Protecting Your Home While You Are Away

When you leave for your vacation the last thing you want to worry about in your absence is the security of your home. The best way to protect your home at all times, whether you are home or not is a state of the art security system from one of the better companies in the business. When the house is protected it will not only have the doors and windows fitted with security features, it will be well sign posted and will have 24 hour a day monitoring. As part of the security system, some people will also install fire alarm systems, as well as an alarm that will go off if your floors should become flooded from a burst water pipe.

No matter what you do, your house must not look unoccupied while you are away. Arrange to have the mail taken from your box, either stop the daily newspaper while you are away or have someone take it off your porch and make sure the plants are tended for and the grass is cut. If you are taking a winter vacation, arrange to have your drive and walks cleared of snow even if you won't be using them, it all helps to deter thieves by giving the impression that your are home. A simple battery operated motion sensor that gives out the sound of a barking dog if tripped will help as well.

If you do have a neighbor who will attend to these things by all means leave him a key but never leave a "hidden" key, they are far too easy to locate by accomplished burglars. A few timers that turn interior lights on and off at irregular times are also a great deterrent as is installing a light which turns on and off with an optical sensor, this way your property will be lit all night making an approach difficult. High end equipment is still quite expensive but consumer grade products are reasonably priced.

It's always a good idea to consult with professionals prior to installing a closed circuit camera system, they can not only help with the equipment selection, they can help with establishing camera locations. There are several home alarm companies that you can check and you can choose your options. You can choose amongst the best home alarm companies to review your home security system needs or you read independent home security reviews.

Identifying Security Risks

Your first step in guarding your property is to know it well. Survey your property looking for the obvious risks or those that stand out. Look for things like a broken window or windows that are easy to enter and have been left unlocked. There are neighborhoods, no matter how nice, that are more prone to break in's than others. If your home backs on to a woods or a ravine or is close to a subway station, you are an easier target. Having a corner lot is riskier than having a lot with only one frontage as there is more space for the thief to escape. Don't let these obstacles stand in your way of buying the house you want, just bear them in mind when you design your security plan and install the necessary apparatus to cover the risky areas.

If you have not had your home broken into, consider yourself fortunate. The statistics are not in your favor. If you have had your home broken into you are fully aware of the feeling of being violated, it makes you literally sick to your stomach. Either way, it doesn't have to happen whether once or again. You can create a plan to better guard your home, even though no security system is foolproof, if you take sufficient precautions you can at least dissuade all but the most determined criminal. Most home break in's are done by amateurs simply taking advantage of easy pickings.

Being aware of your surroundings is often the best home security system. Get to know your neighbors, get involved with a neighborhood watch and call a reputable home security company to assist you with your analysis. Have a good hard look outside your home. Are there areas in which a person can hide, especially near the windows? When a potential thief has time to break in he often can, regardless of the home security systems you have. If you have areas like this then either trim the foliage or put additional security measures in place such as a window grille. Fencing your yard will help in deterring a criminal, however a privacy fence gives just as much privacy to the burglar as it does to you

Wireless Camera Systems for Your Home

A high quality home security system will generally include wireless security cameras. Although the system will also employ motion detectors, a wireless security camera installation provides more robust protection and is less annoying than a standard security setup that relies on alarms, plus the added benefit of video recorded surveillance. A well designed security system will employ different features but, for a limited budget, a few well positioned wireless security cameras are a good way to get a lot out of a little. Wireless security cameras have a built in transmitter which sends a signal to the receiver which in turn is connected to a piece of video equipment such as a television or a computer. Although all CCTV cameras do the same thing the difference is in the range of transmission, the greater the range the higher the cost.

There are units on the market that can comfortably transmit the signals 500-600 feet all the way to 10 miles or more. They are capable of penetrating almost any solid material found between the transmitter and receiver and the video feed can be recorded or watched live. A well designed system will employ multiple cameras with doors and entrances to the property as a standard; however, pools and gardens are often covered as well, especially if there are small children in the home that need constant attention. The primary advantage to wireless security cameras is the ability to mount them anywhere with the need for costly or unsightly wiring. This versatility gives the home owner the advantage of hiding cameras. Just the sight of security cameras may act as a deterrent to a potential burglar; however, many burglars are adept at avoiding its coverage or simply disabling it.

