|
There are many factors that come into play when determining your home insurance premium. The location of your property, as well as the materials it is made of (construction is a factor because some construction materials are more fire resistant than others) and the type of policy all come together to deduce a final policy cost. There are ways, however, of lowering your existing home insurance premium by taking steps to lower the risk that the insurance company accepts on your home.
Having an alarm system professionally installed will decrease your home insurance premium.i> Each insurance company has their own policies on alarm systems, however the end result is that by installing and maintaining the service of a home security company, you are helping the insurance company feel secure about insuring your property. In short, they incurr less risk when inusring properties that are less prone to to burlgary.
Insurance companies also love the idea of having a fire monitoring system within your alarm system. Fire is the number one risk that all insurance companies dread. It often results in a total loss of the insured property, and a hefty payout that they have to send to the customer. By having a fire alert system installed, as well as smoke detectors on all floors, you are telling your insurance company that you are taking every step necessary to ensure that the home will not be lost to a fire.
All insurance companies have a keen interest in lessening claims. They are willing to grant discounts to customers who actively participate in lessening the home’s risk of theft and fire.
Having an alarm system professionally installed will decrease your home insurance premium.i> Each insurance company has their own policies on alarm systems, however the end result is that by installing and maintaining the service of a home security company, you are helping the insurance company feel secure about insuring your property. In short, they incurr less risk when inusring properties that are less prone to to burlgary.
Insurance companies also love the idea of having a fire monitoring system within your alarm system. Fire is the number one risk that all insurance companies dread. It often results in a total loss of the insured property, and a hefty payout that they have to send to the customer. By having a fire alert system installed, as well as smoke detectors on all floors, you are telling your insurance company that you are taking every step necessary to ensure that the home will not be lost to a fire.
All insurance companies have a keen interest in lessening claims. They are willing to grant discounts to customers who actively participate in lessening the home’s risk of theft and fire.
05/08/08: Doors And Locks: Are They Up To The Job?
Your doors and locks are the first barrier between a burglar and your home and family. Because of this, you want to make sure that your doors and locks are sufficient for your home's security. Always remember, a burglar will simply bypass your home if it requires too much effort or skill.
The Hardware Involved:
The use of high quality Grade-1 or Grade-2 locks on exterior doors can help resist twisting, prying, and lock-picking attempts. A quality deadbolt lock will often have a beveled casing that can stop the use of channel-lock pliers. (These are used to shear off lock cylinder pins.)
The Support Staff Involved:
Most people don’t realize that their front door might be the equivalent of putting a solid steel door in a straw house. The walls and jambs around it must be secure also.
The most common way used to force entry through a door with a wooden jamb is to just kick it; the weakest point is usually the lock strike plate that holds the latch or lock bolt in place. The average door strike plate is secured only by the wood doorjamb molding. These lightweight moldings are often tacked on to the door frame and can be torn away with a firm kick.
What You Can Do:
In order to avoid this pitfall in security, you should upgrade your door jamb to a four-screw, heavy-duty, high security strike plate. You can get this at most hardware stores and home improvement centers.
This strike plate should be installed using 3 inch wood screws. You want them to embed deeply into the door frame stud.
Your doors and locks are an important key to your home security. Make sure they are up to the job.
The Hardware Involved:
The use of high quality Grade-1 or Grade-2 locks on exterior doors can help resist twisting, prying, and lock-picking attempts. A quality deadbolt lock will often have a beveled casing that can stop the use of channel-lock pliers. (These are used to shear off lock cylinder pins.)
The Support Staff Involved:
Most people don’t realize that their front door might be the equivalent of putting a solid steel door in a straw house. The walls and jambs around it must be secure also.
The most common way used to force entry through a door with a wooden jamb is to just kick it; the weakest point is usually the lock strike plate that holds the latch or lock bolt in place. The average door strike plate is secured only by the wood doorjamb molding. These lightweight moldings are often tacked on to the door frame and can be torn away with a firm kick.
