You come home to an open front door, a ransacked house and missing valuables. How did a burglar know you’d be gone? How did they get in?
Courtesy HouseLogic and the National Association of Realtors, here are 10 tips to prevent break-ins:
1. Ladder in the backyard: A burglar can lean it against your home and easily reach a second-story window to enter, especially when upper story openings aren’t wired to a home security system!
Do keep ladders inside – in the garage or utility room.
2. Empty boxes on the curb: Was that for a new flat-screen TV or a laptop? Left on the curb on garbage day, empty boxes reveal what wonderful new toys you have.
Do break down the boxes and conceal them in the recycling or trash bins.
3. Untrimmed trees and shrubs: Perfect for a burglar to hide while breaking in.
Do trim bushes and trees near windows and doors. Make sure entry points to your home are easily visible from the street —install motion-sensor lighting.
4. Plain wood-paneled exterior doors: Easy to kick in.
Do install steel-wrapped exterior doors with deadbolts on all your entries. And be sure your windows are locked when you’re away.
5. Decorating ideas that are not good: A mirror in the entry hall may reflect the alarm system and show whether it is armed or not.
Do place that antique mirror so that your alarm system is not visible if someone were to peer through a door or window.
6. Uncut lawn and piled up newspapers: Sure indicators that homeowners are away.
Do hire someone to mow the grass regularly. Get a friendly neighbor or friend to pick up your newspapers (you can always put a vacation stop) and put lamps on timers. Make sure any car in the driveway is locked and remote garage door openers are removed.
7. Easy-to-carry safes: A desktop or floor safe with all your valuables in it just makes it easy for a burglar to cart it all away.
Do put jewelry, cash and valuables in the bank lockbox or in a wall safe.
8. Social Networks: Posting pictures of you at the airport and hourly updates on your travels are big no-nos. Your friends and acquaintances may repost those pictures or their comments may be seen by undesirable elements.
Do post those pictures but after you return.
9. Geo-tracking apps: When you use popular geo-tracking apps, such as FourSquare and Glympse, your location may be seen and noted.
Do be careful about geo-tagging.
10. For Sale by Owner: Sure you want to sell your electronics, games, furniture and maybe even your home by yourself. And you’ve advertised in Craigslist and other public websites. You’ve just made yourself a target for anyone to call and make an appointment.
If you want to sell high-ticket items to strangers, do meet them at a public place, maybe even the parking lot of your local police station!
For safely selling your home, contact a Realtor. Call me at 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com.
For... All Real Estate Matters!
Courtesy HouseLogic and the National Association of Realtors, here are 10 tips to prevent break-ins:
1. Ladder in the backyard: A burglar can lean it against your home and easily reach a second-story window to enter, especially when upper story openings aren’t wired to a home security system!
Do keep ladders inside – in the garage or utility room.
2. Empty boxes on the curb: Was that for a new flat-screen TV or a laptop? Left on the curb on garbage day, empty boxes reveal what wonderful new toys you have.
Do break down the boxes and conceal them in the recycling or trash bins.
3. Untrimmed trees and shrubs: Perfect for a burglar to hide while breaking in.
Do trim bushes and trees near windows and doors. Make sure entry points to your home are easily visible from the street —install motion-sensor lighting.
4. Plain wood-paneled exterior doors: Easy to kick in.
Do install steel-wrapped exterior doors with deadbolts on all your entries. And be sure your windows are locked when you’re away.
5. Decorating ideas that are not good: A mirror in the entry hall may reflect the alarm system and show whether it is armed or not.
Do place that antique mirror so that your alarm system is not visible if someone were to peer through a door or window.
6. Uncut lawn and piled up newspapers: Sure indicators that homeowners are away.
Do hire someone to mow the grass regularly. Get a friendly neighbor or friend to pick up your newspapers (you can always put a vacation stop) and put lamps on timers. Make sure any car in the driveway is locked and remote garage door openers are removed.
7. Easy-to-carry safes: A desktop or floor safe with all your valuables in it just makes it easy for a burglar to cart it all away.
Do put jewelry, cash and valuables in the bank lockbox or in a wall safe.
8. Social Networks: Posting pictures of you at the airport and hourly updates on your travels are big no-nos. Your friends and acquaintances may repost those pictures or their comments may be seen by undesirable elements.
Do post those pictures but after you return.
9. Geo-tracking apps: When you use popular geo-tracking apps, such as FourSquare and Glympse, your location may be seen and noted.
Do be careful about geo-tagging.
10. For Sale by Owner: Sure you want to sell your electronics, games, furniture and maybe even your home by yourself. And you’ve advertised in Craigslist and other public websites. You’ve just made yourself a target for anyone to call and make an appointment.
If you want to sell high-ticket items to strangers, do meet them at a public place, maybe even the parking lot of your local police station!
For safely selling your home, contact a Realtor. Call me at 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com.
For... All Real Estate Matters!
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