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Nobody wants to live in a pigsty. Some struggle with their living situation due to their busy schedule; some are merely incompetent when it comes to domestic behavior; a select few out there don’t really care and are able to live in whatever condition they’re presented with. Nobody would actually choose it, however, because a home needs to have that wonderful, fresh, and healthy feel at all times! It’s not just a place to stay; it’s a part of your being and your life. 

 

There are loads of ways you can create a more sanitary and clean home, so if you’re not too sure about what to do in this regard, then you can rest assured as there is an abundance of methods. If you want to remain as healthy as possible inside a super healthy home, then have a little look at these ideas: 

 

Work On Your Home, Little And Often 

 

Yes, we’re starting with a pretty boring point: doing the domestic chores that you’re supposed to do! Going through all of the home and doing a big clean can be a massively off-putting task for most – it’s not the best part of anyone’s day, if we’re honest. If you do little tasks every day, however, then you’re going to be in a better position personally, and your home is going to be constantly looked after. Tidying up, hoovering, dusting different areas – they’re all harmless little practices. 

 

Have You Pipes Seen To Regularly 

 

Your pipes and plumbing are pretty important in terms of your overall housing situation. If you lose the ability to have fully-functioning water and facilities, then you’re in for quite a torrid time! If things are looking a little awry, then you could also ring up your plumber and let them see if anything’s up. You could also get in touch with companies like foothill sanitary and let them go to work on your septic tank and other necessary facets. 

 

Lay Down Repellents On Your Lawn 

 

This isn’t strictly regarding the inside, but the surrounding area also matters. Animals, namely cats, enjoy marking their territory in certain places. If they start doing so on, say, your lawn, then they’ll start doing it more and more frequently, and it can be a very annoying situation. To combat this kind of thing, you should probably buy an ultrasonic repellent that emits a high-frequency noise. There are also lots of different sprays you can use to deter other little pests that want to desecrate your lovely home.  

 

Empty Your Bin Regularly!

 

You’re expected to do this already, but so many people act like slobs and wait until the trash can is completely and utterly unusable before they send it outside and replace the liner. Lots of different problems can come from not emptying your trash: insects and other bacteria might make their way into it. The overall smell is pretty awful, too, so it’s pretty nasty when that horrendous aroma sails around the entire home. 

There is no denying the fact that new doors can have a massive impact on the overall look and feel of your home. Not to mention that they can improve the practicality and bring more light into your home as well. When you take this into account, it is not hard to see why you need to choose your door of choice with a great amount of care. There are many options you have at your disposal, from swing doors to sliding doors. Nonetheless, this post reveals the reasons why bifold doors are the best solution. Thus, keep on reading to find out everything you need to know…

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Better utilization of space – There is only one place to begin and this is with the fact that you will make better use of space in the room in question. This is, in fact, one of the main motives for selecting this type of door. The door will essentially fold back; hence the name, and thus you do not have to worry about a significant amount of floor space being taken up, as you would if you went for a traditional door that opens forwards.

 

Lots of choice – Bifold doors are extremely popular and therefore you will not be short of choice when it comes to selecting the right doors for your home. You will be able to find doors that match in with your taste, the style of your house and indeed your budget. Once you start looking online you will be overwhelmed by the sheer diversity that is available. From modern doors to conventional door styles, you won’t be short of choice, that’s for sure.

 

Bring the outdoors in – This is a benefit that is extremely advantageous for homes during the current months. During the summer months, we do tend to get a good degree of sunshine. You can take full advantage of this if you opt to have bifold doors in your home.

 

Low maintenance – Aside from the points that have been mentioned, bifold doors are popular from the likes of Reece Builders because they tend to require very little maintenance. This is because they are usually made from UPVC or aluminium and therefore the maintenance that is needed to keep them looking good for many years is minimal. All you will need to do is wash down your doors and it is advisable to oil the hinges and such like on occasion.

The only thing you need to do now is to find the right company to buy your doors from. Look for a business with a wealth of experience. It is advisable to read reviews that have been left by previous customers to ensure you are going to benefit from a high level of service. And don’t forget to make sure that there is a wide scope of doors for you to pick from!

