Is Texas Home Security Worth It?

Read more
/0 Comments/by

4 Reasons Burglars Love Your Home (and How to Protect It)

Have you ever wondered what makes some homes more likely to be robbed than others? You might be surprised to learn that most burglars aren’t super-intelligent, thieving masterminds; most of them look for the same key traits when deciding whether or not to rob a home. If you’re looking to protect your home, it’s important to think about what features make your home a target. Here are some of the most common traits that could make a burglar love your home:

1. There’s an Easy Way Inside

This one may seem obvious, but, as we said, burglars tend to be pretty obvious, too. Thieves love to look for the path of least resistance. So, if you’re a person who likes to open up their windows to let in a nice summer breeze—just make sure to close and lock all the windows in your home before you head to work for the day. 

2. They Know When You’re Coming and Going

Many thieves make sure to do their homework before entering a home. Sometimes, they’ll pose as a door-to-door salesperson in order to get information out of you about when you aren’t home. Sometimes, they’ll just monitor your home for a few days to see when your home is empty throughout the day. This is a situation where a home security system can be a huge benefit. If you’re worried about your home being invaded while you’re not around, simply activate your security system to monitor your property in real-time and protect your home from burglars. 

3. You Have an Easily Accessible Backyard

When you have an easily accessible backyard, you leave an easy entry point open to thieves. You’re much more likely to accidentally leave a backyard window or door unlocked throughout the day. Additionally, these glass doors and windows provide an easy entry point for homes without security systems—thieves can simply break the glass, and there’s a much lower chance that those criminals will be seen than if they broke in through your front door. 

4. You Make it Obvious That You Have Stuff Worth Stealing

Do you park your brand new Tesla in your driveway? Is your $2000 computer setup visible from the window outside of your home? Although it’s understandable that you’d want to show these cool gadgets off to your neighbors, they’re also very flashy prospects for a potential burglar—and it lets them know that you’re somebody worth stealing from. If possible, it’s best to park your cars in the garage and ensure that your curtains are closed tightly to hide any valuables you might have. 

What You Can Do:

So, these are the things that make burglars love your home. But, do you know what they hate? Home security systems. Thieves take calculated risks, and they won’t want to risk invading a home with motion sensors, cameras, and sirens built-in. If you’re looking to protect your home from threats, check out our website or call (844) 904-9473 for a free, no-obligation consultation today. 

/0 Comments/by

5 Tips for the First-Time Homebuyer

Being a first-time homebuyer is stressful—but it’s much easier when you know what to look for. We’ve put together some tips to help you out as you navigate the home-buying process for the first time.

1. Consider What You Can Afford

When thinking about buying a home, it’s essential that you know your budget before you start shopping. Real estate agents, home sellers, and mortgage lenders all want to get as much money out of you as they can—so it’s important to determine this number before you start. 

Remember that there are loads of hidden fees in the home-buying process to be aware of. In addition to a down-payment, you’ll need to budget and set aside funds for closing costs of the sale, as well as all the move-in expenses you’ll have once you move in. These move-in expenses could be anything from home repairs to furniture to a new paint job. 

2. Think About What You Need in a Home

When shopping for homes, there are likely three categories that matter to you: location, features, and price. Your top priority will differ depending on what matters to you. Are you willing to sacrifice your dream kitchen for a home closer to the park? Would you rather have a quiet street or a claw-foot tub? The home-buying process includes a lot of decisions, so it’s helpful to think about which priorities matter most to you beforehand. 

3. Compare Mortgage Lenders and Get a Pre-Approval Letter

If you want to let a home seller know that you’re serious about buying, the best way to demonstrate that is to make your offer with a pre-approved mortgage rate in hand. Before getting this, though, you should make sure to shop around for a mortgage to ensure you get the best rate possible. There are loads of tools available online, but we like to use this one because of its ease-of-use. 

