How To Keep Your Documents Safe at Home

We all have important documents that we’d hate to lose, but let’s face it, accidents can happen even within the comfort of our homes, ranging from burglary to floods and fires. So, how can we ensure our valuable paperwork remains safe and sound? Here are some essential tips to consider:

Compile all documents

The first step may be the most tedious, but also the most important — get all your documents in one place so you can file and safely store them. Examples of the types of home-related records and other papers you should put together include:

• Buyer’s agent agreement;
• Purchase agreement;
• Addenda, amendments or riders;
• Seller disclosures;
• Home inspection report;
• Closing disclosure;
• Title insurance policy;
• Property deed;
• Mortgage agreement;
• Home and product warranties for systems like the water heater, furnace and major appliances;
• System and appliance operating manuals;
• Construction plans and permits for any past remodels;
• Leases and transferable contracts from the seller, i.e. a solar energy system lease;
• Service contracts and receipts for lawn care, pool maintenance, etc.

As long as you are gathering important documents from your home purchase to organize and file, consider taking this opportunity to assemble other documents you may want to keep in a safe and easily accessible spot. Here’s a good checklist:

• Birth and death certificates;
• Marriage licenses;
• Social security cards;
• Passports;
• Wills;
• Medical records;
• Insurance policies;
• Automobile documents;
• Credit card documents;
• Investment documents;
• Loan documents;
• Banking records;
• Tax records;
• Transcripts and diplomas;
• Monthly bills and receipts. Source: FamilyHandyman

Get a home safe

Original documents or copies that you need to keep at home can be kept in a home safe. Your home safe should at least be fireproof, waterproof (if possible) and have a secure locking mechanism. While you can opt for a small portable safe, they do not offer the same protection as a heavier safe that’s securely bolted to the floor.

A home safe allows you to access important documents at a moment’s notice and keeps them safe from emergency events, like fires or floods. Source: BudgetDirect

Secure them with plastic

When storing your documents in a safe, you’ll want to protect them from any wear and tear or accidental spills. One way to do this is by using plastic page slips. Put documents in a plastic sleeve and then file in a binder or box. The binder can then go inside your safe. Each document should be in its own plastic page. Source: Safewise

Can’t decide which home safe will best fit your budget and needs? We’re here to help. Give us a call, and we’ll guide you through the options, ensuring you find the perfect safe to protect your valuable documents.

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How To Protect Your Garage From Break-Ins

While many of us concentrate on securing our front doors, we sometimes forget about the potential vulnerability of our garage spaces – which can be an attractive entry point for intruders if not properly protected. In this blog post, we’ll share simple steps you can implement today to improve your home’s security and ensure peace of mind for you and your family.

Enhance your side door’s lock

Burglars love a good side door where they can do their breaking and entering away from the prying eyes of neighbours. Most exterior garage service doors with standard locks can be defeated with a solid, well-placed kick, but a few simple changes can keep a burglar out.

Toughen up your exterior door security with a deadbolt, and remember that your door’s weakest point is the strike plate, where the lock meets the door. Replace the strike plate with a reinforced one, and use longer screws to secure it. Source: Safewise

Hide your remote

Try to be unique with your hiding spot rather than stashing the garage door remote inside your car’s glove box or hiding it under the seat. Thieves know people keep garage door remotes in cars, so this is bound to be one of the first places they’ll check if they are looking for a push-button break-in method. It’s safest to not leave it in your car at all, especially while your car is sitting in your driveway.

Instead, take it with you when you go inside so thieves poking around in your driveway don’t even know whether a remote exists.

Better yet, upgrade to a universal remote that you can keep on your keychain so you don’t have to carry a bulky device around with you, or switch to a garage door opener that is equipped with smart technology. This will allow you to open and close your garage door remotely through an app on your phone, so you aren’t out of luck if you accidentally leave the door open. Source: Forbes

Install security film on your window

Windows liven up the look of a garage door and let in natural light. Unfortunately, potential thieves are apt to peer in the windows, scoping for expensive tools and to see if all the cars are gone—a good sign that nobody’s home, which may prompt a break-in. Source: BobVila

If you’re looking for help, we’re here to lend a hand! Our dedicated team specializes in ensuring homes are well-protected, and we would be happy to help safeguard yours too. Feel free to reach out to us for any support you may need!