It’s so common for people to prefer to go for an older home when trying to buy one. But the trend at the minute is new build homes, simply because everywhere you look, there seems to be a new property development in the making. So when looking for a new home, you’re inundated with new homes that have just been built. And we do get that they look more appealing than an older home that needs more work, but with an older home you get all of the character that comes with it. So if you are reading this from the perspective of someone who is looking to buy an older home, we hope this doesn’t put you off. For those of you who have an older home at the minute, and are looking for a few tips on problems you might face, then this will definitely help you out. Don’t be fooled, new build homes have equal amounts of problems, they’re just of a different nature. So let’s focus on giving your home some TLC, and show you how to deal with some of the old school problems that an older home is having to deal with.

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Older Features On Their Last Legs

 

So one of the best things about getting your hands on an older home, is all of the features that can come with it that you just don’t tend to find in a new home. From the antique fireplaces with the old school chimneys, to wooden beams lining the ceiling. For most of you, that’s exactly what you’ve been looking for in a home, or what you’ve got right now. But there are cons that come with that, so let’s look at chimneys for example. A Chimney Sweep is definitely going to be essential after a certain period of time, especially during the winter. The chimney is where all of the harmful fumes and substances escape your home from, but a lot of that builds up over time, and it can actually be dangerous if left. So it’s services such as a chimney sweet that you’d need to look into. Anything old on your home, is always best being serviced!

 

The Secret Problems

 

Every home has hidden problems, and they just love to show their face once they’ve built up over time, and are now far more expensive than they should have been. With older homes, it’s really common for the electrical wiring to have started to erode away, and cause problems all around the home. So even though it will cost you a fee, if you’re noticing slight problems with your electrics, it might be worth bringing in a company to get it checked out for you, just so you can get any issues solved.

 

The Potential They Show

So we wanted to finish on a high, just because we know older homes deserve more justice than they get. So if you do have an older home, think about doing some renovation work on it to build on it. The value of older homes is already higher, let alone if they’re made bigger and better.

Working from home can be tough. After all, you have distractions all around you and you may even find it hard to concentrate for long periods of time too. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to try and help yourself. Take a look below to find out more.

 

Maintain Working Hours

 

Working from home ultimately means that you can set your own hours. This is great, but if you don’t keep a strict schedule then you’ll soon find that it’s easy for things to spiral out of control. You may find that you end up working long into the night, or that you don’t have time for your family. This isn’t good for you and it isn’t good for your business. If you want to get around this, take the time to plan out a schedule and the hours that you want to work. It also helps to set regular breaks too, as this will give you the chance to switch off for a little while and relax between projects.

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Create a Routine

 

You may get up at the same time every day to work and that’s great, but it’s not enough to provide you with a stable working environment. You need to have a full routine that spans the course of the entire day. For example, you might make a cup of coffee in the morning, go for a jog and then start work. After you’ve finished work, you might make dinner and then get your pajamas on. Believe it or not, it’s little things like this that will help you to work more effectively from home and it will also help you to be as productive as you can on a day to day basis.

 



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Set some Ground Rules

 

You need to tell your family about your working hours and you also need to tell them not to disturb you during this time. Remember that just because you’re at home, doesn’t mean that you’re available. The sooner you’re able to implement rules like this, the easier your working day will be.

 

Leave the House

 

Sitting inside all day isn’t good for you at all. Working from home can be somewhat isolating too, so it is always a good idea to try and get out of the house from time to time. You may want to go on a walk, grab a coffee or even eat out once a week. Either way, your body needs to move, and the natural light will really give you an energy boost. If you’re having to work from home due to a personal injury then the Mobile Bay may be able to help.

 

Make an Office Space

 

If you want to make the most out of your home-based business, then you need to do everything you can to create your own office space. Try and keep your work confined to one room as well. If you take the laptop with you when you go to bed, or even when you relax in the living room, then you may feel as though you never get a break, and this can have a negative impact on your productivity.

