Keeping Your Home Safe

home remodeling articles and tips

topic: home safety
by Mary B

Home Safety Starts with You

More than 2.1 million burglaries are committed each year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Nine out of every ten of those break-ins could be prevented every person knew the basics of home protection, the Insurance Information Institute reports. 

Burglar-Proof Your Home

Installing a home alarm serves as a major deterrent to any would-be thief who trips it. But it's only one of several home protection steps that you can take:

• Lock doors and windows
• Keep bushes and trees trimmed so no one is able to covertly enter and exit your home
• Lock up valuables, including expensive tools
• Use outdoor lights with motion detectors
• Participate in a neighborhood watch program
• When you're out of town:
• Use light timers to make your home look lived in
• Stop mail and newspapers
• Employ snow shoveling and grass trimming services
• Ask neighbors to put out and pull in your trash cans on pick-up days

Burglars Work When You Do

Thieves generally strike during workday hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Often, they enter through an unlocked door or window.  Rented homes are at twice the risk of theft than owner-occupied homes, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Home Safety Makes Financial Sense

Burglary losses averaged $1,725 in 2005, according to the FBI. Safety alarms are ta...

Home Security

home remodeling articles and tips

topic: home security

Keeping Your Home Safe

Here in the USA, a home is burglarized every 15.4 seconds. A robbery occurs every 1.3 minutes. When the safety of your family and home is at stake, an alarm system is the best way to guarantee protection. Today's home protection systems are affordable and easy to install. They range from hard-wired remote security monitoring to simple, wireless safety alarms that scare away intruders. Modern home protection systems provide comprehensive security protection, with motion detectors that protect the exterior of your home, while smoke and heat detectors protect your family from fire.

Selecting the Right Home Security System

With all of these home safety options, it can be confusing to figure out which is right for your residence. There are basically two types of alarm systems that you can have installed: hard-wired and wireless. Wireless systems are battery operated and cheaper to install, while hard-wired systems are wired into the walls of your home. With both systems, you can have both indoor and outdoor home protection using sensors that monitor movement. If you choose, these safety alarms can be connected to a home security provider that remotely monitors your home for burglary, fire, and personal emergency.

Is It Worth the Investment

Do home alarms really prevent crime? Statistics show that yes, they do. Homes equipped with alarm systems are about 3...