The spring and summer air is sweet and the dandelions and weeds are delighted with your
garden. You can almost SEE your grass growing – and you just mowed it on Sunday! It’s time
to look for help with the seasonal demands of lawn care, but where do you start? If you don’t
have a willing teenager on hand or if trusted friends and neighbors don’t have suggestions,
consider these tips before you make your hiring decision:
MAKE SURE TO GET CURRENT REFERENCES. In our still-ailing economy, many people are
looking for part-time work and not all of them are equally capable. Rather than be moved by
the urge to help people out by giving them your business, ask politely but firmly for phone
numbers of those who have been pleased with their work.
KNOW WHO WILL BE DOING YOUR WORK. Some lawn care workers employ a number of
different people for their jobs. Make it a rule that you must meet and approve of anyone who
will be doing work on your property. Some communities require lawn services of any kind
to be licensed by the town or community. This can be some assurance of the validity of the
person you are about to hire.
ASK IF THEY HAVE INSURANCE. If they get injured on your property you could be facing a law
suit.
DON’T MAKE THIEVERY TEMPTING. Make sure that your lawn care workers have limited
access to your home and possessions. It’s best to be home yourself when the work is being
done, but when that’s not possible, make sure windows and doors are locked.
DEFINE LIMITS. Be clear about what tools and environments your workers can share. If you
want your garage, yard barn or pool to be off-limits, state that right away. Also, schedule
what days and hours are appropriate for performing yard work. Don’t leave it to the workers
to decide when they would like to come over!
KEEP WATCH ON YOUR CHILDREN AND OUTDOOR PETS. Kids and cats can get in the way of
workers’ trying to do an efficient job. The lawn care people aren’t there for child- or pet-care,
so make sure they don’t find themselves in that position. This is a safety measure for both
your family and your workers.
GET IT IN WRITING. Make a written contract with your lawn care service provider that
defines the duties, pay rate, terms of payment (same day/weekly/etc.), means of payment
(cash/ check, etc.) and any relevant restrictions or additions. For instance, you may need
lawn mowing every week but stump-pulling only one time—clarify what the pay will be for
irregular or unusual tasks as well as for maintenance. Have the contract signed by the person
responsible for the work, and by you.
If you can’t find what you need through personal connections, try Angie’s List at http:/
/www.angieslist.com/ This is an excellent referral service with recommendations (and
warnings) from real customers, not advertisers, but it requires a small fee to participate.
NOW YOU CAN GET GROWING!
Each year, there are more than 2.15 million burglaries with the majority of home invasions occurring in the peak vacation months of July and August. Going on vacation can be one of the most relaxing things in the world, but before you depart, here are a few ideas to help keep intruders at bay while you’re on vacation.
Keep Y
our Home Well Lit – Place light timers inside your house to light up your house when it is dark out. Burglars tend to not flock to homes that are well lit and where they will be visible.
Trustworthy Neighbor- Ask a trustworthy neighbor or friend to keep an eye on your house while you’re away. Be sure to tell them if you are expecting any visitors over the course of your trip so that they can be aware.
Stop Delivery of Your Newspapers or Mail – Either put a hold on your mail and newspaper service, or have a neighbor collect them for you daily. A build up of mail or newspapers is a good indicator to burglars that you are on vacation. Another way to hide your mail is by getting a larger sized locked mailbox. This will ensure that your mail is not visible intruders.
Examine Your House Before You Leave- Make a checklist of all possible entrance paths for intruders and ensure that they are well locked and secured.
Hide All Valuables – Be sure to hide all of your valuables so that they are not visible from the windows. This way, intruders won’t have more of a reason to break in.
Security System – Homes without a monitored security alarm system are three times more likely to be burglarized or robbed than those with a monitored home security system. Nightwatch Protection is now offering a FREE home security system that will help keep your home protected even when you’re not on vacation.
Window Decals – Security system decals located on your front door is a great way to help scare off burglars.
Cameras – Weather it is a real camera, or a fake camera, if intruders think they will get caught, they will be less likely to break in.
Home Telephone – Don’t ever leave a voice mail message saying “We’re not home right now” or “We’re on vacation and won’t be back for a week.” This assures intruders that you won’t be home. Also, turn the ringer down on your house phone, or change it to 1 ring. If they can hear that no one is answering the phone, they will assume you are not home.
By following these helpful hints, you are on your way to a better protected home. These tips will help keep your stress levels down, so that you can fully enjoy your vacation.
