Taking all the necessary precautions to deter burglars from breaking into your home – including investing in a home security system – is important. But don’t forget to protect your guest house and other places where you store expensive equipment like lawn care tools. Here are some tips to help you secure your home’s storage units and guest house.

• Display protection: Don’t just post yard signs and window decals for your home alarm system by your house. Make sure that at least one of these home security decals is on the outside of your storage shed or guest house. It can serve as a deterrent, just as it would on your house.

• Lock it up: Invest in a good lock to place on the door and make sure the windows are secure.

• Mark your property: Tag your expensive equipment and tools, so that it’s obvious they belong to you. This can include placing a nametag on tools or writing your name and address on them with a permanent marker.

As summer approaches, families across the country will make travel plans. In addition to booking flights and finding deals on hotels, one thing can’t be overlooked – home security. One of the best ways to protect your home is installing and activating a home security system. Homes with monitored security systems are reportedly three times less likely to be burglarized.

Another great way to help keep your home safe is by hiring a house sitter. He or she can make sure things run smoothly while you’re gone – and most importantly – make you home look occupied. An occupied home is much less appealing to a burglar than one that looks empty. House sitters are also ideal for people with pets.

Here are a few tips to follow when you hire a house sitter:

Keep them informed. If you have dogs or cats that require medicine, a particular kind of food or something else, be sure to let your house sitter know ahead of time. And be sure to leave the house sitter with a list of emergency contact numbers in case anything goes wrong.

Give an overview of your home security system. The house sitter should know how to arm and disarm your ADT security system. Let them know how the system works and create a plan in case a break-in or other home emergency occurs.

Give clear instructions. Make sure everything that needs to be taken care of while you’re away gets clearly listed or communicated. This will make things easier and less stressful for all parties involved, and clear expectations are always great – even if someone is doing you a favor.

Don’t forget about the mail! If you are going out of town, make sure the house sitter brings in the mail and newspaper. When they start piling up, burglars will realize no one is home.

If you’re excited to get out of town this summer, you’re definitely not alone. After a stressful winter in so many different parts of the country, more people are taking time off to enjoy themselves.

But in the rush to leave for vacation, home security can get pushed to the back burner – and that can result in burglaries and a stressful end to a great vacation. Installing an ADT home alarm system and paying attention to common-sense steps before leaving, can mean the difference between your house being burglarized or you being in the clear.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to home security is that it’s not just about having an alarm. The first step towards avoiding a burglary is making your home look occupied at all times. You want your house to look occupied, because most robbers prefer breaking into homes when no one is around.

So if you’re packing up for vacation, take the necessary steps to make sure that you don’t have any trouble. Leave a few lights on and don’t allow mail or newspapers to pile up. Above all, always remember to set your home security system before you leave the house. Without it, your home is a lot more vulnerable.

If you’re like most working parents, you know it’s harder than ever to make it home before your kids return from school. And while it can seem like a stressful situation, it’s easy to educate kids on home security to help keep them safe during the afternoon hours.

Tip #1 Utilize a home security system.
One of the best ways to help protect your children is installing a home security system. Monitored home security systems are connected to monitoring centers that watch over your house 24/7. ADT alarm systems are easy to activate and de-activate, so if your children are old enough to understand the importance of a home security system, show them how to arm the system when they get home from school.

Tip #2 Never appear to be home alone
This home security tip is essential for kids who are home alone after school. If someone calls your house (whether they claim to be a neighbor or salesperson), make sure your kids tell them that you are in the shower, on your cell phone or busy in another room. And kids should never answer the door when they are home alone.

Tip #3 Encourage constant communication
Make sure your kids know they can contact you at any time if a home safety concern arises. They may worry that you’re busy at work, but keeping an open line of communication after school is an important part of their safety. Have your cell phone handy at work and ask your kids to call or text you once they make it home safely.

College students across America have a lot on their minds: the pressure of exams, the rigors of a busy social life and the ever-present reminder that graduation brings the prospect of full-time employment. Here’s another one to add to the list: home security. Now that you’re living in your own place, whether it’s a dorm room or an off-campus apartment, you have the responsibility of maintaining proper home security. Here are a few things you can do to stay safe at college.

Lock Your Door: Regardless of your living situation, always keep your door secured. If you live in a house with another person, make sure they are on the same page; likewise with the door to your room.

Talk to Your Landlord About an ADT Home Alarm: Landlords are usually more than willing to invest in a home security system. It makes their property more valuable, and they won’t have to deal with an irate tenant after a break-in.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Home security extends onto campus as well. Remember that all colleges are mandated to have emergency communication systems, lit up by distinctive blue lights. If you feel threatened in any way, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when your well-being is on the line.

Attending college is one of the most exciting periods in any person’s life. At the same time, you have to remember to stay safe, and that’s a matter of always paying attention to home security.

Tourists come to Las Vegas to gamble. Residents stay here to earn a living and raise a family, and they can’t afford to take risks like leaving their home unattended, and without the protection of an ADT home security system. As a relatively large city with a population breaching one million, crime is inevitable, and you need to take every precaution possible to make sure it doesn’t affect your home and loved ones.

The 2003 FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement listed close to 13,000 burglaries in the city of Las Vegas, NV, along with more than 30,000 larcenies and thefts. Avoid becoming a statistic with one of the many home security systems from ADT. Once your system is installed and armed, your family will be much better protected.

ADT home security systems offer protection on two different levels. First, there is the benefit of deterrence. Along with the sophisticated technology of your home alarm system, upon installation you’ll receive a set of lawn signs and window decals to post around your property. These serve to let criminals know that your house or apartment is guarded, and that it’s time to move on down the road.