What You Can Do:
In order to avoid this pitfall in security, you should upgrade your door jamb to a four-screw, heavy-duty, high security strike plate. You can get this at most hardware stores and home improvement centers.
This strike plate should be installed using 3 inch wood screws. You want them to embed deeply into the door frame stud.
Your doors and locks are an important key to your home security. Make sure they are up to the job.
05/07/08: How To Handle a False Alarm
Setting your alarm off accidentally is a common occurrence, and will happen occasionally.
Here are some of the ways that alarms are set off accidentally:
1. Small children entering the home before the parents.
2. Household help (Maids, Cooks, Pet Sitter) who are unfamiliar with the system
3. Relatives who have forgotten the pass-code
4. Resident opening the door, then running back out to the car for something that was forgotten, meanwhile forgetting they have only 60 seconds to cancel the alarm
5. Residents trying to put down their bags or go the bathroom before shutting the system down
6. Setting the alarm but not closing the door properly
7. Leaving balloons in the home with the motion sensor activated
As you can see, sometimes there are false alarms simply because the resident is trying to ‘beat the clock,’ and sometimes false alarms are caused forgetfulness or inexperience with the system.
Here are some steps to help you avoid some of the false alarms:
1. Ensure that anyone who has authorized access to your home knows your passcode and is completely familiar with the use of the system.
2. Try to not put yourself in the position of beating the clock. As hard as it may be, stop what you are doing and shut the system off first.
3. Make sure that all of your doors and windows are properly closed and that the contacts are lined up.
If you do set your alarm off accidentally DON‘T PANIC! Enter your passcode and when the alarm company calls, give them your password.
05/06/08: Protect Your Home From Fires
A fire is arguably the fastest and most destructive force that can destroy a home. There are thousands of ways that a fire can start.
Carelessly discarded smoking materials
Unwatched fires in the fireplace
Clogged or closed Chimneys
Faulty Electrical equipment
Kitchen Fires
Candles
Arson
After considering all of the ways that a fire can start, we can consider the ways it can be detected.
Smoke and Fire Alarm
Watchful Resident
Home Security System with Fire Detection
While both smoke and fire alarms and home security systems set off sirens to alert residents to a possible fire, they are only successful if:
1. Someone is home to hear it
2. The resident is not hearing impaired or a deep sleeper
Have a fire alert system installed with your home security system is the safest bet of all. Your system will immediately alert the closest Fire Station about your situation, and dispatch them to your home. Too many homes go up in flames simply because there was no one home to hear the alarms. By having a fire alert capability in your home security system, you can rest easy knowing that you do not have to be home to hear the alarm, your home will be protected even if it is vacant.
In addition, those residents that are deep sleepers, who might not awaken even to a fire alarm, will still be safe, as well as residents that are hearing impaired and cannot hear a fire alarm.
Protect your home and yourself from fires by ensuring that the Fire Fighters will be dispatched, even if you aren’t home to make the call.
Carelessly discarded smoking materials
Unwatched fires in the fireplace
Clogged or closed Chimneys
Faulty Electrical equipment
Kitchen Fires
Candles
Arson
After considering all of the ways that a fire can start, we can consider the ways it can be detected.
Smoke and Fire Alarm
Watchful Resident
Home Security System with Fire Detection
While both smoke and fire alarms and home security systems set off sirens to alert residents to a possible fire, they are only successful if:
1. Someone is home to hear it
2. The resident is not hearing impaired or a deep sleeper
Have a fire alert system installed with your home security system is the safest bet of all. Your system will immediately alert the closest Fire Station about your situation, and dispatch them to your home. Too many homes go up in flames simply because there was no one home to hear the alarms. By having a fire alert capability in your home security system, you can rest easy knowing that you do not have to be home to hear the alarm, your home will be protected even if it is vacant.
In addition, those residents that are deep sleepers, who might not awaken even to a fire alarm, will still be safe, as well as residents that are hearing impaired and cannot hear a fire alarm.
