8 Useful Tips to Protect Your Property
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as working hard to earn money to buy a house, car and other items. However, these things can easily be destroyed or taken by disasters, burglaries and theft. Properly protecting personal property is essential and it’s very easy to accomplish.
Buy an Alarm System
Alarm systems are amazingly advanced today. They can not only detect intruders, but they can also detect carbon monoxide, increased temperatures, fire and more. They also alert the local authorities immediately to rectify the situation. Some alarm systems even have remote monitoring systems to allow homeowners to check their systems and cameras through smartphones and laptops.
Get a Guard Dog
The mere presence of a guard dog can instantly deter burglars from a house. The guard dog should be controlled, but it should also have access to every area of the house in order to ensure that it is properly protected. If the homeowner can’t or doesn’t want to buy a dog, burglars can sometimes be fooled by putting up signs that say “Beware of Dog.”
Don’t Advertise Valuables
Having nice things is great, but advertising them by making them easily viewable from the window, leaving them visible in the car or flaunting them in public makes them easy theft targets. Keep the shades drawn and bring all valuables in from the car.
Lock Everything
This is one of the simplest methods of protecting valuables, but it’s also commonly forgotten. Lock and deadbolt all of the doors in the house unless you’re currently using them. Keep the car locked until you are ready to enter it. Garages and sheds should also be locked unless they’re currently in use. If there are small valuables in the house, keep them locked in a safe that is secured to the wall or floor. Firearms should also be locked in a secure gun cabinet or safe.
Create the Illusion that the Homeowners are Home
Burglars like to avoid houses that are currently occupied because they don’t want the high risk of getting caught. When leaving the house, leave the lights on in a couple of rooms to create the illusion that someone is home. Turning on a radio or TV can also improve the illusion. For longer trips, ask the neighbors to pick up the mail and newspapers to avoid accumulation. It’s also a good idea to have them park their cars in the driveway to further the illusion.
Practice Proper Fire Safety
Fire can easily wipe out any homeowner’s property. Practicing proper fire safety can drastically decrease the chances of ever suffering from a fire. Don’t leave a lit stove unattended. Keep the grill a good distance away from the house. When having an outdoor fire, wet down the surrounding grass and trees with a hose. Keep the chimney of the fireplace clean. Never leave candles unattended. Keep matches and lighters away from children. When dealing with anything that could potentially spark a fire, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Invest in a Garage
To protect a car, investing in a sturdy garage can be a lifesaver. Not only would a burglar need to break into the garage, but they’d also have to break into the car, start it and somehow open the garage door to successfully get away. If a garage is out of the question, some strong flood lights directed towards the driveway can be a great deterrent to thieves.
Insurance
Anything valuable that can be insured should be insured. Even if these tips fail, the items should still be covered under the insurance and replaced easily. It’s also a good idea to photograph everything within the house that should be covered under the insurance to ensure that the exact item that was lost is properly replaced.
