Having running water, hot food and a roof over your head is the first step to surviving.
Living requires a whole lot more luxuries, and one of the most important comforts in the 21st century is effective home protection, to ensure your house is safe from intruders. It used to be that a good, hefty front door and a little wooden gate was enough to discourage criminals from breaking into your home and stealing all your goods, but sadly as technology advances so do burglars.
In 2016, there’s only one way to address this issue and that is to install the very best security systems and take extra precautions to guard your home. However, while some homeowners are able to spend a ton of money on complex, professionally installed security systems, other homeowners simply have to deal with the reality that they are unable to do the same. Luckily, there are home security options on the market today to cover all budgets and requirements, but before you buy check-in with the experts for some tips and tricks:
Shep and Nancy Bryan, Co-Founders of Maximum Security Safes
“In the event that parts of a security system should fail, the last line of defence for any home security system should be your safe. This means that you have already implemented other lines of defence to deter a burglar, such as a dog with a good bark, signs saying you have an alarm system, and of course your actual alarm system. If you want to take your security system a step further, you can also sync your safe with your alarm system. This way, in case of a home invasion, if the burglar tries to get you to open your safe, you can enter an alternate code, which will open the safe, but notify your company at the same time!”
Steven J. Coppola, President of APB Security Systems
“Don’t automatically assume that do it yourself systems are less expensive. In an industry where most licenced professionals routinely offer free or highly discounted installations in return for a central station monitoring commitment, consider the benefits.”
David Nance, Nationally Acclaimed Safety Expert
“My most important tip for homeowners installing DIY home security systems would be to invest in securing all main entrance points and all ground floor windows and doors. More than 50% of home invasions are occurring through first floor entry points.”
Timothy Dahl, DIY Enthusiast
“You not only want to choose a security system that fits your budget and has the devices you need most, but you also need to consider costs for upgrading your system and if they have enough products to fit your future needs, as most people end up expanding on their current system if they are happy with it.”
Dr. Steve Albrecht, Security Consultant & Threat Assessment Expert
“Always get cameras that can work in all types of light. Cameras that give great images during the day don’t always show anything useful at night and vice versa. Related to that is the image itself; the need for a high-quality image, that can be captured to a DVR and printed as a screenshot and given to the cops following a burglary or other incident is critical. Fuzzy, blurry, grainy shots that can’t help the cops identify the face clearly are useless. I’ve seen camera images where it’s hard to identify if it is a mammal!!”
Checklist of Lessons Learned, to Conclude:
- A safe isn’t old school, it’s important.
- Protective animals can provide great home protection.
- DIY security systems aren’t always cheaper.
- Not all security systems are compatible with each other.
- If on a budget, focus on first floor entry points most.
- Check camera quality in both day and night, before buying.