Protect your home and yourself from fires by ensuring that the Fire Fighters will be dispatched, even if you aren’t home to make the call.
Many consumers stress over the decision to include, or not include, a siren with their home security system. In today’s noise-pollution conscious society, the thought of a blasting siren isn’t always considered as a positive. There are also noise ordinances in some neighborhoods prohibiting sounds louder than specific decibels, so consumers are cautious when considering this option.
My advice is to choose the loudest possible siren for your alarm system.
Why you should choose the loudest alarm siren that you can get:
*Burglars are criminals who don’t want to get caught. They operate in secret silence to avoid notice and evade capture. A screaming siren completely negates the opportunity to work in secret.
*Your neighbors will likely hear the siren, and call the police, or, at the very least, look out their window to find out what’s going on. Again, this negates the ‘operating in secret’ desire of any burglars and increases their chance of being caught.
*The siren will break a burglars concentration. Even if the burglar decides to try and make a quick grab while the alarm system is going off, the sheer noise will break his/her concentration.
*The siren will help the police zero in on your location, especially in a crowded area, and allow them to get to your home fast
Strobe Lights: Another option
Using strobe lights in conjunction with your alarm siren is another great way to attract attention to your home during a break in. Again, this is exactly what a burglar does not want: attention. In addition, strobe lights in a dark house will help the police move directly to your home’s location.
Attract as much attention to your home as possible during a break in. Sirens and Strobe lights can and will make a difference.
My advice is to choose the loudest possible siren for your alarm system.
Why you should choose the loudest alarm siren that you can get:
*Burglars are criminals who don’t want to get caught. They operate in secret silence to avoid notice and evade capture. A screaming siren completely negates the opportunity to work in secret.
*Your neighbors will likely hear the siren, and call the police, or, at the very least, look out their window to find out what’s going on. Again, this negates the ‘operating in secret’ desire of any burglars and increases their chance of being caught.
*The siren will break a burglars concentration. Even if the burglar decides to try and make a quick grab while the alarm system is going off, the sheer noise will break his/her concentration.
*The siren will help the police zero in on your location, especially in a crowded area, and allow them to get to your home fast
Strobe Lights: Another option
Using strobe lights in conjunction with your alarm siren is another great way to attract attention to your home during a break in. Again, this is exactly what a burglar does not want: attention. In addition, strobe lights in a dark house will help the police move directly to your home’s location.
Attract as much attention to your home as possible during a break in. Sirens and Strobe lights can and will make a difference.
05/04/08: Saftey In Numbers
Neighborhood Watch programs provide a very useful framework for home safety; forming a solid neighborhood watch program in your area is often a first line of defense against crime.
Ensuring a criminal cannot get into your home is imperative, however ensuring that a criminal cannot walk freely in your neighborhood can keep everyone safe, even when they’re playing in the yard.
Of course, keeping any neighborhood watch program active and maintained once it is established is the key to it’s success.
Our society cherishes it’s privacy, but unfortunately that privacy has a side effect; we often live and work in neighborhoods where we don’t even know who lives next door, never mind who lives three houses down. A neighborhood watch program needs to have every neighbor involved. You must know the people living near you to protect them, and they must know you to look out for your interests, too. An inactive neighborhood watch program results in a burglar stealing items from a neighbor’s home unnoticed, and that neighbor could be you. Having a close-knit neighborhood makes it safer for everyone.
Know your:
• Neighbor’s names and faces
• The names and faces of their children
Notify your neighborhood watch if you are:• Moving or having large household items moved
• Going on Vacation, and for how long
• Traveling for Business while leaving the rest of the family alone
Having a home security system is a vital tool to protect you family and your home, but remember that there is also safety in numbers. If you do not have a neighborhood watch program in your area, then start one. If you have one, please consider becoming an active member.
Ensuring a criminal cannot get into your home is imperative, however ensuring that a criminal cannot walk freely in your neighborhood can keep everyone safe, even when they’re playing in the yard.
Of course, keeping any neighborhood watch program active and maintained once it is established is the key to it’s success.