Every homeowner knows that there is a probability for a home invasion to occur in their homes, but how do they know exactly what attracts a burglar to a home in the first place? Anyone thinking about purchasing or who already owns a home needs to be clued in on the signs that criminals look for when it comes to targeting a prospective home invasion site. Take notes and see if your house is sending signals that deter or invite unwelcome guests. It may take more than just a home alarm system to keep them away.
The following lists some key vulnerabilities that criminals look out for when determining a good potential burglary site.
1. Uncollected mail in mailbox
2. Lights off for an extended period of time
3. Closed curtains
4. Open or unlocked windows or doors
5. Boxes of high-priced items
6. Valuables placed near windows and visible to outsiders
7. No fences or gates enclosing property
8. No sign advertising a home security alarm system is on the property
9. Low, adjustable security lights
10. Hedges or trees surround your property
There are a few reasons that these items make it to the list. The first reason is that some of these items may signal you are not home, whether it be that you are away on a long vacation or that you are busy and running in and out of your house throughout the day. Next, some of these items signal that there are valuable possessions inside the house that would be worth stealing, validating the burglar’s suspicions of targeting your house. Finally, other items on the list may send the message that a home security alarm system is absent or can be easily compromised.
To avoid sending any of these signals to a criminal:
- Make arrangements with a friend or family member whenever you are away from your home for an extended period of time to keep up with household duties and to spend some time in the house each day to make it look as if the house is occupied.
- Do your best to keep valuables inside your home away from any windows, so no one can see inside and take inventory of your possessions and cut down all boxes of high-end items before placing them outside.
- Invest in or reinforce your house security system and install high positioned lights and high fences and gates around your property. Also make sure that a sign branding the alarm system you own is displayed outside your home. If you have bushes or trees surrounding your home, consider replacing them with a fence or wall instead, as the natural barrier provides coverage for burglars entering and exiting your home.
- Secure all windows and doors at night and whenever you leave your house, leaving no easy points of access for intruders.
It can seem easy enough to install a security system in your home and think you are done with home protection , but the truth is that it isn’t that easy. Make sure that your home doesn’t exemplify any of the indicators of faulty home security that were listed to help lower the probability of your house being a potential break in site. And of course, don’t forget to share these tips with your neighbors to try to have an all-around more secure neighborhood.
The need for more advanced security packages in the home is becoming more recognized than ever in this day and age. However, not all homeowners are so fortunate to have the resources needed to purchase expensive, high technology systems with a camera in every room of the house.
Thankfully, by strategically placing micro cameras and other video surveillance devices throughout the home, security can be achieved at a fraction of the cost. That leaves homeowners with one question: “Where do I place these hidden cameras?”
All Entryways
Place cameras strategically to capture front door, attached garage, basement, and back door entries. If you have high ceilings you can easily do this by installing a camera at a high enough point where it will not be seen. If you do not have the luxury of cathedral ceilings, then placing cameras on high shelves is a good option.
Living Room
Anyone thinking of getting into your house will most likely have to pass through your living room as they are entering it. This of course means prime location for surveillance. In order to keep cameras hidden in such a high traffic area, place them in walls, behind pictures, on top of or within bookshelves, in plants, or behind curtains.
Bedrooms
Many parents these days are taking steps to monitor caregivers in their home, and cameras are strategically placed in child playrooms and bedrooms. Any stuffed object, such as a stuffed animal or decorative pillow, can be taken apart to hold a camera and put back together. Cameras can also be placed under tables or chairs in order to capture the activity of small children playing.
So, remember that you can protect your home and family without the means of a highly sophisticated security system. As the cost of technology continues to decrease to a rate more affordable for the masses, you will be able to add more features to your security system than you think. All you need to get the job done is a modest budget and some creative and crafty thinking.
As the spring season finally starts to warm up, many homeowners begin their spring cleaning maintenance around the yard. This spring, consider adjusting your property’s landscaping in order to better protect it from a break-in. Certain landscaping tricks can prevent lingering burglars from seeing inside your home, making it harder for them to invade.
Landscaping Tips:
-Incorporate outdoor lighting in your landscaping plan! This is the single most effective way to use your yard to safeguard your home from intruders. If your front yard has a path to the front door place ground-level lighting to make your home more illuminated at night and easier to see intruders.
-Plant shrubbery and bushes under all first floor windows in order to create privacy but also make it harder for someone to climb through a low window. Using thorny and sharp bushes such as roses is especially effective!
-Install a fence around your property- this includes using hedges and shrubbery.
-Consider eliminating any landscaped areas that could serve as a dark hiding place in your yard.
