What Do You Do to Keep Your Home Secure?
Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed
Home security is important. Crime doesn’t go away, it keeps growing. There are many things you can do to keep yourself, and your home/possessions, safe. Thanks go out to Joe for sending in some tips on how to keep your home safe.
- The first and the most important tip is to purchase a homeowner’s insurance. Purchasing separate insurance for your most valuable possessions is a next step. If you have the proper insurance, even if all your security measures fail, you may still be able to recoup a portion of lost valuables. Many of the insurance companies will require you to install some type of the security system before an insurance policy will be issued to you.
- Tip number 2 is to store the most expensive and most valuable items (including jewelry, money, etc.) in a safe deposit box in the bank. This step will definitely protect your valuables. The expensive items that are needed in the house can be kept in the safe.
- Tips number 3 & 4 are to install an alarm system and sign up for the alarm monitoring service. When you are installing the alarm system, make sure that the fire and smoke detectors are integrated with the system. The alarm monitoring service is also very important. Without the monitoring, you can not be sure what time will pass before someone will notice the fact that the system went off and will call the police. With the alarm monitoring system, the police department is contacted right away.
- Tip number 5 is to include motion detectors as a part of your alarm system. Motion detectors can be installed inside the house, near windows and doors. With motion detectors, you will become aware of any movement inside the house. The alarm system will be triggered by the detector and the monitoring company will be notified. It is also a good advice to have a motion sensor light outside your house.
- Tip number 6 deals with the situation when you are installing video cameras as a part of your security system. When you are installing video cameras, you should purchase the cameras that provide infrared functionality. There cameras will usually switch to the black and white mode and will turn infrared LEDs when it gets dark.
- Tip number 7 deals with the power down situations. You should purchase and charge the back up power supply in advance. In a case of a power down situation, a back up power supply will keep your security system up and running… and your house protected. Without a power supply, you risk a complete stop in the functionality of your security system.
- Tip number 8 is to go wireless. If you have wired cameras, you should probably upgrade them to wireless cameras that don’t need a wire connecting them to the VCR. Wireless cameras are easier to install, manage and hide. It will be harder for a criminal to notice a wireless camera than a wired one. If you signed up for the alarm monitoring systems, you should check if the security company has a wireless option (when the system can use cellular link to contact the company if the alarm goes off).
- Tip number 9 is to make sure that you lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house. Also, don’t forget to turn your alarm on before you leave and turn it off when you come back. If you don’t do these simple steps, even the most expensive security system may not be able to protect you.
- Tip number 10 is to join a neighborhood watch program, if there is one. This is definitely very important. If you are not at home, some of your neighbors may be. If they can keep an eye on your house, this will provide an additional level of security. Talk to your neighbors and see if you can join a program. If there is no neighborhood watch program in place, it might be a good idea to discuss the possibility of creating one with your neighbors.
The above tips, especially the first one, don’t only apply to keep yourself safe from criminals. Please, please make sure you are properly insured, even if you rent. My assistant, Kat, nearly lost her home due to fire recently. She didn’t have renter’s insurance at the time, as she thought it would be too expensive. She called the day after this near-tragedy happened, and is now fully insured. What she went through only goes to show you how quickly something can happen, when you least expect it. Ponzi and I are both very glad that Kat, her family, and her home are ok. I hope to be able to say the same about all of you in the future, as well.
- Paid Survey Group, Home Business Programs, Wholesale Lists, Money Jobs.
- New* How To Protect Your Computer Online.
- The Ultimate Guide To Home Security.
Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:
Need a new domain name? See why GoDaddy is the #1 domain registrar worldwide. Now with your domain registration, you'll get hosting, a free blog, complete email system, and much more! Plus, as a listener of The Chris Pirillo Show, enter code CHRIS1 when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy!
16 Comments
Seth
July 6th, 2008
at 10:55pm
Step one, get your home insured
Step two, get two dogs.
Done. This method is cheaper and you also get two fun friends to play with.
Ron Acierno
July 6th, 2008
at 11:40pm
Chris - Don’t know if it is a law that varies from state to state but in Ohio it is illegal to store money (cash) in a safety deposit box. I have actually known some people that mentioned that they wanted to put jewelry and some money in one when they went to get one at their bank and the bank will not allow them to get one through them ever now.
How to Keep Your Home Secure. » State Your Purpose
July 6th, 2008
at 11:49pm
[...] came across this very interesting video by fellow blogger, Chris Pirillo, that may be helpful to many people looking into home security. This list was provided by one of [...]
Al
July 7th, 2008
at 1:28am
My household only does number 9. We can’t afford anything else in that list and i am sure most people can’t. The richer get richer and the poorer become poorer.
Can’t do 10: All of our neighbors are selfish jerks.