Our society cherishes it’s privacy, but unfortunately that privacy has a side effect; we often live and work in neighborhoods where we don’t even know who lives next door, never mind who lives three houses down. A neighborhood watch program needs to have every neighbor involved. You must know the people living near you to protect them, and they must know you to look out for your interests, too. An inactive neighborhood watch program results in a burglar stealing items from a neighbor’s home unnoticed, and that neighbor could be you. Having a close-knit neighborhood makes it safer for everyone.
Know your:
• Neighbor’s names and faces
• The names and faces of their children
Notify your neighborhood watch if you are:• Moving or having large household items moved
• Going on Vacation, and for how long
• Traveling for Business while leaving the rest of the family alone
Having a home security system is a vital tool to protect you family and your home, but remember that there is also safety in numbers. If you do not have a neighborhood watch program in your area, then start one. If you have one, please consider becoming an active member.
05/03/08: Common Tactics to Gain Entry
Home invasions are increasing throughout the United States. This increase in criminal activity has driven an increase in the amount of Home Security Systems that have been purchased and installed. Your home security system, however, is only as good as you want to to be.
Criminals are trying to outsmart homeowners with security systems installed by trying to gain access to your home by invitation. The best way to prevent this is to know the common tactics being used by criminals to gain entry into your home, and avoid them.
Repair Persons:
If a person dressed in a hard hat and possibly a (forged) identification tag comes to your door saying that they are an Electric company repairman or possibly a Gas company employee, and requests access to your home, do not let them in. The reality of the situation is that neither electric company nor gas company employees will every need to enter your home unless you had called them specifically. Their job duties are only to inspect and repair the gas lines in the ground throughout your area, not in your home.
Delivery Persons:
If someone tries to deliver flowers or a package to your home, do not let them in. They are not required to come into your house to deliver their packages. If the delivery person is insistent upon entering, call the police immediately.
Remember, it is your right and responsibility to protect yourself and your home. You do not have to allow anyone unauthorized into your home.
Criminals are trying to outsmart homeowners with security systems installed by trying to gain access to your home by invitation. The best way to prevent this is to know the common tactics being used by criminals to gain entry into your home, and avoid them.
Repair Persons:
If a person dressed in a hard hat and possibly a (forged) identification tag comes to your door saying that they are an Electric company repairman or possibly a Gas company employee, and requests access to your home, do not let them in. The reality of the situation is that neither electric company nor gas company employees will every need to enter your home unless you had called them specifically. Their job duties are only to inspect and repair the gas lines in the ground throughout your area, not in your home.
Delivery Persons:
If someone tries to deliver flowers or a package to your home, do not let them in. They are not required to come into your house to deliver their packages. If the delivery person is insistent upon entering, call the police immediately.
Remember, it is your right and responsibility to protect yourself and your home. You do not have to allow anyone unauthorized into your home.
05/02/08: Motion Sensors Combat Vertical Theft
Why are motion sensors important?
Burglars are going to great lengths to break into both buildings and homes these days, and the lengths that they are going to are getting higher, vertically.
Many reports are showing that criminals are getting smarter, and in the search to evade home and business security alarms, they are cutting through ceilings and rooftops. No doors are opened, no window alarms are tripped; they are slipping in through a whole in the roof or ceiling, and then climbing right back out with their stolen goods.
This new tactic can be avoided by taking advantage of a simple device that has been offered for a long time, the Motion Sensors.
As long as there are motions sensors installed for your business or home, no one can move within your structure without setting off the alarms. They are designed to function when you are not home, of course. You cannot set the motion sensors when you are home, because you’ll just set them off yourself!
What about Pets?
The new motion sensors have a special design that allows them to compensate for pets. Your dog or cat won’t set your alarm off, but a burglar will.
Sensors can be installed in any room where there are valuables, and especially those rooms with rooftop access. Cathedral ceilings and skylights have offered burglars both a perfect view of their prospective territory, and a perfect access point to avoid door and window alarms.