The drawback to wireless cameras is the fact that they work off battery power and the less expensive models have to recharged daily, more costly models do have long life batteries but eventually even they have to be recharged. Security cameras in and around the home do more than just act as a deterrent to burglars and other unwanted guests, they allow the homeowner to monitor the activity in and around the house. You can easily watch your children as they play in the pool or in their tree house. If you have pets you can monitor them as well, making sure they don't escape, bother the neighbors or get aggravated by other animals. With a remote monitoring system as part of the wireless security camera installation it is possible to monitor your home from anywhere in the world.

Identify Home Security Risks

Burglars are after high value items that are easy to remove from the home. Computers, cash, jewelry, cameras are all favorites. Avoid having items like this visible from the outside of your home, don't leave them in view and when you are not home get in the habit of closing the blinds or drapes when you leave the house. As the old saying goes "out of sight - out of mind". If you have not had your home broken into, consider yourself fortunate. The statistics are not in your favor. If you have had your home broken into you are fully aware of the feeling of being violated, it makes you literally sick to your stomach. Either way, it doesn't have to happen wither once or again. You can create a plan to better guard your home, even though no security system is foolproof, if you take sufficient precautions you can at least dissuade all but the most determined criminal.

 Most home break in's are done by amateurs simply taking advantage of easy pickings. Your first step in guarding your property is to know it well. Survey your property looking for the obvious risks or those that stand out. Look for things like a broken window or windows that are easy to enter and have been left unlocked. Have a good hard look outside your home. Are there areas in which a person can hide, especially near the windows? When a potential thief has time to break in he often can, regardless of the home security system you have. If you have areas like this then either trim the foliage or put additional security measures in place such as a window grille.

Fencing your yard will help in deterring a criminal, however a privacy fence gives just as much privacy to the burglar as it does to you. There are neighborhoods, no matter how nice, that are more prone to break in's than others. If your home backs on to a woods or a ravine or is close to a subway station, you are an easier target. Having a corner lot is riskier than having a lot with only one frontage as there is more space for the thief to escape. Being aware of your surroundings is often the best security. Get to know your neighbors, get involved with a neighborhood watch and call a recognized home alarm company to assist you with your analysis.

Special Care Tips for Aged Relatives

It is very interesting to note that, much like babies, our elderly loved ones require special care and attention. Because they have become advanced in years, concerns regarding their health and safety become even more significant if they insist on a certain level of independence and decide to live on their own. Living not more than three blocks from my parents' house, I often worry about their well-being. However, I find that there are many steps family members like me can take to alleviate anxiety and assist aged relatives in their daily lives. 

Here are some worth sharing:

Keep communication constant

Maintain regular contact with your elderly relatives. I give my parents a call at least once every week to check on health issues, whether they've been having any problems, or simply to find out what's been keeping them busy. They always seem so pleased hearing from me and the kids. I believe this adds a certain amount of joy and comfort to their lives.

Invest in reliable security devices

I heard about medical security devices from a friend who lives with her 85 year-old grandmother. She said that these clever gadgets give her peace of mind even when she's at work and her granny stays at home alone during the day. These devices typically come with a portable panic button that will send an alert when pressed in cases of medical emergencies and accidents. In some units, pressing the panic button activates the speakerphone integrated into the base unit. Other units make use of a built-in automatic phone dialer that places a call to the emergency contact center.

I went online and checked out several types before finally settling on one that automatically dials a specified list of numbers when the distress button is pressed. The medical alarms I bought for my parents sport a fashionable-looking panic button that could be worn as a necklace or as a bracelet – I had to take this into account because I knew my mom would never wear something too obvious or gaudy.

Ever since I got these devices for them, I have felt as if an incredible load has been taken off my back. I no longer have to worry so much about their welfare because I know that in case of an emergency, I was simply a phone call away.

In addition to the medical alarm, I  also installed a security alarm in my parents' home. I got a hold of one that has motion sensors, surveillance cameras, and audible alarms that would surely fend off burglars and intruders.

Granny-proofing for home safety

This is pretty much like baby-proofing the home... except babies do not really use the oven and other potentially dangerous household appliances. As such, take the effort to put in large-sized legible labels on the switches and knobs of electrical devices. Also, try to get rid of tripping or slipping hazards such as small rugs and 'loose' furniture. In addition, make sure that most areas in the house are well-lit- particularly the toilet and the kitchen where accidents commonly occur.