Awareness Versus Hysteria

For security professionals, giving someone's home a security check can sometimes feel like deliberately scaring the customer out of their wits. Most homes, upon review, tend to stack up rather poorly. It seems like there's always some huge security weakness on display: a cheap padlock on a shed door; an easily-opened basement window; a clear view of the home's interior from the front porch. Being made aware of the vulnerabilities of one's own home need not be cause for becoming hyper-vigilant, however. Improvements are the best cure for paranoia.

Protecting your home doesn't mean giving up on a world where people can trust one another or giving in to an obsession with safety. Even in the most secure and safe of all communities, there are people who will take advantage. Improving your security is simply a means of making sure that you're not one of the people likely to be victimized.

Home security improvements can be as banal as changing the locks on the doors, putting new latches on windows and installing some motion-activated lighting. These things not only decrease your vulnerability, they make life easier. Having your door locks "keyed alike" means no more fumbling for multiple sets of keys for each different door. New window latches mean you can leave the windows open a bit in the summer without worrying about anyone sliding them open wide enough to slip inside. These habits aren't about paranoia; they're about increasing one's quality of life.

Motion activated lighting will alert you if there are intruders prowling about your property at night. They'll also light up your porch when you're trying to haul groceries in from the car after dark Security isn't just about repelling the "bad guys": It's about safety as a whole.

Remote devices that allow homeowners to turn on lights before they enter the house are a deterrent against crime, to be certain, but they're also enormously convenient. This combination of security with convenience is what makes effective security habits work. Without a plan, anxiety about one's security does quickly degrade into paranoia. With a plan, that anxiety can be the motivator that persuades a homeowner to greatly improve their living space and their peace of mind.

Most monitored alarm systems sold today have the capability of having various safety monitors added to their array. For instance, while an alarm will monitor for door or window breaches, some of them integrate with monitors that keep an eye out for carbon monoxide, freezing temperatures inside the house and flooding. Many integrate with the fire alarm. This is illustrative of how home security really works. It's not just about foiling crime; it's about making your home a more secure place for your family.

There certainly are criminals in the world and robberies are an incredibly frightening and unsettling type of crime. Improving your home security, however, isn't something that should be dictated by fear. Improving home security should be done because it offers a more peaceful and safe way of life.

ADT is the leading provider of residential security systems in the U.S. A home alarm system from ADT security can help protect your home and family with state-of-the art equipment and round-the-clock monitoring.

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