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Home Security System
Protect Your Valuable Home and Your Invaluable Family With a Home
Security System
Many houses do not have home security systems. That's odd, considering
that most people's homes are their most valuable asset and most people's
home contain their most invaluable assets - their families. Maybe people
think it's too expensive or not worth it. If you've thought about
installing a home security system and dismissed the idea as too
expensive or a waste of money, or if you just haven't thought about it
at all, at least take the time to think about these things.
What Do You Want to Protect?If you live alone with few valuable possessions in a little starter
house that you don't plan on being in for long and maybe have a black
belt in karate, perhaps there's no need to install a security system. If
you own anything of value or live with people you care about, it is
worth it to have some sort of home security system.
Do You Live in A High-Crime Neighborhood?Think about the
likelihood that your home will be broken into, and then think again.
Maybe you don't live next to a drug house, but that doesn't necessarily
mean that your home is any less likely to be broken into. Statistics
show that gated communities have just as many break-ins and just as much
vandalism as non-gated communities. Otherwise safe college neighborhoods
tend to have high numbers of burglaries. If you live in a more rural or
suburban area and know your neighbors, you might not need an elaborate
security system but know you still can be at risk.
Is Your Home a Natural Target?Certain types of homes are
more likely to be broken into than others. Homes surrounded by lush,
mature landscaping are favored by prowlers and burglars because the
landscaping provides cover. Old houses are another target because they
may have weak doors or cracked, broken, or weak windows that are easy to
break in. If your house is on a dark street and you are seldom home, it
is a target. On the other hand, if your house is fronted by a large lawn stretching down to the neighborhood watch sign on
the curb, burglars and vandals are likely to pass it up in favor of an
easier target.
Can You Get a Homeowners' Insurance Discount for Installing a Home
Security System?Most insurance carriers will discount homeowners' insurance premiums
for installing security systems. You can get a discount for doing
something as simple as installing a deadbolt, and more sophisticated
systems usually get steeper discounts. Call your home owners insurance
agent for more information.
What Home Security Options Are There?Having a home security system does not mean that you have to have a
burglar alarm installed. There are other "low-tech" options out there
that may better suit your needs. You could install motion sensor lights
and bars on your doors and windows. Install deadbolts on all your doors
and a wide-angle peep hole in your front door. Make sure that all your
exterior doors, including sliding and patio doors, have a key lock and
can't be lifted out of their frames. Get to know your neighbors and form
a neighborhood watch group. Create the illusion that you have a home
security system: put decals on your windows that say you have a system;
hang up "Beware of Dog" signs even if you don't have a dog.
It used to be that a good home security system meant you locked your
doors at night, owned a dog and maybe kept a baseball bat in the
umbrella stand. These days, such simple techniques will not work. Even
if you go with a low-tech home security system, you should be doing
something to protect your home, your family, and your peace of mind.
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