Make sound decisions while dealing with door-to-door solicitors. Protect yourself from bad business practices and potential criminals acting like salesmen with these safety tips:

• Learn community restrictions: Many communities have legal restrictions on when and where door-to-door salesmen can work. Learn and apply them.

• Advertise home security: Display window decals and yard signs for your home alarm system as a deterrent for potential intruders that disguise themselves as door-to-door salesmen.

• Report problems: If a solicitor won’t leave when you ask them to, call the police.

• Watch them afterward: Look to see what the person does after they leave your door. If they check to see if doors are locked or do anything else suspicious, call the police immediately.

• No outside offers: If someone approaches you soliciting outside of your home, say “No thank you,” go inside and lock the door behind you.

For high school and college students across the United States, spring break is something to look forward to the entire year. Warm weather and fun provide a wonderful break from the drudgery of school and winter. There’s nothing more thrilling than a new destination, but in all of the excitement, it’s crucial to remember the basic tenets of home security. Before you leave and during your vacation, keep the following tips in mind to help ensure a smooth, safe and enjoyable spring break holiday.

You’re Not the Only One Looking Forward to Spring Break: Criminals get excited about holidays too, because they know there will be plenty of easy targets for them to burglarize. Spring break is no exception, especially in college towns where the entire population empties out. Combat the possibility of a break-in by deadbolting all locks and arming your ADT home security system. Temporarily stopping mail and newspaper delivery is also a good way to lower the chance of an intrusion.

Personal Safety While You’re Away: Personal safety extends outside of where you live on a day-to-day basis. While you’re on vacation, take the same precautions that you would if you were at home. Feel free to relax and enjoy your vacation, but never lose sight of your friends, and never let anyone into your hotel room.

Don’t take the chance of ruining your vacation. With a few simple precautions, enjoying your spring break and maintaining home security can go hand in hand.

Moving into a new home is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. Whether you just purchased property or have moved into a rental, there’s something special about turning the key for the first time. Now that you’ve taken up residence, it’s the perfect moment to start thinking about home security and home safety. Within the four walls of your house or apartment are your most precious possessions, physical and otherwise, and it’s your responsibility to keep them safe. Here are some tips for getting your new home into tip-top shape when it comes to security.

Install a Home Alarm System: An effective method of keeping your family safe is the installation of a home alarm system. Beyond protection against criminal activity, you’ll also benefit from fire, CO2, and water damage detection. These issues can spring up without warning, wreaking havoc on your new home.

Meet the Neighbors: One of the most overlooked aspects of home security is the importance of neighborly relations. Talk to your new neighbors and discover the ins and outs of your new environment. Ask about recent burglaries and break-ins to find out exactly what you have to be worried about.

Change the Locks: This is especially crucial if you live in a rental. It’s impossible to say who has a copy of the key to your new front door. For the sake of your home security, take 30 minutes out of your day to change the locks. For less than twenty-five dollars, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have the only copy of your key.

Enjoy your new residence, but make sure to take heed of home security. With a few simple steps, you can help keep your family safe and sound.

Condo owners share unique home security concerns. Some of the issues are the same – making sure to keep doors locked, securing windows,and arranging to have mail taken inside while you’re away on vacation.

Other concerns are different, however. Perhaps the main contrast is that all condominiums and buildings are different. It’s necessary to take a close look at your building’s current security measures. Is there a doorman? Do you need a special key to enter the front door? Answering these questions will help you determine your next steps.

Consider installing a home security system. ADT home security offers great deals and their reliable security systems can help keep you and your family safe. You’ll also want to make sure that your lawn is well-maintained. Tall grass and overgrown shrubs provide the perfect hiding spaces for criminals on the prowl doing reconnaissance on your condo. Finally, be certain that the locks on your front door have been changed since the previous condo owner moved out. If you don’t, the person who lived there last has an easy way to access all of your belongings whenever they want; in fact, they can just walk right in.

Apart from the issues above, specific condo security concerns relate to behavior. Don’t give your key to neighbors, and make sure to close the building door behind you, not allowing anyone to follow.

Home security and safety for your condo needs to be taken seriously. Start taking the proper precautions today.

Most residents of New York City wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The Big Apple, with all of its people and excitement, can feel like the center of the universe. Of course, with all of that excitement comes danger, in the form of burglaries and home intrusions.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) publishes crime statistics weekly, and a quick glance at the data shows that continued vigilance is necessary. For the week of January 11-17, for example, there were more than 1000 grand larcenies and burglaries across the city. Avoid being one of those affected by adhering to the following home security tips for your New York City home.

Install a Home Alarm System: Alarms are important for New Yorkers, whether they live in apartments, townhomes, or houses. Installing an award-winning brand can make a real difference in your protection.

Change Your Locks: Many New Yorkers live in rental units. This begs the question: how many people had access to those keys before you moved in? Avoid a potential problem by changing the locks on your door each time you rent a new apartment. In fact, you can ask your landlord to perform this service for you, often free of charge.

Meet Your Neighbors: They’re not there just to socialize; the neighbors across the hall can be a powerful part of your home security plan. Have a candid discussion about what home security means to you. Encourage them to call you and the police if they spot suspicious behavior. It’s always better to respond to a false alarm than do nothing in the face of an emergency.

New York City is one of the most wonderful places on Earth. Don’t take any chances with your home security, and you’ll always be able to enjoy it.

It’s October 2, and some states across the U.S. are hanging on to beautiful late summer temperatures in the 70s and 80s.  But for our neighbors in the northeast – particularly Boston, Mass. – the beginning of October usually marks the descent of the long, cold winter.

If you’re a Boston resident preparing a home for cold weather, you should keep a few tips in mind to ensure your home security and safety.  Here’s an excerpt from a great list published by the City of Boston:

• Be sure to properly install fuel-burning space heaters and appliances, and keep them away from curtains, furniture and bedding
• Make sure children and elderly persons keep clothes, toys and other items away from open heat appliances
• Caution your family against using flammable liquids to start or freshen a fire
• Equip your fireplace with a metal fire screen or heat tempered glass doors
•  Portable gas and oil heaters in fireplaces use up oxygen as they burn, so make sure you provide proper ventilation when they are being used
• If smoking indoors, keep large, safe ashtrays on-hand and never dispose of smoldering butts in wastebaskets
• If extending your home’s electrical wiring for a central heating system, be sure to hire a qualified electrician
• Regularly clear your yard of dried leaves and fallen branches to reduce the risk of brush fires
• Have a qualified serviceman inspect your heating equipment once a year
• Regularly clean and inspect your chimney
• It gets dark earlier in the winter, so make sure outdoor motion-sensor lights are in good working order for your return home in the evenings

Of course, to ensure maximum protection against intrusion and fire, many Boston residents choose ADT for their home alarm systems.  ADT’s interconnected network of 4 monitoring centers are backed by highly-trained monitoring professionals, reliable equipment and a 131 history of security services.

With ADT, Boston residents can rest assured their fall and winter will be safe.