10 Tips To Keep Your Home And Family Safe

There’s nothing as dreadful as that sinking feeling you get when your family, cherished items, and all-around mental stability is at risk due to unexpected burglary, violence, or vandalism. You work hard to provide for the wife and kids, that car you’re starting to restore, and the man cave you’ve so proudly built. The security of your home and family means a lot to you, and rightfully so.

As such, we’ve compiled ten tips you should follow if you want a sound piece of mind when it comes to the safety and well-being of your home and family.

1. Don’t advertise it

Don’t set your home as a target for burglary and other malicious acts by refraining from telling every living soul about your plans (such as taking a vacation). Many home invasions come about because someone has the information that you’ll be away. Avoid posting on Facebook, don’t mention it to the gas station clerk, and let your family know they shouldn’t flaunt it, either.

2. Invest in the right solutions

For less than the cost of a movie ticket, you can setup your house with a proper security system. Use sites like http://www.securitychoice.com to do your due diligence to see what would give you proper coverage, whether it’s online monitoring (which is great during travel) or basic motion sensors that will generally scare off many would-be, ill-content individuals. It’s a proper investment for peace of mind.

3. Make a plan (and let them know)

You can’t predict the future but you can certainly plan for it. Sit down with your family and discuss a plan in the event of a home invasion or natural disaster. Set designated zones where the family would be safest during one of these events. Have each individual know who to dial, what to say, and how to react.

4. Become aware of your neighborhood

Spend some time to get out and meet the neighbors (and do research about past criminal activity in the area). Keep your guard up even if you’re buddy-buddy with your neighbors because you never know what may be lurking in the shadows. Know what’s possible in your area and you can be prepared just in case something happens.

5. Understand that it’s online, too

Don’t forget that it’s what you say and how you act, online, can bring about ill-content. Monitor the Internet usage if you have young one’s so they aren’t talking to strange individuals. Avoid sharing intimate details about your home which could be used against you. Take advantage of online tools and resources to ensure your safety and well-being (many of which are free).

6. Keep up with regular maintenance

Gas, water, and electric – all of these items are essential for our comfort and well-being but they’re also very destructive elements that we’ve happened to harness. For this reason you should devote a budget and routine for regular maintenance on any item of the house that uses one of these utilities to avoid any potential long-term disaster.

7. Items may be out to get you (and others)

We love our stuff, but there are many instances where an item may pose a danger to the well-being of your family or even the environment. It’s important to understand if there are any recalls on items you’ve purchased or if there are common faults that could lead to disaster (which can be found in consumer protection reports) or keeping in check by using the Web to monitor news about said items.

8. Store it if you need to

If a vacation is on your schedule and you generally have many items outside (such as on the patio), then consider packing it up and putting it in storage while you’re away. The alternative, and cheapest option, would to move it indoors but you must ensure your home security is up to par, else that’s a double loss.

9. Don’t be the handyman (if you’re not one)

There are many, many accidents that occur at home due to someone fixing items like lawn mowers, electrical outlets, or other fun, sharp items. Don’t put yourself or someone in your family at risk if you don’t have the credentials or expertise to make the fix – hand it over to the professional and bite the bullet on the invoice (which will be drastically cheaper than a trip to the ER).

10. Did you change the locks?

If you’re just settling into a new house or apartment, there’s a good chance that someone may have a copy of your key. Don’t take the risk when you’re away from your home, go ahead and change out all the important locks just to be certain a past inhabitant doesn’t decide to come snoop around and invade your privacy.