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3 Low-Cost Ways to Improve Your Home’s Security

With the rising cost of home security systems, it can be difficult for anyone on a budget to feel secure about protecting their property. Luckily, there are some easily implementable measures you can take that offer great protection without breaking the bank! Here are some of them:

Put thorny plants under your windows

Prickly bushes with sharp leaves or thorny branches planted beneath your ground-level windows not only make it more difficult for a would-be burglar to access these entry points, but can also serve as an evidence collection tool in the event of a successful break-in; blood, skin, and torn clothing captured by your shrubbery can be used to track down the bad guy. Holly, rose, or berry bushes can all work as effective biological barbed wire; find a plant that will grow well in your local area. Source: ArtOfManliness

Secure your garage and shed

Always keep garage doors closed, even while at home, so thieves are not able to spot items they may want to steal later. Lock valuable items, such as expensive bicycles and grills, with a chain and pad lock. Install a hasp and padlock on shed doors. Source: BobVila

Hide your valuables in plain sight

You can create DIY hiding spots around your home that even the most experienced burglar won’t check. Burglars typically go for your bedroom and are less likely to check your kid’s room or bathroom. But there are other spots around the home that they’re never going to check. One place to store your valuables is to drill a small hole big enough to fit a tube into your door frame. Inside the tube, store your most expensive valuables and cash, like small jewelry and large sums of money. You can also make a floating shelf with a secret compartment on the bottom to store your valuables, or install a secret shelf behind a large piece of art. Places that seem to be right in the burglar’s face are usually the least likely places the burglar will check. Source: HomeAddict

If you want to know more affordable ways to enhance the security of your home, specifically tailored to suit your budget, call us! Our dedicated team is well-equipped to offer you valuable insights, personalized recommendations, and expert advice.

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Costs To Consider When Installing a Home Security System

Ensuring the safety and security of our homes and loved ones is a top priority for every homeowner. With advancements in technology, installing a home security system has become an increasingly popular choice. Continue reading to learn more about some important factors that homeowners need to consider when evaluating the overall expenses of implementing a reliable home security solution.

Monitoring

If your home security system is monitored, expect to pay a monthly fee. The fee depends on the type of monitoring, and there are two kinds:

• Landline monitoring: Landline monitoring is the old industry standard and costs $20 to $30 per month. It’s what it sounds like—your system sends your security company information through your home’s landline.
• Cellular/GSM monitoring: Cellular monitoring costs $10 to $65 per month, and it’s quickly becoming the most popular modern option. This type of system has a GSM chip in the central control panel which sends signals to your security company through a cellular (or wireless) network.

Oftentimes, you’ll see cellular/GSM monitoring used as a landline backup, since something as simple as cutting a home phone line is enough to compromise a landline system. That being said, cellular systems are more susceptible to hacking or signal interference. Source: Angi

Alarm permits

In most areas, you’ll need a permit along with your home security alarm purchase. Alarm permits register your security system with local fire and police departments, which helps decrease false alarms and provide quick contact with homeowners. Source: USNews

Additional equipment

Most home security companies offer advanced security tools that work with the control station, including security cameras, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and motion sensors. A few of these devices may be included in the plan you choose, but if you want more advanced security, you should budget for some extra items.

While adding a small motion sensor may not come with significant additional fees, adding cameras or smart devices can add a substantial amount to your total security equipment cost. Source: Safewise

If you’re looking for cost-effective security options that won’t incur monthly fees, there are budget-friendly alternatives available. To learn more about these affordable options tailored to your needs, call us today!

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A Renters Guide to Enhancing Apartment Security

Home security is something we all care about, but for renters in particular, it can be tough to take the necessary steps to make sure your place and family are safe. Fortunately, irrespective of whether you own or rent your home, there are a number of inexpensive improvements you can do today to boost the security of your apartment.

Think like a thief

One of the simplest ways to stop crimes of opportunity is to remove the opportunity. Keep your valuables hidden, away from windows, where they might tempt thieves to target your place. While you might not be able to hide your TV, you can keep your blinds down when you’re away from home during the day, when burglars are more likely to strike.

You can also use books and safes to store valuables like jewelry. That way, if the unfortunate happens and someone does get in, they will struggle to find items worth their time. Source: CNET

Get a door jammer

Door jammers, or door security bars, are adjustable metal tubes with a nonslip rubber foot on the bottom and a rubberized cup- or V-shaped block at the top. To use one, adjust the length of the pole, wedge the cup-shaped block under the doorknob, and then firmly press or kick the foot toward the door until it is firmly wedged in place. Should someone try to open the door while the bar is in place, pressure on the door will tighten the position of the bar, making it impossible to open the door. These bars can be used on the main entry door, but they are also one of the best bedroom door lock options if you’d like another layer of security between you and the entry door at night, or if you have roommates against whom you’d like to secure the door overnight.