 

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A bed is one of (if not the) most important furniture piece in any bedroom and therefore it is essential that it is one which looks good and is loved by the person or people that reside in the room. After all, it is the first thing that will be noticed when an individual walks into the room and therefore it sets the tone and it has the capacity to dictate the actual look and vibe of the room. 

 

There are lots of different types of beds available all over stores and off of the internet. Resources like https://shopdiscountdirect.com/lynnwood-furniture are good places to start with. This is great because it means that there is a lot to choose from and thus people are bound to find something that suits them and their room. However, it also makes it a lot more difficult when it comes to making a final decision. This is because when it comes to buying a bed now there is obviously a lot more to think about in order to ensure that the best purchase is made. This article aims to give a helping hand by providing individuals with guidance and tips for when they wish to buy bed frame.

 

The first thing that people will obviously need to consider is the price of the bed. This is something which is clearly highly important and differs from person to person depending on their own financial situation. It is advisable to look around on several websites in order to form an opinion of what the average price range is for single and double beds. They should then devise a budget based on their finances and make sure that they stick to this. It is easy to get carried away and spend more than one had bargained for when shopping. However, there are beds to suit all budgets and that are affordable to all. Thus if people search around and be careful with their money they are bound to find a great deal.

 

The next thing that needs to be considered is the material of the bed frame. In general this comes down to whether someone wants to opt for metal, wood or leather. Metal has become exceedingly popular in recent months because it tends to be the most affordable for homeowners. Not only this, but it is highly durable as well. Wood is popular because of its unique traditional look and warmth. On the other hand, leather is stylish because of its modern and sleek style. Not only this, but leather has a snug feel to it as well.

 

The final thing that should be considered is the style of the bed frame. Despite the actual material of the frame, each bed frame actually differs in style as well largely due to the headboard. These come in an array of styles and can be short and sleek or big and elaborate. The general feeling is as follows; if the room in question is small then it is best to go for a small headboard, if it is big then one should opt for a bigger headboard.

 

All in all, these are the main points for people looking to buy a bed frame.

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When your home was designed, the construction team won’t have had ease of cleaning in mind. There are loads of areas which are hard to get to or out of reach, and some will be in dire need of a clean. This makes it hard for those who struggle to get up ladders or hold long poles to get their house into the right shape. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of these areas, giving you the chance to clean those tricky spots before they drive you to distraction.

 

Ceilings

 

While they don’t get touched or used for anything, most ceilings will still need a clean every now and then. This is mostly to keep critters like spiders under control, as they love to make their webs up high, making any room look dirty. Long dusters can help with this, but a lot of people struggle to use tools like this. Instead, using some bug poison in your home could be a better idea, getting rid of the spiders before they are able to make their webs.

 

Windows

 

Nothing looks worse than having dirty windows. People will be able to see this from the street, and you will be able to see it from the inside, making these features incredibly important to your home. A professional window cleaning service will always be the best option for solving this. Robots can do a similar job, but won’t do it to the same standards as a real person, making it worth going with the real thing.

 

Furniture Tops

 

The tops of wardrobes, chests of drawers, and other large pieces of furniture can be difficult to reach when you don’t have the right tools for the job. Several companies have come out with special cleaning rods over the last few years. Unlike dusters, they don’t force you to keep your hands above your head, making them far more comfortable to use over long periods. This can be helpful when you’re trying to keep the place free from dust.

 

Down The Back

 

Finally, as the last area to think about, it’s time to consider the areas behind and beneath your furniture. In some cases, it will seem as if the only option you have for this will be to move your pieces, though this often isn’t true. A vacuum cleaner with the correct attachments can often be the best way to solve this. Companies like Dyson have a range of options which are designed for this, making it nice and easy to find one which will work for you.

 

Cleaning your home is very important. If you fail to do this often enough, the place will slip into disarray, often making it hard to get it nice again. No one likes to live in a messy place, but you will find it far harder to make it clean once you’ve let it go bad, and this is something which you have to keep in mind when you’re deciding how you’re going to manage your home.

