Friday, December 14, 2018

A Complete Guide to Home Security

A couple of months prior I distributed an article on the most proficient method to pick a bolt. One reason I demonstrated to people generally accepted methods to do that (other than satisfying an objective to wind up progressively like Jason Bourne) was to show how bolts give a "hallucination of security." Locks make you feel safe, however, in the event that somebody needed to get into your home, they could undoubtedly pick their way inside. 

Ideally, the takeaway from that post was that you can't simply depend on locks as your solitary methods for home security. You have to use different apparatuses and strategies so as to make various layers of safeguard. 


Every year, there are more than 2 million home thefts submitted across the country. Today I'll share a total manual for making your home increasingly secure and diminishing your odds of turning into a casualty of this wrongdoing. I've incorporated an entire array of various alternatives and steps you can take. The tips run from the shabby and simple, to the more costly and included. No one but you can choose, in view of your own conditions and tendencies, how much time and cash to put resources into buttressing your home against the likelihood of intrusion and robbery. 

Comprehend the Mind of a Criminal: Time, Noise, and Visibility 

Most thieves are lawbreakers of chance. They're ordinarily just going to target homes they can get to effortlessly without being distinguished. Sociologists that have talked with robbers have discovered three basic elements they use to decide if to burglarize a home: time, commotion, and permeability. 

Thieves need to get in and out of a house as fast as could reasonably be expected. The more it takes to enter a home, the almost certain somebody will notice and call the police. So the harder you make it pick up the passage, the better. Shockingly, numerous individuals make it far unreasonably simple for a criminal to burgle them. Some exploration proposes that about 30% of all robberies are through an opened entryway or carport. While it's anything but difficult to pick a bolt, it takes substantially more time than strolling through an opened entryway or window. That is the reason you ought to dependably bolt the majority of your home's potential section focuses; it's the least difficult approach to include a support of time. 

Other than the time factor, thieves take a gander at whether they can do their filching without being taken note. Yapping canines and home security frameworks will convey undesirable thoughtfulness regarding a thief because of the clamor they make. Subsequently, criminals will regularly skip homes with these highlights. 

Then again, homes that are dim during the evening or have loads of trees obstructing the fundamental passageway or windows make for tempting targets since they give a shroud to criminals. 

Time, commotion, permeability. Some portion of a strong home security plan is expanding each of the three of these elements. Which territories do you have to enhance the most? To make sense of that, you have to: 

Case your joint. The initial step to enhancing your home security is to locate your home's shortcomings. What's more, the manner in which you do that is to take a gander at your place as though you were a criminal. Remember the three variables we just talked about and case your joint. Do it amid the day and the night and make inquiries like: 

Are there regions around my home that would offer cover for a miscreant to break in without being seen? 
  1. Is my home sufficiently bright during the evening? 
  2. Do I have any opened entryways or windows? 
  3. Will I effortlessly observe resources in my home from the road? 
  4. Do the general population in my home have schedules that would make it simple for a thief to make sense of when might be the best time to hit my home? 
  5. Be heartless with yourself as you endeavor to have a similar outlook as a robber would. 

General Home Security Measures 

Become more acquainted with your neighbors. A standout amongst other safety efforts you can take is to become more acquainted with your neighbors and request that they look out for outsiders around your home. Sentenced robbers regularly report that one thing that would defeat their plans was a nosey neighbor asking what they were doing. Criminals will typically pursue a home in the event that they want to escape with it; on the off chance that they realize they're being watched, they're more averse to finish. 

Introduce a home security framework. The exploration demonstrates that homes without a security framework are multiple times bound to be broken into than homes with one. Home security frameworks clearly hinder would-be cheats by getting capable of being heard consideration regarding their break endeavors. They likewise naturally dispatch the police to your home (however take note of that it could be up to 30 minutes to an hour prior to they arrive). Other than observing for breaks, numerous security organizations likewise offer fire and carbon monoxide discovery, and also includes that enable you to control your home's lighting and apparatuses while you're away. 

In the event that you can't manage the cost of a home security framework, consider introducing cautions that, when set, produce an uproarious clamor at whatever point somebody opens an entryway or breaks a window. These sorts of alerts are entirely reasonable — hope to spend somewhere in the range of $10 and $50 for everyone. On the off chance that you would prefer not to do that, in any event, set up conventional "This house is ensured by Acme Home Security" stickers in various windows around your home. It probably won't hinder all criminals, yet it might make some reevaluate making you an objective. 

Get a canine. While you shouldn't depend on your pooch as your essential methods for home security, having a woofing (or howling) hound in the lawn or in your home will make miscreants mull over breaking into your home. It's less the dread of being assaulted (however on the off chance that your puppy is a Rottweiler, that is likely a factor), yet the possibility of the woofing attracting consideration regarding their break-in. 