For lever-handled doors, there are also jammers that fold in half, wedging underneath the door itself and pressing into the floor behind itself to create the same effect (these are also the best portable door locks for travel). Source: BobVila

Call a locksmith

If your complex allows it, call in a professional security company to evaluate your apartment’s safety and offer tips or services. Hiring a local home security service to assess your home and provide recommendations on access points that need a security boost is a great way to instill confidence in the safety of your space.

Additionally, a professional company will have signs that you can display in your apartment’s windows, sliders, and even on your door, letting potential vandals know that your home is fortified. Source: Angi

We’d love to help you feel safer at home. Don’t wait until the last minute – call us today and give yourself the peace of mind you deserve.

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Home Security System Maintenance Checklist

As a homeowner, the security and safety of your home should be one of your top priorities. With so many potential risks out there, it’s essential that you take steps toward protecting yourself and your loved ones from harm. A home security system can help mitigate those risks, but they must also be properly maintained to continue working properly. Discover everything you need to know about its maintenance by reading below.

Replace batteries and check expiration dates

Test and replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and check the expiration date on your fire extinguishers to confirm they’re ready in the event of an emergency.

Source: Travelers

Wipe down dirt

There are a few home security devices that you need to clean to work properly. First, make sure to dust the control panel weekly to prevent dust bunnies and cobwebs from interfering with delicate inner workings.

Next, wipe down the lenses of security cameras around the house with a microfiber cloth spritzed with glass cleaner. After all, smudgy footage is useless footage.

Check latest updates

Make sure that your home security app is updated to prevent glitches when you’re using it and to prevent vulnerabilities that create loopholes for hackers.

How to update apps using the Apple Store:

1. Open the App Store on your phone.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Find the app in the list.
4. Tap the Update button next to the app name.

How to update apps using Google Play:

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Choose My apps & games option.
4. Find the app in the list.
5. Tap the Update button next to the app name. Source: Safewise

Do an annual inspection

Your own checks help prevent major malfunctions in your security system, but an annual inspection from a qualified technician helps ensure everything stays running optimally for years to come. An inspector performs a more thorough check on all the components, wiring, power supplies and sensors in the system and replaces or repairs anything that is not performing at 100 percent. Most companies offer annual inspections at relatively low cost, and many include it as a part of the initial installation agreement. This helps prevent more expensive repairs down the road and also reduces the risk of the system failing when you need it most.

Source: TheSpruce

If you’re looking for a more personalized assistance or guidance when it comes to ensuring your home’s security, don’t hesitate to give us a call! 

 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

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Home Security Checklist

With advances in technology, there are now plenty of options for building layers of protection around your property. But before you invest in an expensive security system, it’s important to consider what basic measures will protect you immediately. Hence, we’ve created this comprehensive home security checklist so you can strengthen your home’s defenses easily — no contractors or major investments required!

Make sure your house is well lit

First of all, be sure to add lighting to your home’s exterior areas. A poorly lit yard, driveway, or walkway can be inviting to burglars who seek out an opportunity to conceal their actions.

Inspect the area around your home and take steps to maximize lighting by replacing light bulbs, installing flood lights, placing path lights along walkways, and installing smart lighting systems that can be controlled on personal devices or by motion. Source: Modernize

Install strong locks

About 58% of burglaries involve forcible entry, which can be deterred by strong locks. All locks should ideally be changed before you move into a new home, and all deadbolts must be in working order.

Source: MyMove

Remove potential hiding spots

Trees located near windows or shrubbery that might shield a burglar from view can be major flaws in your home-protection plan. Consider your landscaping plan in light of your protection needs.

Source: Home.HowStuffWorks

Protect your identity

Put your street number, not your name, on your mailbox. Displaying your name is not necessary for mail to be delivered and will only increase the risk of identity theft.

Source: RealSimple

Put up signs that state your home is monitored

Be sure to display the yard and window decals that your home security company provides you with. We recommend placing these decals on the windows that face the side and rear of your home, as well as in the front, because burglars enter through windows and doors in over half of all unoccupied break-ins.

Source: SafeWise

If you need help installing the right home security system or have any other questions about keeping your home secure, give us a call!

 

Contact:

Prime Locksmith

(778) 868-4628

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