A gorgeous, cozy, comfy and spotlessly clean household doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes dedication and regular maintenance. Everyone in the household needs to chip in and do their part to keep the home in perfect condition at all times. Yet, while household maintenance is much easier when everyone is doing their part, it can become expensive. While most households account for basic maintenance costs as part of their home budgeting, it’s still a good idea to look for ways in which you can drive down the cost of keeping a gorgeous home. Here are just a few ways in which you can do just that…

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Make your own cleaning products

 

Look under the average kitchen sink and you’ll doubtlessly see a plethora of different cleaning products. You’ll see surface wipes. Kitchen surface cleaners, bathroom surface cleaners, floor cleaner and all kinds of polishes and treatments for wooden surfaces. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we need all manner of cleaning products to keep our homes clean, safe and sanitary but the truth is that many of these cleaning products are superfluous (not to mention lousy for the environment). The truth is that most products can be cleaned by making your own basic surface cleaner. A solution of equal parts water and spirit vinegar combined with a slice of lemon or some essential oils for a clean, fresh scent will be enough to clean most surfaces. A combination of olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar can make an effective polish for wooden furniture. Drive down costs while making your home greener. It’s a win-win!

 

Service your equipment

 

When essential equipment like your home’s boiler or HVAC unit develop faults, repairing them can be costly and disruptive. While servicing them may result in a little upfront cost, it will pale in comparison to the cost of a repair. As such, it’s vital to ensure that your equipment is serviced on an annual basis by a registered professional. The costs you bear for servicing will ensure that you get the most out of your equipment for years to come.

 

Double up on your hired help

 

Developing a great relationship with your hired help gives you peace of mind and value. It lets you know that when something goes wrong in the home you have access to a skilled professional who can fix it. What’s more, doubling up on your hired help can usually save you money. For example, Mesa Plumbing are also registered HVAC technicians so that you get a plumber and an AC servicing specialist in one. What’s more, striking up a good relationship with a general handyman or woman in your area can ensure that you get the best rates on a wide range of home maintenance services.

 

Swap out costly room deodorizers for essential oils

 

Finally, in making our homes appear clean and fresh let comfortable and cozy, scent is as important as sight. However, you can save money by getting rid of costly plug-in room deodorizers (also terrible for the environment and not great for your health). Instead, use a simple room diffuse and some essential oils in every room to make your home smell gorgeous without spending a  fortune or harming the environment.

When selling their home, what most people think about is the money they will make. However, what they often forget is the costs they will need to pay out to actually sell and then move. In fact, such expenditure can amount to quite a bit of money. Although, there are strategies you can use to keep them to a minimum. A topic you can read more about in the post below.  

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Decoration

 

Everybody knows that to sell a property it needs to be in excellent decorative condition. Of course, this then creates a bit of a problem for folks whose homes aren’t up to scratch when they want to put them on the market, but that also don’t have a vast budget for decoration.

 

Happily, there is a relatively simple if slightly more time-consuming way around this, and it’s simple to do the work yourself. In fact, painting walls, hanging wallpaper and doing other general decorative work can cost a fortune if you choose to have someone come in and do it for you. However, with a simple google, or search on Youtube, you can find a step by step guide on just about how to do anything at all.

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Of course, this doesn’t mean that DIY decoration is free, as you will have to pay for the equipment and resources that you will need. It is also likely to take longer and cause more disruption to your day to day life while such jobs are being done. However, this is a trade-off that many people are willing to make to ensure that they keep decorating costs to a minimum when they are looking to sell their home.

 

Repairs

 

The DIY approach is also well worth trying when it comes to repairs as well. Although, this does come with a proviso that you only attempt work that you are confident in doing, and can do safely.

 

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In fact, anything that concerns water, plumbing, electric, or the structural integrity of your home is worth getting professional in to do. Not only because they will do a better job, and so add value to your property, but also because you could be endangering your personal safety as well.

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Of course, there is an alternative option, and it’s finding a house buying company to purchase your property without the need to perform any large scale repairs. In fact, by doing this, you can save a significant amount on the cost of major repairs, as well as help your home purchase to go through as quickly as possible. Something that for many people can make using a buying service a double win.

