Tips to Make Your Home a Safer Place to Live

In addition to monitoring your home with ADT, there are simple and easy things you can do to take extra precautions when it comes to providing your family with a safe home. Below are some general home safety tips for you and your family.

General Safety Tips

Do not leave extra keys under doormats
Do not leave extra keys under doormats, potted plants or any other obvious outdoor location. Thieves will easily find them. Try giving a set of extra keys to someone you can trust.

Mark Your Possessions
Etch your name on expensive electronic equipment; this lets the police easily identify them, and makes it harder for criminals to sell them. Write down the serial numbers, or record them on a video. Entitle the video “Family Vacation,” then give a copy of the paper or video to someone you can trust in Durham NC.

Door & Window Safety Tips

Treat garage doors the same as outside doors
Treat inside garage doors the same as an outside door: multiple locks and bracing, because this is a common entry point for burglars.

Talk with a locksmith
For doors that have windows (or windowed frames) find different options to standard deadbolts. Talk with a locksmith to see what is available.

Fire Safety Tips

Install smoke alarms
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly to make sure they work. Replace the batteries as needed.

Make a fire escape plan
Make a fire escape plan for your family, and include practice drills on a yearly basis.

Use fire resistant materials
Make sure that all roofing materials are fire resistant in the construction or renovation of your home.

Home Safety When on Vacation

Hire someone to keep your yard maintained
In the winter, make sure someone shovels the snow from your walkway. Summers, don't let the lawn grow out of control while you're away.

Do not leave a recorded message
Do not leave a recorded message on your phone at home that you are out of town. Your message at work should simply say you are out of the office.