subject: Home Security Essentials You Must Follow [print this page] Protecting your home from those who would steal, vandalize or otherwise violate your privacy is an endeavor worthy of some thought, almost anyone would agree. Yet home security experts say many break-ins could be prevented with better planning.
The security of the home has to be looked at as an integral plan. Home security isn't necessarily expensive. But each aspect of home security is only a link in a chain and your plan is only as good as its weakest link. That's why it's important to plan.
Many people think that it's enough to just install strong front door and strong locks in order to protect their home. In fact it's not. You should also secure your back door and put locks on your windows. If you continue reading you'll learn about this and a lot of other techniques of protecting your home.
Plan your exterior lighting so there are no dark corners or shadowy alcoves where a prowler could hide. Adequately light all sides of your home, especially entrances. Mount lights high so they cannot be easily disabled.
Also, making house numbers easily visible from the street helps the police or fire department find your home if you should call them. This is quite easy to do and not expensive at all.
If you decide to secure your house with an alarm system it's a good idea to do some shopping around. This is because there are many kinds of alarm systems and they all vary in price and quality.
When you answer your door, make a habit of checking who is knocking first before opening it. Once your door is opened, even the most expensive home security system in the world is of little use. It's hard to believe, but this is still the most common mistake according to security experts.
Don't create hiding places for predators. Trim tree limbs up to 6 or 8 feet from the ground. Trim overgrown bushes around doors or windows to discourage predators from hiding behind them. Plant thorn bushes around your windows. You'll beautify your home and deter burglars.
Get a dog. While being a good companion, a dog can also be a good security system. A large, well-trained outdoor watchdog can scare away intruders and offer extra security. If you do not want the responsibility of owning a dog, or cannot have one, place a large dog dish outside your door or hang a large "Beware of Dog" sign on the door.