 

Agents Fees

 

Next, if you have a home on the market and are looking to reduce the costs involved with this, it may be time to look at what your agent is charging you. In fact, many traditional real estate agents work out their fee on a percentage of the selling price of your home, something that means you can lose up to 10% once the sale has gone through.

 

To that end, it may be worth looking at alternative ways of selling your home, one of which is to use an online-only agent. The difference here is that they don’t have any office overheads to pay out and so can afford to charge less once the sale has gone through.

 

In fact, you will find that many online-only agents charge a fixed price no matter the final sale amount that your property reaches. Something that can make this an especially wise economic decision for owners whose home are at the higher end of the price spectrum.

 

There is also another alternative to consider when it comes to reducing your agent’s cost when selling a home and that is to do without one altogether.

 

What this means is opting for a private sale, where you sell directly to the other party involved. Of course, doing so means that you won’t have the support of an agent in finding a buyer, or in moderating the sales process. Something that means if you are unfamiliar with the procedures involved you may be left vulnerable to mistakes and problems.

 

Of course, even when selling privately, you will still need to involve an attorney to ensure that everything stands legally when you are done. Therefore you will still have this cost to consider.

 

Legal costs

 

Talking of legal costs, this can be one of the most significant and most unexpected fees that those selling their home have to pay. In fact, most people can expect to spend at least 2-4% of the selling price on this.

 

Happily, there are some ways to minimize this cost, and one is to wait until it is a seller’s market until you sell your home. This being something that will ensure that the buyer has less leverage to insist that you pay these fees.

 

Additionally, if you do find yourself in a position to pay legal fees when selling, it’s always better to find an attorney that is not based in a large or capital city. The reason is that their rates are likely to be much smaller, meaning you can make a substantial saving on this part of selling your home.

 

On moving day

 

Sadly, the costs involved don’t stop when you have actually sold your house, as you will also need to pay a removal team to take the contents from your old property to your new one as well. That is unless you can find a way around this such as hiring a van and doing the moving yourself.

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Of course, by doing so you will make moving day a lot more hard work, and you also open yourself up to issues of insurance if anything is damaged or broken on the journey to the new place.

 

However, with massive saving to be made here, and still further costs to be considered such as mail forwarding and new furniture when you get to your new home, it may well be worth the tradeoff to keep your expenses to a minimum.

How To Know If You’re Getting Quality Bamboo Sheets

 

Maybe you’ve heard about bamboo bed sheets. And maybe you’ve also heard about all the benefits of bamboo sheets, i.e. they’re softer than cotton, thermal-regulating, moisture-wicking and naturally antimicrobial. Whether you knew this or not (now you do), you still may not know what exactly you should look for when buying your first set of bamboo sheets.

 

Lots of companies sell bamboo bedding. You can find them at most bedding retailers, in stores and online. But not all of these brands sell quality bamboo sheets. Here’s what you can do while shopping for bamboo sheets to ensure you get the best night’s sleep you’ve been promised,

 

Check the label.

All bamboo sheets come from bamboo plants. But, they’re not all equally made. The different manufacturing processes yield different materials and weave; some superior to others.

 

Material

Today’s market offers four different bamboo fabric types:

 

100% Bamboo Viscose

Viscose from bamboo provides numerous benefits, to its users and the environment. Besides being ultra soft, yet still very durable, viscose from bamboo bed sheets also offer silky sleep environments and comfortable sleep environment temperatures (think warm during the winter and cool during the summer). Most are even resistant to most stains and dust mites. Just double check that the manufacturer followed stringent effluent treatment protocols if that matters to you.

 

100% Bamboo Lyocell

Another popular bamboo material type, bamboo lyocell is not only highly sustainable, but it’s also a strong material and no harmful chemicals are used during the manufacturing process. And it is soft, but some think bamboo lyocell isn’t quite as soft as sheets made of 100% bamboo viscose.

 

Bamboo Linen

While a very sustainable choice, this material type isn’t as soft as the previously mentioned bamboo materials and tends to wrinkle more easily, meaning you’d potentially have to iron it after washing (no thank you).

