house checkEven if you don’t actually have a home security surveillance system for your Los Angeles home,  there are some simple things you can do to deter a burglar. According to a group of convicted burglars, things like good exterior lighting, dogs inside the house, and knowledge of weapons on the premises are inexpensive but reasonably effective deterrents. However, don’t bother with things like timed interior lights, dead bolt locks, and burglar alarms that make noise but don’t actually call the police. The latter is only effective in a heavily populated area where neighbors actively call police if a local alarm is heard. The following list—arranged from least effective to most effective—provides a range of burglary deterring methods.

Burglary deterring methods

  • Timed interior lights, televisions, etc. Professional crooks case the place first and know that you have installed such devices.
  • Deadbolt locks; crooks don’t use the most obvious entry places, so extra locks on the door are meaningless.
  • Local burglar alarms—the type that just makes a lot of noise, but doesn't call the police
  • Safes/strong boxes: If it's small enough, they'll take the whole box. If not, there will be plenty of items that aren't in the box.
  • Neighborhood watch programs: these tend to be effective at first, but over time people tend to relax their vigilance.
  • Better exterior lighting; important if you live in a rural area where people could prowl around at night without being seen
  • Guardhouses protecting homes; expensive—not generally used except at homes of very wealthy or high profile individuals
  • Weapons in the home; not much good if you aren't home
  • Dog in your Los Angeles home (outdoor dogs are less threatening than indoor ones)
  • Private security patrols
  • Electronic sensors in windows

You can also perform common sense actions such as:

  • Cutting back shrubs and trees that hide your house from view
  • Keeping all doors and windows—including those in your garage-- locked at all times
  • Adding motion-detector lights.
  • Installing a hidden safe in your Los Angeles home
  • If you must hide a door key outside, leave it in a most unusual location
  • Securing sliding doors by placing some type of rod in the back groove
  • Keeping valuables out of sight
  • Making arrangements with neighbors to pick up mail and newspapers while you’re away, keep the lawn mowed, and shovel any snow in your driveway.
  • Have phone messages forwarded when you’re on vacation
  • Consider joining or organizing a Neighborhood Watch Program

And of course, it goes without saying that you should periodically update the insurance policy for the possessions in your Los Angeles home--just in case the tips suggested above prove ineffective!

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Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.