There is no such thing as complete home security.  Hopefully taking the time to answer the following questions will lead you a more secure home.

GENERAL SECURITY

  • • Are all trees and shrubs pruned and well maintained to prevent anyone from hiding unseen?
  • • Do any trees, down pipes, lattice work provide easy access to upper floors?
  • • Any ladders, tools kept outside to assist any potential intruder?
  • • Are you guilty of keeping a hidden house key outside the house where it's sure to be found?
  • • Is your home well lit with particular attention to exterior doors?
  • • Do all exterior doors have heavy duty dead bolts and reinforced door jams?
  • • Can anyone gain easy access through a mail slot, dryer vent, or pet entrance?
  • • If doors have glass panels can someone break through and defeat the locking mechanism?
  • • Have all sliding glass doors been protected from being easily lifted out from their frames?
  • • Does the door from the attached garage leading to the house have a dead bolt?
  • • Does your overhead door have a working electronic door opener?
  • • Does your overhead door have any loose, broken or missing door panels or hardware?
  • • Do you keep the overhead doors closed, and your car locked inside the garage?
  • • Are basement windows glass block or protected by grates or security devices?
  • • All irreplaceable items kept in high quality fire resistant safe or in off-site safety deposit box?
  • • Do you have current video or pictures of all your valuables?
  • • Are all firearms kept secured and apart from ammunition?

FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY

  • • Is your heating system in proper working order and inspected for dangerous leaks yearly?
  • • Is there ample air circulation around appliances that are likely to overheat?
  • • Any overloaded circuits, long extension cords runs, too many devices plugged unto one outlet?
  • • Are Fireplaces, chimney free of dangerous build ups that could catch on fire?
  • • Is there a protective grate in front of fireplace to prevent sparks, hot logs from rolling into room?
  • • Is your kitchen oven hood clear of greasy build-up that could cause a fire?
  • • Are smoke detectors installed on each level and tested weekly?
  • • Are smoke detector batteries replaced every 12 months or less?
  • • Are there working fire extinguisher in kitchen, basement, garage, auto?
  • • All family members sleep with bedroom door closed to prevent spread of fire, smoke?
  • • Do all family members practice fire drill, know escape route, designated meeting pace to go outside?
  • • Do your children know how to use phone to get help in an emergency?

WHEN YOU ARE AWAY

  • • Is your security system armed? Automatic timers for lights, radio turned on? Phones turned down?
  • • Do you arrange for neighbor to watch your house, cut the grass, and give your house that lived-in look when you are away?
  • • Do you practice no change in normal pattern of opening, shutting drapes, dead give-away lighting patterns?
  • • Do you arrange to stop mail and newspaper delivery?