Consider a motion sensor to protect your home or business from a vertical theft.
Burglars are going to great lengths to break into both buildings and homes these days, and the lengths that they are going to are getting higher, vertically.
Many reports are showing that criminals are getting smarter, and in the search to evade home and business security alarms, they are cutting through ceilings and rooftops. No doors are opened, no window alarms are tripped; they are slipping in through a whole in the roof or ceiling, and then climbing right back out with their stolen goods.
This new tactic can be avoided by taking advantage of a simple device that has been offered for a long time, the Motion Sensors.
As long as there are motions sensors installed for your business or home, no one can move within your structure without setting off the alarms. They are designed to function when you are not home, of course. You cannot set the motion sensors when you are home, because you’ll just set them off yourself!
What about Pets?
The new motion sensors have a special design that allows them to compensate for pets. Your dog or cat won’t set your alarm off, but a burglar will.
Sensors can be installed in any room where there are valuables, and especially those rooms with rooftop access. Cathedral ceilings and skylights have offered burglars both a perfect view of their prospective territory, and a perfect access point to avoid door and window alarms.
Consider a motion sensor to protect your home or business from a vertical theft.
05/01/08: Home Security is Peace of Mind
Home Security is not just a product or a catchphrase to those who have it. It is the peace of mind you have when you know that you and your family are protected; it is the ease with which you leave your house in the morning, knowing that it will be secure throughout the day.
Why are single family homes the places that are targeted for burglary more often than any other type of building?
1. Because they have less ‘people traffic’:
a. Single family homes do not pose the same types of risks as townhouses, condos, and apartments. The multiple families and individuals living in other home types increase the traffic to and from the home, and therefore increase the burglar’s chances of being caught.
2. Because wealth is easy to target:
a. The chances are, if you are wealthy, your house probably reflects that. Burglars will rely on the state of your home to tell them if it is worth robbing.
3. Because they are private.
a. A single family home in a suburban to rural setting is far removed from it’s neighbors. More often than not, long driveways add to the sense of privacy, and hedges and trees provide the cover for burglars to get closer without being noticed.
4. Because they are easy to predict:
a. Burglars can take their time cruising neighborhoods to find out when you go to work each day, how long you are usually gone, and if your nearest neighbors have the same schedules as you do. They’ll be able to predict when you’ll be gone for at least 2 hours.
It’s no wonder that single family homes are targeted more often than other home types. A reliable Home Security System can help deter burglars from the most important home of all… yours.
Why are single family homes the places that are targeted for burglary more often than any other type of building?
1. Because they have less ‘people traffic’:
a. Single family homes do not pose the same types of risks as townhouses, condos, and apartments. The multiple families and individuals living in other home types increase the traffic to and from the home, and therefore increase the burglar’s chances of being caught.
2. Because wealth is easy to target:
a. The chances are, if you are wealthy, your house probably reflects that. Burglars will rely on the state of your home to tell them if it is worth robbing.
3. Because they are private.
a. A single family home in a suburban to rural setting is far removed from it’s neighbors. More often than not, long driveways add to the sense of privacy, and hedges and trees provide the cover for burglars to get closer without being noticed.
4. Because they are easy to predict:
a. Burglars can take their time cruising neighborhoods to find out when you go to work each day, how long you are usually gone, and if your nearest neighbors have the same schedules as you do. They’ll be able to predict when you’ll be gone for at least 2 hours.
It’s no wonder that single family homes are targeted more often than other home types. A reliable Home Security System can help deter burglars from the most important home of all… yours.
When you do just a basic search on "home security companies", there are a handful of main home security companies available that come up in the the search results.
You'll see Guardian Alarms, ADT, and Brinks, just to name a few. While you are browsing and visiting each of these sites, you may be asking yourself what the best choice is? As you are looking these various home security companies over, you're probably asking yourself which one of these is the most cost efficient one, which one has the best features, or which one has the best customer service.
