Are Your Customers Following These Home Security Do’s and Don’ts?
A veteran security and safety analyst offers home security best practices to share with your customers.
With the pure amount of security solutions available to consumers, homeowners are better protected than ever. However, one can’t rely solely on security cameras and motion sensors. Even with a high-end security system, common sense is still required in order to remain totally safe.
Below are 10 home security do’s and don’ts from Robert Hessel, president of Source 1 Solutions. Offer these to your customers as a friendly reminder of home security best practices.
♦ DO check the house before you leave. Most know to check the obvious like locked doors and closed windows. What some individuals don’t realize is the importance of secondary safety measures. Be sure to check back, side and patio doors. If you have spare keys hidden about, be sure to verify the disguised locations. Make sure no-one knows where they are hidden, and it is not obviously placed under a doormat or in a visible window sill.
♦ DO keep your family in the safety loop. All members of your family need to know how to properly lock the doors and check the perimeter if something is suspicious. Purchase easy-to-use devices that your kids can set for safety precautions as well. Although this isn’t the kid’s job on a normal basis, it instills positive qualities of safety and awareness for multiple generations.
♦ DO stay vigilant to neighborhood activity. The nosey neighbor stereotype is prominent for a reason. The more information you know about the norm the more you know about what might be askew. Be the point person for happenings on your block. A community newsletter or monthly meet up can be a proactive way to keep everyone informed.
♦ DO make friends with your neighbors. Your neighbors are the perfect addition to a quality home security system. As much help as they can provide for you, reciprocally, you can provide for them. Awareness goes a long way in the arena of safety. Keep the lines of communication open and be weary if something seems out of place.
♦ DO say something if you see something. Whether it is for your own home or someone else’s, instincts indicate importance. If a neighbor is leaving town, offer to keep a close eye for anything out of the ordinary. Listen to your gut if you get the feeling that something is off. Work with the local police to keep your neighborhood safe.
♦ DON’T post your personal locations online. In the era of technology, constant sharing with digital communities is commonplace. Just because you can does not mean you should. Something as simple as a photo of a backyard BBQ can inform criminals of your home and property layout. Geotagging informs individuals of your schedule and usual locations. Be careful what you post and where you check-in. Assume everything you post is seen by everyone online.
♦ DON’T try to install home security systems yourself. Home security systems and safety measures need to be installed by a professional. These methods leave room for error if not established by the individuals who know them best. This is not the place to try to pinch pennies. Go all out on proper installation to verify the security of your home and your family’s personal safety.
♦ DON’T trust everyone that comes to your home. There can be a lot of extra bodies that enter your property at any given time. Keep extra information to a minimum. Don’t inform service individuals of your complete work and activity schedule. One method to remain vigilance is to get a number passcode lock on your door. This way you can give the code out and change it easily too. No more constantly changing all the locks after extra keys disappear.
♦ DON’T skimp on security measures. In the past, a security system did the trick for home safety. Prior to that, a locked door was all you needed. This is no longer the case. Now, a security system with cameras, proper landscaping, strong key locks, window closures, and adequate lighting are the basics to a safe and secure home.
♦ DON’T stay in the dark. Lights are not just for decorative purposes. The more light there is in and around the home, the less dark spots for mystery to lurk. Security lighting should be present in the home and on the outer property. Motion-activated spotlights can be a wonderful deterrent in criminal activity and even unwanted critters. Keep porch lights on, and indoor house lights on a timer to create the illusion of presence.
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