Bamboo/Cotton Blend

When bamboo is blended with cotton (usually 60/40 or 70/30), you get blended benefits of both materials. You also get a little stronger fabric. But, this blended material is also not as soft as sheets purely made from bamboo. The cotton production also involves more chemicals that can cause skin sensitivities.

 

Weave

Bamboo bed sheets can also be differentiated by their weave, which affects how the bamboo fabric feels and looks. The two common weave types are twill and sateen.

 

Bamboo Twill

Twill is a standard weave pattern that’s tight, short and fine. It’s sturdier than bamboo sateen but not as soft, although it’s still softer than a bamboo/cotton blend or plain cotton sheets.

Bamboo Sateen

Sateen’s weave follows a one-yard under and three yarns over weave pattern. It provides more of a shiny finish, higher thread count and silky, smooth feel. But sateen is also a little more delicate and often more expensive because it takes longer to weave.

 

So before buying, read the label to make sure you get the material and weave you want.

 

Read online reviews.

Labels tell you a lot about bamboo sheets. Salespeople and a company’s website can as well. But if you want the whole truth about a set of bamboo bed sheets—how they really feel and hold up—look up and read Cariloha bamboo sheets reviews and other brands you’re looking into. But also, take some reviews with a grain of salt. Some online reviewers, like many critics, simply like to find whatever negatives they can and others might not have followed the sheets care instructions, which could have affected how their sheets functioned after washing them.

Look up the warranty.

If the retailer offers a good warranty, it’s a safe bet that those bamboo bed sheets are high quality. If the retailer doesn’t offer a satisfaction guarantee or warranty, then they probably aren’t confident in the quality of that product—and you shouldn’t be either.

As a homeowner, there are plenty of practical emergencies that you can be forced to deal with. The trick is to make sure that you’re always prepared for those kinds of instances and understand what it takes to overcome them. There are lots of ways for you to prepare for potential problems as a homeowner, and you can learn more about how you can do that now by reading on.

 

Stock Up on the Essentials

 

It’s important to make sure you’re stocked up on any of the things you might need should something go wrong in the home. Having something to plug a leaking pipe with or to tighten a bolt or whatever you might need to do is key. A torch is necessary for power cuts, and having a first aid kit in your home is a must in case someone gets hurt and needs immediate attention.

 

Learn Some Basic Home DIY Skills

 

It’s a good idea to have some basic DIY skills in place so that you can carry out some basic repairs in the event of a problem arising in your home. If you don’t do this, you will run the risk of being in a situation, no knowing what to do and not being able to find anyone to help you. Even if there is help nearby, being able to take care of minor issues is a bonus.

 

Understand Common Practical Problems

 

Understanding what’s likely to be behind the practical problems you’re experiencing in the home is essential. If you can use your knowledge of your home to locate the source of that weird sound or some dripping water, you will be in a much better position to cope with the problem and fix it fast and competently.

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Know Which Local Service Providers You Trust

 

When something goes badly wrong in your home, you need to turn to people who know how to fix things if you don’t know how to. Find service providers that you believe you can trust now so that you can call on them in the future if you ever need to. It’s especially important to have a 24 hour AC repair company to call upon. Start preparing now so you can act fast in the future.

 

Consider a Backup Generator

 

Having a reliable backup generator in place is one of the things you can do to make sure that you’re always prepared for whatever might happen in your home. If the electricity cuts out and it’s dark, it can be pretty frightening for your family. Knowing that you have a generator to keep things ticking over until the problem is fixed can be a pretty big relief.

When you have a practical emergency in the home, it can be frustrating and stressful. But the frustration and the stress will certainly be reduced if you prepare in the ways described above. The best time to start making these preparations in your home is now, so what are you waiting for?

Home is where the heart is- it’s where our most cherished family members live, our pets and all of the possessions that we’ve worked so hard to achieve. So the thought of an intruder coming in is always going to be a worrying one. Here are five proven ways to keep your home safe and secure.