Of course, you also benefit from the power of the ADT home alarm itself. A standard system comes with a wireless keypad, three points of protection and a high-decibel siren that will help drive intruders away in the event of a break-in. Of course, your Las Vegas home security system is also tied directly to the LVPD, so you can rest assured that you’ll get a fast response.

For your home security needs in Las Vegas, NV, turn to ADT. Put more than 135 years of industry leading service to use for your family in the entertainment capital of the world.

Looking for some simple ways to improve your home security this spring? Help protect your home and deter would-be burglars with these easy tips:

Change Your Smoke Detector Batteries: Smoke detectors are your first line of defense against a fire. They operate whether you’re awake or asleep – as long as they’re equipped with fresh batteries. Take a few moments out of your day to replace the Duracells. For just a few dollars, you can greatly reduce the chance of a catastrophic fire.

Replace Your Door Locks: This is especially important for people who have recently moved into a new, previously rented or owned residence. Changing the locks on all doors prevents people with discarded keys from entering your home. If you don’t have a deadlock bolt – widely regarded as the industry standard – now is the time to upgrade.

Cut the Lawn: Why give criminals the opportunity to lurk and hide away in tall grass? Keep your lawn trimmed, especially in areas close to your home, and consider the installation of prickly shrubbery under low windows.

Change the Garage Code: Experts recommend that you update your garage code at least once every six months. Never pick a code that corresponds to birthdays, anniversaries or social security numbers. With the wide reach of the Internet, criminals have access to an incredible range of information about you and the members of your family.

Along with an ADT home alarm system, the tips above serve to help protect you and your family. With just a couple of hours of work, you can go a long way towards improving your home security.

The snow outside your house is rapidly melting, and that means March is on the way. This prelude to the spring time is a great opportunity to get your home security affairs in order. Below, we’ve outlined several ways to boost your home security in the coming month.

Create an Emergency Action Plan: Having a set plan to act upon in the event of an emergency can save lives. Apart from the standard fire safety preparation, talk about a place to meet away from home if a natural disaster should strike, knocking out cell phone service and limiting communications.

Trim the bushes: Warm spring temperatures and melting snow means that you’ll soon have to contend with rapidly sprouting grass. This and other shrubbery make for excellent hiding spots for burglars and intruders, which can turn into a home security nightmare.

Talk to an ADT Specialist: If your home isn’t currently under the protective shield of an ADT home alarm system, contact a representative of the company to find out your options. If you are an ADT customer, call to find out what new options are available to make your home even more secure.

Change the Locks on Your Front Door: This should become an annual event, and there’s no better time than March. Throughout the hustle and bustle of daily life, you likely give you a key to a neighbor, housekeeper or friend. Who knows whether someone’s written your address on a tag, and then lost the key? Eliminate the possibility of a break-in by changing the lock cylinders.

Home security is an ongoing battle, but choosing a set date to focus on it will help you focus. Take a day in March to get yourself back on track to keeping your family safe.

Texas residents are proud of their heritage – and with good reason. People pioneered this state with their own hands, often in the heat of battle. That lineage still rings true today, as more and more Texans become increasingly aware of home security issues.

A responsible homeowner will take into account the following statistics as he or she contemplates home security. According to the 2003 FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement, there were more than 25,000 burglaries during the calendar year. If that’s not enough to convince you to bolster your home security, consider that there were also nearly 75,000 larcenies and thefts. These statistics make one thing clear: securing your Houston, Texas home should be a top priority.

So what’s your best option for drastically improving your home security? The most powerful weapon in a homeowner’s arsenal is an ADT home alarm system. For more than 135 years, ADT has helped keep people across the U.S. safe. They lead the home alarm industry in both technology and training, which means that you can be sure your Houston, Texas family has the best protection that money can buy.

Of course, there are other considerations to take into account. Houston homeowners need to always make sure to lock doors and windows, especially when leaving the home. They should also never leave blinds open – visible and expensive items like flat screen televisions and stereo systems are great ways to attract a burglar into breaking into your home.

With basic precautions and the installation of an ADT home alarm, Houston, Texas residents can stem the wave of crime that has recently marked the city. People living in the Lone Star State know what’s truly important, and home security measures are designed to protect those things.

Being a single parent is perhaps the hardest job on the planet. More often than not, single parents are mothers, and they face a unique set of challenges raising, providing for, and protecting their family. One of the most important issues faced by single moms in particular is home security. Luckily, with some simple measures, keeping your loved ones safe can be made much less daunting. Below, we’ve listed some tips for single moms who want to bolster their home security.

Install a Home Alarm System: For single mothers on a budget, an alarm system may not seem to be the most cost-effective way to secure the home. But for less than the price of your habitual cup of coffee each weekday morning, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having the best name in security monitoring keeping you safe. Alarm systems can help protect your family from theft and burglary, fire, medical emergencies and carbon monoxide.

Talk to Your Community: Stay in contact with neighbors and friends to help keep an eye on your home and children. You and your family will benefit from the help you can get from the entire community. Carefully and gently explain your home security expectations with your children and let them know the difference between helpful neighbors and harmful strangers.

Put In Floodlights: No one wants to come home to a dark, empty house. With the installation of motion-detecting floodlights, you’ll ensure that your house is never pitch black. This improves your security at night while also deterring criminals looking to hide in the darkness.

Upgrade Your Locks: In this digital day and age, keys are quickly becoming a thing of the past. The latest high-tech solutions for securing your door include electronic keypads and fingerprint readers. These systems, a perfect addition to your home alarm, can be purchased at a local hardware store and take less than an hour to install.