4. Research First-Time Homebuyer Assistance in Your State

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, your state housing authority might offer assistance programs that help reduce the cost of buying a home. Some states lump in your closing costs with your mortgage to help you get a better rate; others offer tax credits that you can be reimbursed for when you next file for taxes. Nerdwallet has this handy guide to help you see what you might qualify for in your state. 

5. Take a Virtual 3D Tour of Homes You’re Interested In!

Although COVID-19 has prevented many people from taking in-person tours of potential homes, many real estate agencies have moved online with virtual tours that let you see the entire home from the comfort of your bed, couch, or office. Not only does this mean less work for you, it means you can see multiple houses in the time it would’ve taken you to physically visit just one! Have some fun trying out this virtual tour format to get a better feel for what you want in a new home. 

…And lastly, once you’ve bought your first home—make sure to keep it secure with a home security system. WISE Home Solutions has a variety of plans, products, and features that’ll make your house feel like a home in no time. Call us at 1-844-904-9473 for a free, no-obligation quote.

/0 Comments/by

Everything You Need to Know about Ring Security Cameras

So, you’ve heard all about Ring security cameras. You probably know that you can use them to monitor your home from the convenience of your smartphone. But how do you decide which Ring security cameras are right for you? We’ve put together a list of Ring’s products to help you know which option works best for your needs.

Ring Indoor Cam | Best for: Indoor

The Ring Indoor Cam is an indoor security camera built to help you keep track of your home from afar. The camera is small, sleek, and blends in well to any room in your house. Since this camera is wired, it needs to be set up near an outlet. This makes it an ideal choice for set-up in any indoor room you’d like to keep an eye on.

Ring Stick Up Cam | Best for: Indoor/outdoor

The Ring Stick Up Cam is more versatile than the Indoor cam, available in both battery and plug-in varieties. The battery-powered Stick Up Cam comes with rechargeable batteries; this means you can place it anywhere (so long as you’re alright with having to change the batteries on occasion). The Stick Up Cam also comes with a mount that allows you to place it on both flat surfaces and walls, making it quite versatile in where you can place it.

Ring Spotlight Cam | Best for: Outdoor

The Spotlight Cam is where you start to see some of Ring’s more advanced features. The Spotlight Cam doesn’t just monitor the outside of your home—it comes equipped with LED spotlights and a 110-decibel siren alarm. These tools can help prevent home invasions/burglaries before they happen. These features make this camera a powerful security tool for any home.

Ring Floodlight Cam | Best for: Outdoor

The Ring Floodlight Cam comes with the same key features as the Spotlight Cam—motion-activated lights, built-in siren alarm, and 1080p video. However, this camera represents a sharp upgrade with its ultra-bright LED floodlights, which are powerful enough to light up your whole yard with ease. With a 140 degree field-of-view, the camera detects motion from nearly every angle, making sure you don’t miss a single thing.

/0 Comments/by

Best Home Security Camera: How to Choose

,

When choosing a home security camera, it’s important to consider what you’ll be using it for. Do you want to be able to check your front porch to see if a package arrived? See if raccoons are eating your trash in the side yard? Monitor your kitchen to see if the babysitter has been drinking your Diet Coke while you’re away?

Wireless Security Camera vs. Video Doorbell

Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a security camera for you. As far as outdoor home security cameras go, there are two main options: wireless security cameras or video doorbells. Within wireless security cameras, you can either opt for a device with rechargeable batteries or one with a wired charging cable.

Wireless security cameras allow you to monitor your home in real-time via smartphone. These cameras are powered by either a charging cable or rechargeable batteries (for a truly wireless experience). If you plan to put your camera in a difficult-to-reach location, a charging cable might work better for you. That way, you won’t have to worry about replacing drained batteries. 

With video doorbells, you’re also able to monitor your front porch in real-time from your phone. Additionally, many find video doorbells to be more convenient because they’re able to function without any external wires. Simply connect the device to your existing doorbell wiring and you’re good to go!