Keep the outside of your home fit as a fiddle. Standard home support and upkeep fills two needs. To begin with, it keeps your home resembling it's possessed. An unmowed yard could be a flag that nobody is home. Second, you need to keep bushes and trees trimmed and pruned to dispense with any conceivable concealing spots for potential troublemakers. 

Keep the outside of your home sufficiently bright. Troublemakers would prefer not to be seen, so do what you can to prevent them the cover from securing haziness. You need to have lighting on parts of the outside of your home that would enable your neighbors to see a suspicious individual inside 100 feet of your home. Turn your front entryway light on at nightfall, and also some other lights close section focuses (even better, put them on a clock). On the off chance that you have tall trees around your home, you may likewise consider introducing coordinated floodlights in their branches that please during the evening. Movement initiated floodlights close shadowed zones make additional security too. They'll just come on when somebody's movement in the region trips it. Having a splendid light abruptly appeared on them may drive away a troublemaker. 

These lights keep would-be criminals away, as well as help loved ones securely explore to your front entryway during the evening. 

Watch what you've tossed out in the waste. One way troublemakers will "window shop" your home is to check for any enormous cardboard boxes for apparatuses sitting on your control. On the off chance that you make any huge buys, make a point to cut up the cardboard box it came in so it can fit in a waste sack or a recyclables compartment. Likewise, before you discard any bills or bank explanations, shred them to fight off wholesale fraud. 

Be watchful who you let into your home. Whenever you let somebody into your home, you offer them the chance to take from you at that moment or to scope out your assets and make arrangements to return later to swipe them. 

So be exceptionally cautious who you let into your home. 

When you should be especially on a watch is the point at which you employ specialist co-ops like repairmen, temporary workers, cleaners, sitters, and so on. Continuously request references and vet them altogether. You may consider completing a record verification also. 

Holding household workers is another choice. A loyalty bond is a sort of protection that covers the policyholder for misfortunes that occur by deceitful acts by your household representative. Another advantage of a constancy bond is that the insurance agency completes an extra historical verification of the potential representative. Converse with your insurance agency about this. 

When you do have repairmen or contractual workers gone to your home, shroud your resources previously they arrive. Never give them a key (they could without much of a stretch make a copy), and just give them access to the parts of the house that they're taking a shot at. Also, don't reveal future excursion designs either. 

Each time the laborers throw in the towel for the day, experience your home and complete a speedy stock. Verify whether your resources are still there, yet more imperatively, verify whether your entryways and windows are still bolted. A typical trick by criminal temporary workers is to open entryways and windows with the goal that they can return later to burgle. 

Abstain from contracting spontaneous help. Typical trick crooks run is designated "sham robberies." A couple of peddlers thump on your entryway offering some administration — tree trimming, drain fix, painting, and so forth. One of the trick specialists will bait you outside to converse with you about your trees or whatever, while the other one enters your home to downy the obvious targets. Main concern: If you didn't get somebody to turn out to your home, don't draw in with them. 

Continuously bolt your entryways and windows. Of course, they can be effortlessly picked or avoided, however, recollect, 30% of all criminals enter a home through an opened entryway or window. While locks aren't idiot proof, they do make breaking into your home somewhat more tedious, and therefore less attractive for a miscreant.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Subsidies and Premiums for Alarm Systems

The investment in an alarm system or other burglar-proof measures is a wise choice in these times. Previously you could receive a tax reduction for this, but in the meantime this measure has been abolished in all regions. Some municipalities still give premiums. In addition, there are other financial support for measures that are burglary prevention.

Would you like a customized price for an alarm system?



PREMIUM MUNICIPALITIES
Some municipalities still give premiums for the installation of alarm systems. It is only possible to request a premium on presentation of a valid invoice. The amount of the premium depends on the municipality.

You do well to contact the municipality in advance so that you know perfectly what you can get a premium for and what conditions you must meet.

REDUCED VAT RATE
The regions may have abolished the tax reduction for alarm systems in the tax return or, in some cases, you can still benefit from a reduced VAT rate. Placing fixed alarm systems in homes that are older than 10 years is eligible for a VAT rate of 6% instead of the usual rate of 21%. It must be a private home, although it may also be used partially (less than half) for professional purposes. The delivery and placement of the alarm must also be done by one contractor.

Are you looking for a contractor for placing an alarm system? Via the quotation page you can request customized and free-of-charge customized price proposals from specialists in alarm systems. Click here to receive customized prices for your project.

