1.         Some Information Should Not Be Posted on Facebook

You would be hard pressed to find a teen that is not connected to Facebook.com in some way.  Even though users must be at least 14 before creating an account, you will still find lots of teenagers using the social medium.  However, there are a few things you need to make sure you tell your teen not to post on the site.  These include:

  •            Birthday
  •            Explicit or Potentially Embarrassing Photos
  •            Extended or Short Vacation Plans
  •            Home Address
  •            Mother’s Maiden Name
  •           Phone Number
  •           Photos of the Home
  •           Place of Birth
  •           Searchable Public Profile

Information such as this can be used by identity thieves and burglars.  Furthermore, this type of information can leave your teen as a target by pedophiles and stalkers.  You can find more information about what not to share on these kinds of networks on sites such as howstuffworks.com. 

2.         Know How to Use a Home Security System

You may invest in a wireless home security system such as those you find at lifeshield.com to protect your family.  However, you need to consider that your teen can be home alone at certain times and may need to get in and out of the house securely when you are not there.  In this case, you need to trust your teen with any security codes needed for safe entry into the house.  You may also have to impose some ground rules such as limiting the amount of guests your teen can have over at one time while you are away and not allowing guests in certain areas of the home or property. 

3.         Be Careful About Using Apps

Since smartphones and mobile devices continue to grow in popularity, you will find that many teens are using them to document every aspect of their lives in cyberspace.  This can be especially dangerous when using geo-location apps and services or services such as Foursquare.  A friend can check in to your home and make it a public location with this kind of app.  While these may be fun for your teens to use and tell everyone where they are and who they are with, they can let cyber stalkers keep track of them and also inadvertently announce when they are and are not home.  You need to make your teen aware of how social media is connected to home security. 

Jennifer Kurtz is a stay-at-home mom who writes about Technology and Lifestyle on her blog.  She worked in marketing before her son was born, and keeps up with the tech field through her blog.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, her 2-year-old son, and a cat named Einstein.

Jennifer, this is excellent advice for the parents of teens.  Our world has become too dangerous to take chances, and parents should monitor what their teens are doing online, and other social medias, as much as possible.  Thanks again. pb