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Summer Home Security Tips

This will probably come as no surprise to you, but there are more home break-ins and burglaries during the summer months than any other time of the year, including the holidays.

What’s more, and according to the FBI:

  • Most burglaries occur between 6 AM and 6 PM.
  • About 30% of burglaries are initiated through an open or unlocked window or door.
  • In the U.S., one home burglary occurs every 13 seconds
  • 2 million home burglaries are reported every year

Summer Home Security Tips

Needless to say, home burglaries are a widespread and persistent problem. But a problem that most often can be prevented.

Here’s how to safeguard your home during the summer season:

Think like a burglar. How might you break into your own home if you really had to? You might start by looking for a ladder left outdoors or in an unlocked garage, and shame on you if you find one!  You also might want to consider trimming back tall shrubs near windows. Those windows may be secure now, but a burglar won’t know that until he tries getting through one. Why give him that chance?

Keys and key chains. Do you have a hidden key for a family member who may have forgotten theirs? First, it’s probably not as well hidden as you’d like to think. Second, you’d be far better off leaving a spare key with a trusted neighbor.

Do not open the door to strangers. That person attempting to enter your home could be sales person of the year for the company they claim to be with, but you don’t know that! When in doubt, keep them out.

Keep the lights on. Exterior lighting is a wonderful burglar deterrent and one you should take full advantage of. Motion sensor lights that detect people, not animals? We highly recommend them. The same goes for pathway, patio, and other forms of outdoor lighting.

Lawn, papers, and social media – no way! Serious times call for a serious commitment to home security, and that includes not advertising your time away from on home. For example, nothing says “We’re away!” better than an unkempt lawn that usually is meticulously groomed, newspapers stacked up on your front stoop, and a mail box overflowing with bills, birthday invitations, and what have you.  Another calling card to put back in your pocket, so to speak is Social Media – as in, save sharing details of your trip until you return to your un-burglarized home.

Today, Now Security Systems would like to share one more FBI statistic with you: homes without security systems are 300% more likely to be burglarized than those without. Don’t already have one? Call us for a free in-home security appraisal and new system quote.  Have a system but not happy with the company monitors it?  Call us, share your concerns, and allow us the opportunity to put them to rest.  Now Security Systems: always ready and able to help.

How to Plan Your Next Kitchen Remodel

Does your kitchen look more like the set of a 1980s sitcom than the sleek, efficient, and stylish hub of your home? Maybe you’ve considered giving it a facelift, but just aren’t sure where to begin. And, given the investment required, it’s not something you want to jump into uninformed.

Before you hire a contractor and start swinging that sledge hammer, here are some things to consider.

Plan Your Next Kitchen Remodel

  • Budget – This may seem like an obvious starting point, and yet many kitchen remodeling projects go over budget, sometimes by thousands of dollars. Factor “surprises” into your budget, especially if you’re opening walls or changing the footprint of the space.
  • Stated Reason – Are you updating to make the space work better for you or is your primary concern greater resale value? If it’s the latter, consider speaking with a real estate professional about what upgrades buyers in your neighborhood are looking for. You want to make your home desirable without going overboard.
  • Use – How does your household use the kitchen now, and what more could you do if you had the space and the means? If you’re a frequent entertainer, maybe an open layout, a large French-door refrigerator, and lots of prep space would make entertaining easier and more enjoyable.
  • Style – Do you prefer a modern look with simple lines and sleek surfaces or is traditional more your style? If your dream cabinets, counters, and flooring are out of your price range, look at alternative materials that still deliver the look you want for a fraction of the cost.
  • Storage – Even a small kitchen can have tons of storage space if you make the most of the space you have. Upper cabinets that reach to the ceiling can hold seasonal or special occasion dishes, platters, and other items. A small rolling island or cart offers extra prep space and storage, while a small bistro table with a drop-down side offers casual dining for two.

Any time you have a significant amount of work done inside your home, it’s a signal to burglars who pay attention to such things that here is a family of means with items worth purloining. They’ll see the extra cars and vans parked outside your home, sometimes for weeks at a time. Which means that before you launch your next remodeling project, make sure your home security equipment is functional and up to date. And that the company that monitors your system is as fully responsive to your needs. For a first-time system or a home security upgrade, contact Now Security Systems today for more information or a free in-home security analysis and proposal.