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A burglar alarm

A professionally installed burglar alarm is a must for any home. It gives you pretty much full peace of mind because even if an intruder manages to get inside, they just won’t stick around with an alarm going off. With them being so loud they draw a lot of attention, and the majority of criminals are opportunistic. They break into the house on the street that’s the easiest, and a burglar alarm makes yours much more difficult. Even having a sign outside stating that your house is alarmed can act as a deterrent within itself in many cases. If you live in a particularly high-risk area, it can be worth signing up to a burglar alarm plan. Here you will pay a monthly fee, but if your alarm is triggered when the company will dispatch a police car. It’s also worth getting friendly with your neighbors, let them know that if the alarm goes off (and they can’t see you around) to call the police. Getting friendly with your neighbors in general and agreeing to keep an eye out for each other’s homes is never a bad thing too.

 

CCTV

CCTV works as a deterrent, and also allows you to identify criminals if any crimes do end up being committed and the case goes to court. As well as covering your home, CCTV can also capture video of your driveway, garage and outside meaning your vehicles are covered too. If you’ve been considering investing in a CCTV system, get some more info online about the best one to choose. The camera needs to be high quality, as well as have a good night function for capturing footage in the dark. The police and courts won’t entertain footage that’s grainy or blurry, so it doesn’t make sense to choose the cheapest system out there. Research shows that CCTV cameras have some of the biggest deterrent effects when it comes to pre-planned crime, those looking to specifically target your house are likely to be put off. CCTV cameras should be placed high up, in locations that can’t be covered or cut. Make sure the footage backs up to the cloud too, this prevents a burglar breaking in and simply stealing the hard drive.

 

Sturdy windows, doors, and locks

Older models of doors and windows are weaker, they’re easier to be kicked or forced in so aren’t great from a security perspective. Not only will newer models be more energy efficient but they’ll also be better for keeping your home safe. Things like window panels indoors are now completely reinforced- new styles of locks and frames make it almost impossible for a regular criminal to kick in. But what’s even more important to remember, is that it doesn’t matter how good your windows and doors are- they provide no security when they’re left open! Create a system that you follow every time you leave the house, which involves checking the windows and locking the doors. Do this every time you go out, even if it’s only for a few minutes. The average burglar is in a home for less than ten minutes, it doesn’t take long for them to cause absolute havoc and leave with all of your worldly possessions. So don’t take the risk, it takes seconds to check the house and lock the doors.

 

Smart home

Smart home has really snowballed in the last few years and is something we can expect see getting bigger and better. At the moment it’s a lot of fun and feels very novel and futuristic, however, it’s something that can be incredibly practical too. From a home security perspective, there are lots of ways we can utilize this technology to keep our properties safe. One thing a burglar will do before breaking into a home is to scope out the outside, they’re looking to see if it’s occupied or empty. Because an occupied property presents so much risk of being caught, most burglars won’t even attempt it. Therefore, you can avoid getting broken into in most cases, just by either being home or making it look like you are. Smart home products sync up to your phone, meaning you can control them from anywhere in the world. You can turn on your tv, close your blinds, turn lights on and off and other appliances without even needing to be in or near the house. In years gone by, people would leave a lamp on if they were going out overnight. The problem with this is if your house is getting scoped out, come 3/4am and that lamp is still on, it’s a clue that someone might not be home after all. When you are at home, you can control these appliances with your voice, using a voice-activated speaker such as Amazon’s Echo or Google’s Google Home devices. So you have the benefit of operating them hands-free.

 

A safe for valuables

With all of the following methods executed, your home is unlikely to become a target of burglary. However, a final step you can take is to lock away your valuables. Important documents, family heirlooms, and priceless cherished items can all be put away. Find somewhere hidden to keep them safe, and then bolt it down to the ground. This stops a criminal from simply being able to walk off with it. Installed in walls, under floors, and in cupboards are all good locations. Choose a good quality model which is sturdy and has excellent reviews.

 

With Christmas around the corner and lots of valuables in the home, now is an extremely important time to be thinking about home security. Is it something you’ve considered?