Home Security and Going Bump in the Night
Do you remember when you were a small child and monsters hid in your closet while trolls scurried under the bed and you were certain that someone’s eyes were watching you as they lurked in the darkest corner of your room? You would flick on the light, poke under your bed, peek into the corner and send your loved ones into the closet armed with an umbrella and an attitude of impatience to check out the scene. When the knight with a shining umbrella tucked you in, you were finally able to uneasily shut your eyes and hold tightly to the thought that the night monsters were totally banished.
But did those fears really end during your childhood? People of all ages find themselves the victim of their own overactive imaginations and fear looming shadows or small noises as they question their home’s ability to provide refuge. While you can always invest in a huge German shepherd to guard your front door, many homeowners combine intelligent safety precautions with home security systems to relieve their anxieties. Home security systems range from do-it-yourself kits to professionally installed security networks throughout your whole house. Including security systems in new luxury house plans makes the homeowners free from stress and allows them to feel secure.
Regardless of model, make or cost, each home security system shares a similar basic setup. To have an effective home security system, you should make sure to invest in the following:
Door and window contacts that sound an alarm when the door or window is opened and the system is on.
Motion detectors to monitor and respond to the unknown and highly unpredictable actions of intruders. Ultrasonic sound waves are sent out by sensors that reflect back in a specific pattern, which when disrupted by an intruder’s movements, will alert the control panel to sound an alarm.
Control panel, which is the brain of the home security system. In both wired and wireless systems, the control panel receives the signals from door and window contacts and motion detectors then interprets the response. Frequently the control panel allows 30-45 seconds to pass after the sensor is triggered to allow homeowners to type in deactivation passwords to ward off false alarms. When the password is not entered, lights may flash, alarms sound and the panel may automatically dial the police or monitoring company if it is programmed to do so.
If your luxury house plan includes a home security system that is not monitored by an outside third party, lights flashing and alarms sounding should get neighbors or locals to alert the police. Because there is no guarantee they will do this, other safety precautions need to be taken to protect your family. One important precaution is to get to know your neighbors and what is common or uncommon to occur in your neighborhood. Having a good community rapport encourages people to look out for one another.
If you are planning to stay away from home for an extended time, have a trustworthy neighbor watch your house and take care of a few easy tasks to disguise your absence. This type of precaution can be invaluable to a homeowner.
When you are away from home, keep in mind the following:
Having timers on radios, lights, blinds and curtains can make it appear that someone is home.
Have someone you trust gather your newspapers and mail. Do not stop either of these services if possible so information about your absence does not get passed on to strangers.
Have the lawn mowed or the snow shoveled while you are away.
If you have neighbors you trust entering and leaving your home while you are away, give them alarm passwords to shut off and reset the alarm as they go in and out. Let your home alarm monitoring company know you will be out of town and a neighbor is looking in.
There are other common sense tips that can protect your safety, such as:
Replace all the locks in a new home.
If you park in the garage and consistently close the door it will prevent noticeable patterns when you go away.
Night prowlers are deterred by motion detector lights.
Avoid putting bushes by windows and doors; instead, strategically place them to eliminate outside hiding places and use thorny bushes.
Clearly display decals and signs of your alarm system – most burglars won’t bother if they think breaking in will draw attention.
Never hide spare keys outside your house.
Lock all windows and doors with key locks, dead bolts and door strikes.
Don’t leave notes regarding your whereabouts to tip off burglars – do you really want that prowler to know you’ll be back in an hour?
Never leave valuables in clear view from the window.
Go over security and safety procedures with young ones so they can make smart decisions too.
When you consider the home security system in your luxury house plan, you can never ask too many questions. Find out from other people in the neighborhood what they are doing to keep crime away from their homes. Get recommendations from people you trust for alarm companies and systems. Find out why they liked or did not like certain alarm companies. Inquire about prompt installation, false alarm fines, warranties, references and response times when the alarm goes off. Find out how the alarm company screens their installers and sales associates so you know the people working on your home security will respect it. Compare features, rate quotes and coverage from several companies. While home security systems all require the basic setup, not all alarms are created equal when it comes to reliability.
When you choose your luxury home floor plan, remember that most burglars look for easy access, low visibility and something that is worth stealing. Burglars will usually not choose to break into a home that is occupied or will take longer than four minutes to get into. While burglars know how alarms work, installing a home security system and following these safety guidelines will help to eliminate your home as a target. There are no guarantees with home security, but being intelligently proactive about protecting your home will make you feel more at ease in your dream home so you can keep your umbrella to shield against rainy days rather than perceived intruders during sleepless nights.
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