Don’t have Dogs either. :(
E2001
July 7th, 2008
at 6:22am
Move to the wrong side of the tracks. People don’t s**t where they eat.
Yoni
July 7th, 2008
at 6:35am
The most basic first step is to choose a safe neighborhood.
Most of my neighbors are well-armed and I suspect criminals are aware of this. Anyway, there have been no burglaries in my neighborhood for a very long time - maybe never.
Somehow I doubt the relative safety of mid-continent living will be enough to persuade Chris to move back to Iowa from San Francisco.
And there is that earthquake vs tornado thing, too.
When buying insurance, try to find out how often the company you are considering denies claims. They differ quite a bit and the cheapest rates don’t come with the best service.
Rod Neel
July 7th, 2008
at 7:55am
I believe you forgot - A handgun in “every” room! Keep one in the car and on your belt as well.
Brie Sansotta
July 7th, 2008
at 9:32am
All good points. I also have the sign in the front yard. That maydeter the run-of-the-mill crook from even trying it.
MakesAlarmSystemsForALiving
July 7th, 2008
at 9:49am
The alarm system does not “protect”. It may give you notification if someone breaks in, and the sign in the front yard could possibly act as a deterrent, but there is no “protection” whatsoever. You’re a lot better off spending the $30/mo you pay the alarm monitoring company on additional insurance.
..but having a kick-*** blinking, beeping and talking alarm system can also be fun if you’re geeky enough. Like me.
steve
July 7th, 2008
at 4:34pm
I don’t even have a key to my house. If you want to come in you will have to get past the dog. He won’t let you leave either if you do get in.
Jeremy- aka superduck
July 8th, 2008
at 12:03am
whatever happens happens…. if someone is determined to break into your house they are going to do it… its really easy these days with lockpicking videos on you tube…. pretty much anybody can break into a house now days……
Mark (Purpleforces1)
July 8th, 2008
at 12:23am
These are some very good points that you made here. Thanks for the tips.
The Modern Geek
July 8th, 2008
at 12:33am
Chris Pirillo Is the Speed Limit a Gas Saver? Ron Paul Campaign Cola Wine, Sports Q&A with Gary VaynerchukWhat Do You Do to Keep Your Home Secure?Why Aren’t All Linux Live CDs Customizable?
v
July 9th, 2008
at 6:18am
first, there is no “safe” neighborhood. i live in charlotte, nc. home break-ins are targeted at “nice” neighborhoods. who wants to steal from the poor?
next, there is no “protection” only deterrence. if they really want in, they can get in.
fear of bodily harm is the best deterrent. therefore a dog is the best way to go.
think about it. a thief can steal your stuff without the threat of being bitten, or fight a dog to try to steal your stuff. unless they specifically want in your house, 100% of the thiefs will avoid the confrontation with an aggressive dog.
i have lived in a Crack neighborhood for 25 years. ive been broken into 5 times and had a rental house burned down during periods without a dog. i have never had one item stolen while Harley is on patrol.
and just a side note. Harley loves kids and people in general. he just doesnt like strangers inside his fence. perfect dog!
i love Harley!
Ray
July 10th, 2008
at 9:38pm
From one of the murder capitals of the US hello.
Crime is rampant here like it is in many other cities. The
level of professional criminals is astounding. If they want to kill you, they will. If they want your car, it’s their’s. If they want you, they will beat, rob, rape and kill you even if you don’t resist. They will break into your home at some point in time even if you have the best security system.
However, a good vicious sounding dog inside a home that will raise all kinds of holy heck and a sensor that reacts to his barking to turn on the lights automatically will usually scare them off as most of them can always find an easier mark elsewhere without all the extra trouble. If you use a vehicle security system, use everything you can afford from alarms to 3 and 4 kill switches. A CLUB is no guarantee but will slow them down some. Don’t leave valuables in the trunk of your car. I learned during in emergency extrication training how easily an automobile trunk can be opened with a long screwdriver. Usually about 6 to 8 seconds. Some newer style cars are more difficult, but the thieves keep up with this stuff and they know how to easiy defeat most locking mechanisms with either ‘bumping methods’ or brute force.
PC-Tech
July 11th, 2008
at 6:50pm
I don’t do any of that, i am insured though, but the most security worries are mainly on my PC, i keep copies of all product keys on my PC i have some mega protected files on my computer, i have a folder locking program, on all productr key folders, and a double password on the folder with viruses that i made, i think that if you think your home is safe enough, you should startr to think about securing your PC incase it gets stolen, some good things to protect would be bank account folders, and any personal files that you would not want people to be able to get to, it is also a good idea to use passwords that are not eaisly guessed. i think thats it :)
- PC-Tech