When choosing from a wide variety of home security companies, most people consider three main factors:
Let's have a look at ADT first. ADT has a special this month, but first you have to shell out $99 to get it installed. Not only that, but you don't get to shell out that $99 a minute before you purchase their alarm monitoring services. So before you even get to experience any safety, you have to spend several hundred dollars up front.
Now Brinks is a little better. Instead of shelling out $99 for the installation, after buying their alarm system monitoring services, you pay $49. The thing is, you still have to purchase their alarm system in order to get that $49 fee. On top of that, they have two different installion programs. With that $49 installion you only get the basics, you don't get three door sensors or a premium keypad. If you want those features, you've got shell out $155 up front, PLUS the cost of the alarm system.
Now let's look at Guardian Alarm Systems. Your installtion fee is ZERO ($0) Dollars and your alarm system is FREE ($0) when you sign up. What does that mean? Out of all of the home security companies, Guardian makes it super easy for you to experience peace of mind in your own home.
Listen, you work hard to have the things you have in life, a good home, a good family, don't you think you deserve to have peace of mind?
Our special of $0 Set up fee and $0 hook up fees with absolutely, NO MONEY UP FRONT package includes the following:
When you're comparing home security companies, you definitely want to get the best deal. Not only that, but you want a company that has been around for a while. We've been in business for over a decade and have helped to secure thousands of homes and families. You owe it to yourself to do the research and compare your options. You are free to take this post and print it out and stick on your fridge or near your computer to refer back to periodically. In the meantime, call 817-795-3636 and feel free to ask us any questions about your choice of home security companies.
You'll see Guardian Alarms, ADT, and Brinks, just to name a few. While you are browsing and visiting each of these sites, you may be asking yourself what the best choice is? As you are looking these various home security companies over, you're probably asking yourself which one of these is the most cost efficient one, which one has the best features, or which one has the best customer service.
When choosing from a wide variety of home security companies, most people consider three main factors:
- Cost
- Features
- Ease of use
- Tech support
- Years of experience
- License and bonded
Let's have a look at ADT first. ADT has a special this month, but first you have to shell out $99 to get it installed. Not only that, but you don't get to shell out that $99 a minute before you purchase their alarm monitoring services. So before you even get to experience any safety, you have to spend several hundred dollars up front.
Now Brinks is a little better. Instead of shelling out $99 for the installation, after buying their alarm system monitoring services, you pay $49. The thing is, you still have to purchase their alarm system in order to get that $49 fee. On top of that, they have two different installion programs. With that $49 installion you only get the basics, you don't get three door sensors or a premium keypad. If you want those features, you've got shell out $155 up front, PLUS the cost of the alarm system.
Guardian Alarm Systems - $0 Installation Fee , and FREE alarm system!
Now let's look at Guardian Alarm Systems. Your installtion fee is ZERO ($0) Dollars and your alarm system is FREE ($0) when you sign up. What does that mean? Out of all of the home security companies, Guardian makes it super easy for you to experience peace of mind in your own home.
Listen, you work hard to have the things you have in life, a good home, a good family, don't you think you deserve to have peace of mind?
Our special of $0 Set up fee and $0 hook up fees with absolutely, NO MONEY UP FRONT package includes the following:
3 window / door sensors ( Remember Brinks wanted to charge you $155 to give you this)
2 pet friendly motion detectors (Neither ADT or Brinks offered this in their sign up package deals)
24 hour world class monitoring
1 control panel
1 interior sign
1 transformer (Again, neither ADT or Brinks offer this in their package deals)
1 RJ jack and cord
Panic buttons for fire, police and medical emergency
1 yard sign
3 window stickers
1 battery backup (24 hour battery back up)
When you're comparing home security companies, you definitely want to get the best deal. Not only that, but you want a company that has been around for a while. We've been in business for over a decade and have helped to secure thousands of homes and families. You owe it to yourself to do the research and compare your options. You are free to take this post and print it out and stick on your fridge or near your computer to refer back to periodically. In the meantime, call 817-795-3636 and feel free to ask us any questions about your choice of home security companies.
