SECURITEL BLOG

SECURITEL Installs Home Security Systems

Home security is always an important consideration when taking care of your house and family, but it becomes especially necessary around the holidays. If you plan ahead and are prepared for possible threats to your home this holiday season you will be able to enjoy the festivities worry-free and protected if the worst should happen. Home safety begins with understanding the dangers, seeing the small improvements you can make and being able to recognize if you and your family might benefit from a professional level of protection. Here are a few tips that will help you protect your home this holiday season.

Ways To Deter A Burglar

The easiest step to take in protecting your home from a burglary is to think about prevention and, don’t give a burglar any reason to target you. A good way to deter a burglar is to keep the exterior of your home well-lit with exterior home lighting or by installing a motion activated light or camera. Especially if you are planning on going away for the holidays, a good way to prevent a possible break in is to leave some of your house lights on at night with timers. 

It is always a good idea to keep expensive items out of direct view from the outside of your house where someone passing by might see something. During the holiday season this includes being mindful to keep the pile of presents sitting under your Christmas tree hidden from view from windows. When purchasing or receiving expensive electronics, always be careful when discarding the packaging. Never put the box from your new laptop in an obvious spot outside. 

Keep Your Home Safe While Traveling 

If you will be traveling for the holidays a good rule of thumb is to not broadcast your plans for leaving, such as sharing in a social media post that you will be gone from your home during this specific time period and even reconsider posting your holiday travels until you have safely returned home. Make your house look lived in and be mindful of anything like an overflowing mailbox that might make it obvious that no one is home. You can have your post office hold your mail while you are away or ask a trusted neighbor or friend to regularly pick up your mail to prevent it from becoming noticeable. Consider leaving a car parked in your driveway to make it look like someone is home. Have your trusted friend stop by periodically to check in on your home. Of course, the best option is a home security system from Securitel with professionals monitoring your house 24/7. 

Deterring Porch Pirates

During the holidays many deliveries go missing from the doorsteps they land on as porch pirates know this time of year sees many people ordering online and sending expensive gifts. 

The best way to prevent falling prey to a porch pirate is to closely monitor when your deliveries are arriving and do your best to be home during that time. If you will be receiving packages and home deliveries this holiday season and know you aren’t able to be home, you can still be proactive about preventing a possible theft. Doorbell cameras can be a very effective way to help deter a porch pirate from stealing your packages. 

Doorbell cameras are smart devices that connect to your home's Wi-Fi and allow you to receive remote notifications and stream video from your front door when motion is detected, or when the doorbell is rung. Some of these devices also allow you to communicate with whoever is at your door with the use of a microphone or even unlock the door with a temporary entry code to allow a delivery drop off. However, the downside of a do-it-yourself security monitoring system such as a doorbell camera is that you are responsible for monitoring the activity and verifying the authenticity of each notification. If you aren’t available 24/7 to personally respond to every potential threat, you might not be getting the security you need. If you want more protection, consider Securitel’s professional home security monitoring service. 

Preparing Your Home for Fire Safety During The Holidays

The last thing anyone wants is to experience a house fire or other emergency during the busy holiday season. This time of year sees an increase in electrical and home fires due to the improper use of holiday decorations, appliances, and cooking accidents. Before this holiday season double check all of your light up decorations for any signs of damage and discard them if necessary. Never use a damaged extension cord and be very careful not to overload any of the power outlets in your home. Don’t plug more than three strands of incandescent string lights together as it could be too much electrical load. 

Don’t put any of your decorations in a place where they are in danger of catching fire. This includes keeping them at least three feet away from any heat source like the fireplace, candles, or space heaters. If you have a Christmas tree that is real, be attentive to watering it every day as a dry tree can go up in flames rapidly. Prepare for the worst by having smoke detectors placed in bedrooms, outside of sleeping areas and on every level of the house. Ensure your family is safe from the dangers of Carbon Monoxide by placing these detectors close to any fuel combustion appliances like gas powered dryers or stoves. 

Assess The Security of Your Home 

If you feel like you want a more robust approach to home security, then a monitored home security system is what you need to keep your family safe. A burglar is much less likely to try and enter a home that clearly has a home security system that is being monitored. 

If you are worried about protecting your family from fire or Carbon Monoxide hazards a professional security monitoring service can help by responding to an indication of danger and alert the authorities in a timely manner often faster than the average DIYer is able to. 

Enjoy A Worry-Free Holiday Season By Taking The Steps To Protect Your Home Now

 A safe home is one that is intentionally protected from possible hazards and break-ins. Don’t wait until something goes wrong to make a plan to keep your family safe. If knowing your home has a comprehensive and thoughtful security system designed by professionals will help you sleep better at night and have a more relaxing holiday season, then it’s time to contact  SECURITEL and discuss how we can help you today.