Best Home Security Camera: Bottom Line

At the end of the day, the type of camera you get depends on your needs. If your main concern is monitoring your front porch, and you don’t need much else, a video doorbell is probably right for you. If you want more outdoor flexibility and security, wireless video cameras with built-in charging cords would probably suit your needs best. And, if you’re looking for a simple way to keep track of what’s going on inside your home—your safest bet is probably a wireless security camera with rechargeable batteries. 

 

/0 Comments/by

5 Tips to Protect Yourself from a Home Invasion

You might be surprised to learn that there are an estimated 3.7 million burglaries annually in the US. Even scarier, in 28% of those instances, the home invasion happened while a member of the family was home.

Are you worried that your home might not be secure? If so, read on. We’ve compiled a list of 5 simple steps you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a home invasion or burglary. 

1. Designate a home invasion safe room

If it’s not possible for you to exit the house immediately in a home invasion situation, it’s important to have a designated safe room—it’s absolutely worth it to invest in a sturdy, high-quality door that can resist attempted break-ins. It’s best for this to be a room that all members of the family can get to in case of emergency. 

2. Make a home invasion plan with your family

When someone enters your house, you’ll probably be too frazzled to think clearly. That’s why it’s important to create (and practice) your home invasion safety plan ahead of time. Determine the nearest exits, the safest hiding places, and anything else you need to ensure your family’s safety. 

3. Keep a flashlight with you

In the case of a home invasion, you likely won’t want to attract attention to yourself as you try to escape. In order to avoid turning on all your home lights, it’s important to have a flashlight around. Although most cell phones have a flashlight feature, it might be worth it for you to invest in a quality flashlight with a focused beam—this makes your light beam less detectable, which in turn makes you safer. 

4. Invest in motion and glass break sensors

It’s a good idea to invest in a home security system with motion and glass break sensors. Windows provide an ideal entry point for home invasion, as people are much more likely to have unlocked windows than unlocked doors. Window sensors bring peace of mind and ensure protection at every possible entrance to your home. 

5. Keep your home security system yard sign out front!

After you get your home security system, it’s a good idea to keep your system’s yard sign out front. Most burglars want to find the easiest target possible. So, they’ll be a lot less likely to enter a home with an alarm system installed. And, while it might sound tempting to just buy a yard sign without getting an actual home security system, smart burglars are typically able to tell when you’re bluffing. They’ll scan the perimeter of your home for cameras and check the windows for sensors before entering. If they don’t see anything to ward them off, there’s a good chance they’ll still consider choosing your home as a target. 

 

/0 Comments/by

Choosing the Best Home Security System for You

When it comes to choosing the best home security system, it’s easy to get lost in all the different companies out there. Prices can range wildly and every system offers different features. So, which is the best home security system for you? We’ve compiled a list of the most important features you should consider while you search. 

DIY vs. Professional-Installation

Do you consider yourself a handy person? If so, you might consider ordering a DIY home security system. However, this option does come with more hassle on your end. You’ll need to buy the proper tools and equipment, hook up the sensors yourself, and potentially risk damaging doors/walls in your home in the process. With professional installation, you can rest assured that the process will be quick and easy. Additionally, you won’t need to worry about the upfront costs of buying a kit, purchasing tools, equipment—or risk damaging your home in the process.

24/7 Monitoring—Do I need It?

You’ll likely find that some home security systems offer 24/7 monitoring services, while many others don’t. Without this service, your system can activate the alarm and notify you, but can’t do much else. With 24/7 monitoring, trained professionals monitor your system and can contact the authorities immediately in the case of a home invasion or a natural emergency. 

Choosing a Contract That’s Best for You

Many companies offer no-contract or short-term contract plans for their systems. While these may sound appealing to you, it’s important to be careful. Many companies offer short-term plans at a low price, just to bump up the rates once your contract ends and their systems are already installed. Remember: home security isn’t something you just want for the short term. So, it’s often a wiser choice to choose a long-term option where you can know with certainty that your price won’t change over the lifetime of your agreement. 

Are you ready to secure your home? Call WISE Home Solutions at 1-844-904-9473 to hear more information about our custom home security plans! 

/0 Comments/by