 TAX ADVANTAGE BURGLAR-PROOF MEASURES
As already mentioned, you could receive a tax reduction before taking burglar-proof measures. The Flemish and Walloon Regions have already withdrawn this measure for several years. The Brussels-Capital Region retained this tax advantage somewhat longer, but in the meantime it is no longer in force. You could appeal to this tax benefit as owner, tenant, leaseholder or usufructuary.

SUBSIDIES FOR RELIEF MEASURES
Some investments are not immediately considered burglary-resistant, but they can make it more difficult for burglars. Double glass is an example of this. Renovating outside joinery with modern and safer locks can also help. 

You can win the Improvement Premium from the Flemish government if you renew your windows with double glazing. For this you can get a maximum of 1,250 euros if you meet the conditions. These conditions include the age of the home and the income of the premium applicant. In addition, the invoices must not be older than 1 year for the application. Click here  for more information about this Improvement Premium.

Moreover, there is also the Renovation premium from the Flemish government. You may be able to claim it if you completely replace windows and exterior doors with windows and doors with insulating high-efficiency glazing with a Ug value of up to 1.1 W / m²K.

The placement of roller shutters is also eligible. Your income determines whether you are entitled to this premium and how much you can recuperate. You must, of course, comply with some other conditions to receive this reimbursement: there are, among other things, conditions for the invoices and for the age of the home. For more info, surf to the official site of the Flemish government.

The Wireless Alarm System and Its Many Possibilities

A wireless alarm system is an easy to install form of protection against burglary. There is hardly any breaking work needed for the installation and you can easily expand the system later on. Here we discuss the possible versions of wireless alarm systems and the prices.


WHICH VERSION TO CHOOSE?
There are many possibilities if you have a wireless alarm system installed. For example, you can opt for a standard package, but there are many options to extend your alarm with all kinds of functions.

1) STANDARD WIRELESS ALARM SYSTEM
A standard package of a wireless alarm system usually consists of a control panel, a few detectors and a siren. The detectors can work in different ways. Usually these are motion detectors, which trigger the siren when they detect movement, or window and door contacts, which trigger the alarm when a window or door is opened.

The siren also offers various options. For example, you can choose an indoor or outdoor siren or a silent alarm. A silent alarm sends a signal to a control room, which is part of an extensive alarm system. 

2) EXTENSIVE ALARM SYSTEMS FOR EXTRA SECURITY
If you want to secure your home or office more, you can extend your wireless alarm system a little more. There are various options for this:

wireless alarm system with camera: extending a wireless alarm with camera surveillance allows you to take pictures of your home or office when you are not present. When installing surveillance cameras, please also note that you install a good storage system for the images.

Control room: the siren of a standard alarm system is dissuasive, but of course steps must be taken when the alarm goes off. You can call on a control room for this. If the alarm goes off in your home or office, the control room can decide what needs to be done, for example sending a security team or informing the emergency services.

Combining alarm with home automation: thanks to domotics, many devices can be operated automatically, from a central control panel or remotely. Think, for example, of shutters that open automatically at sunrise or arrange the lighting in the house. A wireless alarm system can also be incorporated in such a home automation system. With an app for your smartphone or tablet you can, for example, switch your wireless alarm on and off or view the images from your surveillance cameras.

Smoke and CO detectors: an alarm system does not only have to be a burglar-proof device, it can also be a warning for smoke or CO formation. By installing smoke and / or CO detectors you significantly increase the safety of the residents. Read more about alarm systems with an integrated fire alarm here.

Do you want to have a wireless alarm system installed? Then you best compare offers from different installers. This way you can find the cheapest price for your project. Via the quotation page you can request free and non-committal prices from specialists in the installation of alarm systems.

Types of Alarm Systems and Their Options

If you want to install an alarm system, you have a lot of options. You can choose a basic system or a more sophisticated version, with all kinds of extra functionalities such as smoke notification or remote control. In this article you will discover the types of alarm systems and prices.

OPTION 1: PLACE A WIRED ALARM SYSTEM
In the case of wired alarm systems, the parts of the installation are connected to each other using cables. This means that some breaking work may be involved in the installation of this type of alarm system. These works can increase the installation price. The cabling ensures that this is a reliable alarm system with a large range.



OPTION 2: WIRELESS ALARM SYSTEM
By connecting a wireless alarm system you avoid major breakdowns for the installation. A wireless alarm system is usually more expensive than the wired version, but this is somewhat compensated by the easier and thus cheaper installation (no breaking work). You can also expand the system more easily than wired alarm systems.

