Home Security

In previous blogs I’ve tried to make it abundantly clear that the average apartment or condo renter is much more likely to be the victim of a breaking and entering crime than is the average individual living in a single family home. Although this is contrary to popular belief it is a misconception that remains to be overlooked and as such many apartment renters wind up suffering a fate that could have easily been avoided had a simple, cost-effective and easy-to-install alarm been put in place.

One thing I always tell customers is that the items that are often taken from an apartment during a burglary is really secondary compared to the lost sense of security we should all enjoy in the comfort of our own homes. Renters insurance will often replace monetary losses but nothing will repair the feeling of insecurity one naturally feels after he or she has been the victim of a burglary. So to avoid these feelings of dangerous insecurity all renters should take the simple step of installing some form of apartment alarm.

Aside from how inexpensive these alarms are they are also extremely easy to install yourself and take almost no time to do so. This also is an advantage renters that wish to install a security system have over those that live in a single family home. If a home dweller wishes to install a security system it is most likely something that is going to cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to do. The main reason for this is because the average apartment or condo has less square footage to secure and more importantly have fewer points of entry than the average single family home, especially those apartments or condos that are not on the ground level. Apartment dwellers have devices like the door guard alarm for example, this device is an alarm you simply hang over the door knob of any door and when the slightest bit of vibration or movement is detected an extremely loud 130 decibel alarm will sound and no doubt scare even the most foolish of intruders away.

So if you are renting please be sure to take the small amount of time, effort, and money to not only purchase a renters insurance policy but to install some apartment alarms to ensure that you will never have to know the sinking feeling that occurs when you try to go to sleep the night after a break in has occurred at your residence.

Stay Safe,
Carl Vouer



By: Carl Vouer


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When the average person thinks of installing a safe in the home, it’s easy to dismiss the idea as something only “rich” people would need to do. It’s easy to have a misconception about who owns a home safe, since the majority of the time we only see them hidden behind paintings in the home of wealthy movie characters. Of course the burglar always gets into the movie-safes, using the latest in burglar technology. The reality is that many home owners are realizing that home security means more than just a simple alarm system. When disaster strikes, whether it be a break-in, flood or fire, the best way to prevent losing everything is preparedness. As a matter of common sense, nobody sees the safes of their friends when we stop by to visit because it would defeat the purpose- but many homeowners would be surprised just how common it is to have a safe or lockbox installed in the home.

The first step in boosting home security with a safe is deciding what kind of safe you are looking for. Some things are a matter of personal preference, for example, the way in which the safe locks. The most common types of locks are digital keypad locks, combination locks, padlocks, and key locks. Some utilize more than one style lock for added impenetrability, for example a digital keypad which requires code entry AND a key to open the door and gain entry. Each kind has its pros and cons, so the first step is to think practically about what is the most useful for you personally. If you are the type of person that has to keep your ATM pin number written down in your wallet or saved in your cellular phone, a digital keypad is probably not for you. Likewise, a person with the locksmith on speed-dial should probably shy away from anything that requires a key for entry. Although some lock types may be slightly less susceptible to forced entry than others, the difference is negligible in comparison to barring your OWN entry and access to important items, articles and documents.

Another important factor to consider is exactly what will be going into the safe. For some people it’s where they will keep family heirlooms or valuable jewelry. For others it’s a place to store some just-in-case cash, or is primarily storage for important and/or irreplaceable documents. The smart shopper should make a list of everything they want to put in the safe, estimate the required dimensions to fit everything comfortably, and then begin to shop around. The size of the safe also makes a big difference. A smaller safe is easier to hide, but a larger safe is far more difficult to remove from the house. In all cases the owner should decide whether or not it is necessary to bolt the safe down, leave the safe freestanding, or install the safe right in the wall (yes, like in the movies). Part of the decision should be the other measures being utilized by the home to ensure security. A home with a home alarm system can expect that any intruder will have less time in the house and be more inclined to attempt to carry the safe with them. A home without an alternative home security system may want to invest more in the actual safe as the first and last line of defense between a burglar and valuables.

Today safes also come as fireproof and/or waterproof, which may turn out to be the most important feature in terms of protecting your belongings. Unfortunately in life even the best laid plans can be overturned by an unexpected tragedy. It is common to ask oneself “what would I try to save in the case of a fire.” The answer should be “nothing,” since the first priority is getting safely out of the burning building. By having valuables already stored in a fireproof and waterproof location the chances of their survival are better even than if they were in your hands, hindering your attempt to escape.

By: Laila Jefferson

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