-Look at your home from its street view- whatever you can see inside your home a burglar can see too!
-Trim tall trees growing along the side of your house- these can act as ladders and hiding places.
-Keep the lawn mowed- an unkempt yard with tall grass signifies to a burglar that a homeowner is either on vacation or is frequently away from the house.
-Never leave ladders and other common landscaping tools out in the open! These can be used to easily climb in through an open window in your home.
As the economy continues to flounder, the frequency of car thefts in the U.S. is increasing. In fact, the FBI has reported that a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States every 40 seconds. It is no surprise then that car thieves have come up with some new inventive strategies to break into cars without getting caught. But burglars aren’t just stopping there. Instead of just taking the valuables from your car, they are using the information they can get from your belongings as a way gain access to your home.
Through this new strategy, a car thief will puncture a small hole beneath a car’s door handle, reach in and unlock the door just as if they had a key. By punching the tiny hole, the thieves are able to get into a car quietly and without a trace– without breaking glass or without setting off the car’s alarm. If and when the car’s owner notices the puncture hole, they often think it is a bullet hole because of the size and shape. Plus, most car thieves who use this new method are extremely cunning in terms of what they will take once they are actually inside your car.
Several cases have been reported in which car thieves using the punch hole method would leave the person’s purse or GPS devices- items which are typically targeted- and use the GPS device to find out where the person’s home is using the stored information on the device. In doing so, the thieves now know what a person’s car looks like and where they live, making it easy for them to observe when a person is home or not. Then, the burglar can easily plan how to invade your home when they see your car is not there.
With more intruders using deceitful methods like this everyday, it is important to always be on guard. Regularly check the condition of your car, especially after parking in large public places likes shopping mall. Be mindful of what you leave in your car, especially GPS devices and other technology that a burglar could potentially use to get your personal information. In addition, never leave GPS devices out in open view while you are away from your car. It only takes a thief a few seconds to steal these devices and find out where you live and where you are going. If you notice damage to your car and/or any missing belongings, money, etc. immediately alert local police. As always, having a professional alarm system installed in your home is the most thorough way to prevent an intruder from getting into your home unnoticed.
As spring cleaning season approaches, it is a good time for home owners to make sure their property is secure and maintained. One of the most often overlooked home security measures is a home’s garage door, and now is a great time to update your garage door security. While many people don’t realize it, a garage door is one of the most vulnerable places in your home, as it can allow an intruder easy access. In addition to getting inside your home, intruders often target garages because they know that people keep valuable possessions there: cars, motorcycles, sporting equipment, tools, and more. Follow these simple guidelines to improve your garage door security and help protect your home more effectively.
Garage Door Security Tips:
1. Always close your garage door!
No matter whether you are inside the house or leaving to go out, an open garage door can let a burglar enter your home in the matter of seconds. People can often forget to take this extra security precaution or don’t do it because they think their garage is safe if they are in the house. But cases have shown that burglars will enter a garage not only to steal but also to hide out, and this applies to both attached and detached garages.
2. Updated Automatic Garage Door Openers
The technology used in automatic garage door openers has undergone a lot of development since the early models. This new technology makes it harder for intruders to break the code of used to unlock automatic garage doors. If your automatic garage door opener is an old model, consider updating it now.
3. Get a Key-Chain Remote Opener
New garage door openers come in the form of key-chain remotes so that you can carry your remote with you at all times. This way, you have the peace of mind knowing that if some one was to break into your car, they would not be able to gain access to your garage or your home.
4. Maintain Garage Windows
Keeping the windows on your garage in top condition is just as important as maintaining the other windows in your home. Loose and rotting window frames make it easy for burglars to pry a window open and gain access to the valuables in your home.
5. Treat your Garage like Your Front Door
Make sure internal and external doors leading to your garage are always kept locked and bolted. Many people may think that internal doors inside their home are safe if the garage door is down, but this is not true. You never know when a burglar may gain access to your garage and an open inside door is like an invitation to come in!
In addition, install a wireless home security system in your home, including your garage. A wireless alarm monitor will alert you and local authorities immediately if an intruder has entered your garage.
As the temperature continues to drop, many homeowners turn to space heaters for quick and cost efficient warmth. However, space heaters have long been known as the cause of numerous home fires and even fatalities. In fact, the U.S. Fire Administration has cited space heaters as a leading cause of home fires during winter months. In past years, there has been approximately 600 deaths and 1,500 injuries due to space heater malfunctions. If you do choose to use a space heater to warm your home this winter, be sure to familiarize yourself with this important information.