Keep in mind that the operation of a wireless alarm system  can be disrupted by other devices that operate on the same frequency as the radio waves of the alarm system. There are currently versions that work with two frequencies, so that these disturbances can be avoided.

Do you want to secure your home with an alarm system? Via the quotation service you can request free and no-obligation customized prices from professional installers of alarm systems. This way you can easily compare prices and choose the cheapest offer. 

EXPANSION POSSIBILITIES ALARM SYSTEM
In addition to standard motion detectors and window contacts, you can also provide some other functions that make your alarm system a well-functioning unit. Here you will find some popular expansion options for your alarm:

OUTDOOR SIREN
With an outside siren your neighbors are immediately notified if someone tries to break into your home. The biggest advantage of an outdoor siren is the deterrent effect. Once thieves have an installation in mind, they are more likely to watch it.

CAMERAS WITH RECORDING
By extending your alarm system with surveillance cameras with recording option, you increase the security of your home considerably. You can view the images from the cameras on your tablet or smartphone with some systems. Keep in mind that placing camera surveillance will increase the cost of your alarm system. 

The Best Burglary Prevention Tips

A burglary can never be completely prevented, but you can do a lot to reduce the chance. The best tips at a glance.

Anti-burglary tips for the holidays

  • Do not state on social media or your answering machine that you are on holiday.
  • Make sure that in different places, at different times, in the house (also on the upper floor) lights up when it is dark. This can be done with the aid of a time switch.
  • Tell the neighbors that you are going on holiday so that they can keep an eye on things and take care of the mail and plants. Also ask them to close the curtains in the evening and open them again in the morning.
  • Place a car on the driveway during your holiday: a possible second car of yourself or that of your neighbors.
  • Leave some toys lying around on the floor, put some coffee cups on the table and leave a newspaper lying there, so that the house makes an inhabited impression.


This way you secure your home well
  • Install a special lock for the burglary-sensitive sliding door.
  • Provide approved hinges and locks on windows, (garage) doors and any light domes.
  • Also secure the top floor of the house, especially if it is easily accessible by, for example, an extension or a bay window.
  • Provide sufficient outside lighting.
  • Give your home an inhabited impression when you are not there. For example, use a time switch, also for the 1st floor. Let it go on and off at different times.
What else can you do? 
  • Do not leave keys on the inside of locks. A burglar can otherwise take a window and thus open or enter the door via the method of drilling holes (see burglary methods).
  • Always close all doors and windows. Do not forget toilet windows or windows and doors of a garage.
  • Do not hide keys outside the door. Doormat and flower pot are not secret places.
  • Do not hang an address label on your key (forest). When you lose the key ring or if it is stolen, you make it a burglar very easy.
  • Make sure you do not have large amounts of money in the house.
  • Place valuables as far as possible out of sight of passersby.
  • If you have a sliding door: place a bar on the inside on the rails between the door frame and the sliding door, then the sliding door can not be opened.
  • Some burglars view mourning ads to find out in a cunning way whether residents are absent. Make sure a trusted person fits your home at the time of the farewell service.
  • Move ladders and clicks away so that climbing is impossible.
  • Do not put on Facebook or Twitter that you are going on vacation.

The Best Burglary Prevention Tools

Secure doors and windows

You can secure your doors in various ways. Think, for example, of security locks, a security strip, a window stand holder and an additional lock. For securing windows there are barrier bars, thieves claws, window frames and attachment locks. 

Looking for companies that can give you good advice on hinges and locks and that can also be used for you?


Install a burglar alarm
A burglar alarm system is an electronic security system (if required wireless) that detects the presence of an intruder and then gives a signal. This can be an on-site alarm or a silent alarm alerting you or a special service remotely.

Borg-certified control room
If you opt for an alarm system with a report to an emergency center, then preferably opt for a Borg-certified control room. The advantage of this is that you can then pass on the report to the police. In addition, you may be eligible for a discount on the household allowance. 

Register and mark your belongings 
In the unlikely event that you are burgled with you, it helps if your valuable items are registered or marked. If the loot is found elsewhere, you can easily identify your belongings and the police can return the goods to your home.

Are you entitled to a subsidy? 
A number of municipalities are aware that there is a subsidy scheme for preventive measures. These are the municipalities of Almere, Amstelveen, Schiedam, Tilburg, Utrecht, Voorschoten and Zoetermeer. Is your municipality not listed? In that case, inquire with your local authority about possible subsidy options.

Join hands with neighborhood prevention
With neighborhood prevention, residents and police join forces to combat crime. That means keeping your eyes and ears open in your own interest and that of your immediate environment. Details, problems and situations that go wrong are signaled and passed on to the right authority. Would you like to know more about the topic of neighborhood prevention?