How to choose the right home security system

If you have decided to buy a home security system the next thing you need to do is determine what kind of security system you need. Do you need a basic security system or an advanced more expensive one. There are both wired and wireless home security systems. The difference between the two is that wireless are easier to install and more technologically advanced. Plus if you ever wanted to uninstall the system it would not take much work compared to a wired security system. Home security companies come to your house to install the systems for you so you do not have to worry about installing the systems yourself.

Before you go buy a home security system you should research different home security companies to see what they offer. You need to research the costs from different companies so you know which one you can afford. A good way to find how good a home security company is would be to search online for user reviews. You want to see how customers rate the companies and what they have to say about their experience with them. A lot of good customer reviews indicate that a company has a good reputation and products. One or two customer reviews do not necessarily mean that a company is good. You also want to look at how long the company has been in business because you want a proven trusted company to protect your house and valuables.

Home Security Entrance Gates

The most common home security device is a home security system. They work great because they send an alert  that a break in has occurred and notify the police. There are also more basic things a homeowner can do to protect their house like install deadbolt locks. One way homeowners can make their home safer is to install a gate at the entrance of their driveway. A security gate is a good way to keep people off your property and is a visual deterrent for burglars. They are especially useful if you have a long driveway or if you already have a fence or wall round your home or property.

A security gate will keep people from entering your property while a private property sign will only act as a visual deterrent. A security gate is not cheap so you should decide whether your home has a real need for one. There are different type of gates you can buy. A simple automated gate has a wireless remote you use to open it before you enter though the gate. A more sophisticated gate has a key pad on the side of the gate so that only family and friends that know the code can enter. Security gates are usually made of metal or wood. A security camera at the gate is a good way to add extra security.

States with the Most Home Burglaries

Top ten states with the most home burglaries in 2006.

Rank       State              
 #1          California               246,000
 #2          Texas                   215,647
 #3          Florida                  170,873
 #4          North Carolina       107,407
 #5          Ohio                     104,426
 #6          Georgia                 85,117
 #7          Illinois                   77,259
 #8          Michigan               76,107
 #9          New York              68,565
 #10        Tennessee             62,859

Home Security Statistics

Home Burglary Statistics
- Two million home burglaries occur each year.
- 66% of burglaries are residential break-ins.
- Around 30% of home burglaries happen though an open or unlocked window or door.
- A large amount of burglaries occur during the summer.
- A home burglary occurs every 13 seconds.
- 2.5 million home intrusions occur each year.
- In the U.S. only 17% of homes have a security system.
- 85% of home break-ins are by non-professional thieves.
- Thieves prefer homes with easy access through unlocked doors and windows.

How to prevent your home from being broken into
- Keep doors and windows locked.
- Use good quality and strong locks.
- Keep a light on in the house if you are away at night.
- Burglars will usually bypass a house if it requires to much skill or effort to break into.
- Exterior lighting when dark can help prevent burglaries.
- Install a home security system.

Securing Doors and Locks

One important thing you want to do when securing your home is to make it difficult to break into. Most of the time a burglar will not attempt to break into a house if it requires to much effort or skill for them to get in. You want to make sure doors and locks are burglar proof. Most burglars attempt to break into a house through a door or garage door. A garage door is usually the weakest entry point so it should be replaced if it is not secure and can be easily broken in though.

 Doors should have strong, good quality locks. A deadbolt lock is one of the best locks to use. Make sure to have a strong door and frame also or a good lock will not prevent the door from being broken down. A metal door and frame will prevent this from happening. It is also better to not have a door that has a big window, because it could easily be broken. A door with a small window at the top is fine. These steps should help deter burglars from trying to break into your house.

Motion Sensing Floodlights

Motion sensing floodlights are a good way to keep your house safe at night. A motion sensing floodlight will turn on when it detects someone. This will keep anyone from coming near your house at night. There are different types of motion sensing floodlights out there for people to buy. There are solar powered ones and other types which can sound an alarm. A disadvantage of one that sound an alarm is that an animal could trigger it and it could get annoying when it goes off a lot.

They have advantages over other types of outdoor lights in how bright they are and how much area they can cover. Another reason to have one is if you come home late at night then the light would turn on automatically for you when you pull in your driveway. This will keep you from having to leave a light on for a long time until you get home.

Ways to keep intruders away

There are many things you can do to keep intruders away from your home. If your house and property is well secure then it is less likely it would be broken into. One thing you can do is put up no trespassing signs depending where your house is located. This will warn people not to be on your property. Another more expensive way is to put up a fence around your house or put a gate at your driveway. A fence is a good way to keep intruders away from your house. A gate is good to keep anyone from driving to your house.

One way to scare away intruders is to put up fake video cameras. You could put up a fake video camera at your front door and it would make anyone think that they are being watched. You would want it placed where it would be easily seen. You could also have another camera somewhere in your driveway. Probably one of the best ways to scare intruders away is an dog. A dog can hear someone and start barking at then which will make then stay away from your house. It is unlikely that your house would be broken into if you have an angry do guarding it.