Types of Space Heaters
There are four types of space heaters: kerosene space heaters, portable electric space heaters, wood burning heaters, and gas space heaters. Each type of device requires its own maintenance and operation procedures, as well as, its own set of safety precautions. Before operating a space heater in your home be sure to identify which type of device you have and the proper care and safety methods it requires.
Space Heater Safety Tips
After thoroughly reading your space heater’s instruction manual, follow these easy tips to help keep your home and family safe.
- Always keep space heaters at least 3 feet from any flammable materials (rugs, drapes, bedding, and clothing).
- Keep space heaters away from areas with water in order to reduce the risk of electric shock. If you plan on using your space heater in the bathroom be sure that the instruction manual permits this.
- Never use a space heater in a room where children are unsupervised. This may put them at risk of being burned or shocked.
- Always plug your space heater directly into its own electrical outlet. Do not use an extension cord or overload an outlet with too many other devices.
- TURN OFF, UNPLUG and STORE your space heater every time you are finished using it and especially before you leave your home.
For more in-depth information on space heaters and electrical safety check out the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
While the holidays are usually a joyful season, nearly 400,000 burglaries occur in the U.S. from November through December each year, according to the FBI. Since burglars are well-aware that expensive new gifts are also part of this time of year, I tis important for homeowners to take some extra precautions to reduce the risk of their holiday celebrations getting ruined by theft.
Going Away for the Holidays
- As with any time of year it is important to take certain safety precautions before leaving your home unattended. It is especially important to do so during the holiday season when burglars are closely watching for potential empty homes. If you are going away, it is best to have a trusted friend or neighbor monitor your home for you. Have this person collect your mail and any packages left on your doorstep. Not only will this serve as a sign of activity to lurking thieves but will also prevent your packages and holiday gifts from being stolen when you are away. In addition, never broadcast the fact that you are going out of town. This means avoid posting information about where you are on social networks or in your voicemail recording. Burglaries monitor for this type of information to indicate their next easy break-in.
Displaying Christmas Gifts
- While no holiday décor is complete without a beautiful tree stuffed with gifts beneath it, it is important to remember that thieves can see exactly what your neighbors can. If your tree and gifts are easily visible from the street in front of your home, you could be putting yourself at risk of getting burglarized. If you insist on placing your tree in front of a window for people to see, make sure to keep your holiday gifts hidden out of sight as long as possible. Also, this means avoiding piling all the gifts under the tree at once. Only put out which ever gifts you are exchanging immediately and keep the others in storage. Leaving a big pile of gifts unattended is practically like inviting a thief inside your home.
Holiday Disposal
- Keep in mind that even when the holidays are over, burglars are still on high alert. Often, observing thieves will monitor people’s garbage to judge what kind of new gifts a family may have gotten during the Christmas season. Large television boxes and packaging of other valued items can serve as a sign to thieves that these pricey items are now inside your home. Be sure to break down gift boxes and other holiday packages and conceal them before placing them out for disposal.
Candles have always been very popular, first as a necessary source of light and now as attractive and fragranced decorations. Unfortunately, the small flames of candles present a very large risk of fire. According to the National Candle Association, there are more than 15,000 candle fires reported annually, and candles are responsible for roughly 4 percent of home fires. The vast majority of these fires are a result of misuse or inattention to candle safety guidelines. Here are some basic candle guidelines to ensure that you enjoy your candles in safety.
- A burning candle should always be supervised by an adult. Never leave a candle unattended.
- Extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn.
- Always use candle holders to stabilize burning candles.
- Place candles in a safe place, where they cannot be knocked down and are out of reach of pets and children.
- In addition to keeping candles in a safe place, also be sure that lighters and matches are out of reach of children.
- If your home is at particular risk of candle fire, consider using battery operated, flameless candles.
- Trim candle wicks to within ¼ inch from the top of the candle to uneven burning and dripping wax.
- Keep burning candles away from drafts or vents.
- Observe candle manufacturer burning time recommendations.
- Keep the wax pool free of debris.
- Blow candles out; never extinguish a candle with water, as this can cause hot wax to splatter.
- Be very careful if using a candle during a power outage: a flashlight is a much safer source of light.
However, for one reason or another, if a candle does start a fire in your home, how can you make sure that your family stays safe? Always make sure that your smoke detector units are up to the building codes of your local area and that you change the batteries regularly. Also, having a home security system monitored by ADT will help to alert your local authorities quickly to help prevent the fire from spreading and to make sure that your family all get out safely.
