Ways to Monitor Your Children When You’re at Work

Are you worried about your children at home while you’re at work?

This is a common concern for many working parents that have children staying at home after school and during those long summer months. A home security system can monitor and protect them while you’re working. Here are some ways security systems can help.

1. Mobile Notifications – Get notifications sent to your cell phone anytime your home security system is armed or disarmed. It’s a great way to keep track of kids entering and leaving your home.
2. Security Cameras – Security camera surveillance isn’t just for businesses. Having cameras in public areas of your home can help you watch your kids when you’re at work.
3. Emergency Assistance – In cases of fires or other emergencies, first responders can quickly get to your home thanks to panic buttons and advanced smoke detection systems. It’s another layer of protection for your family.

Be sure to call your children from time to time to check in on them. Also show them how to use the home security system to avoid false alarms.

During the summer months, you might also want to get your children involved in community activities. It’s an excellent way to keep them out of trouble.  Here are a few websites to help find the right summer activities:

• Teen Activities in Sacramento, California

• San Mateo Youth Activities Council

• Anderson California Teen Center

• Southern Oregon Activities

For more great home security tips and savings on home security products and services, like the Hue & Cry Facebook Page. For questions on home security systems and monitoring, call us at 1-800-762-3196.

How to Teach Your Kids to Use a Home Security System

Want to know the most overlooked home safety tip for your children?

It’s teaching them how to use and respect the home security system. This is very important for several reasons:

1. False Alarms: Helps prevent false alarms and the expensive fines that come with them.

2. Security: Reduces the possibility of kids accidentally disarming the system when it’s needed.

3. Emergencies: Assists in times of emergencies where a child can hit the system’s panic/emergency button.

So what should you teach them? Follow the tips and guidelines below.

When children are very young, you’ll want to teach them to respect the system. Don’t give them the passcode. Tell them the security system is not a toy and should be respected.

For young children in school (ages 5-11), you’ll want to show them the emergency button/panic button on the security system. This is especially a good idea if you have family members who have health problems. Additionally, get them in the habit of closing and locking front, back and side doors.

When a child is of age to stay home alone (ages 12+), it’s time to show them how to operate the security system. Give them a demonstration. Show them how all of the doors and windows must be closed for the system to work. Then show them how to arm and disarm the system.

You’ll also want to tell them what to do if they accidentally trigger the alarm system. Be sure they know the security system passcode as well as the personal identification code used during false alarms.

Before you let them get a try at it, tell your security company that you’re practicing, just in case your child accidentally triggers the alarm. After the practice session, stress the importance of not sharing the security system passcode with anyone.

It’s important to note that the ages listed in this post are not set in stone. The maturity of your child plays an important factor. Use your judgment.

At what age did you teach your children how to use the security system? Leave your comments below or join the discussion on the Hue & Cry Facebook Page.

The Biggest Summer Safety Risks for Children

The summer months present several safety risks for children. Here are the top three risks and what you can do to prevent them.

1. Drowning in pools or lakes

Drowning is a huge safety concern. On average, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that two children die from unintentional drowning every single day. To help prevent this, there are several things you can do:

• Always supervise children that are near or in water
• Make sure there is fencing separating the pool area from your home
• Have children wear life jackets when boating

Finally, you’ll want to enroll your children in formal swimming lessons. This significantly reduces the risk of drowning. Some area businesses offering children’s swimming lessons include:

• San Mateo – King’s Swim Academy

• Shasta County – Drowning Education Awareness and Prevention Water Safety for Life

• Crescent City – Fred Endert Municipal Pool

• Sacramento – Dolphin Swim School

• Medford – ABK Splash Swim School

2. Being left home alone

Leaving your child home alone presents a variety of risks. This includes injury, abduction as well as damage to your home. Many states have latchkey laws. These laws typically say children under the ages of 10 to 14 should not be left home alone.

The maturity of your child is also important. To determine if they are responsible enough to be left home alone, ask yourself the following as suggested by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:

• Does my child regularly obey rules and make good decisions?
• Is my child physically able to care for themselves?
• Do I feel comfortable leaving my child home alone?

If you decide your child is mature enough to stay home alone, have a discussion about your home security system. Make sure they never share the key code with anyone.

3. Playing with fire

Fire safety is a very important topic to discuss with your children. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, children under the age of 14 make up 15 percent of all fire-related deaths. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to:

• Discuss the dangers of fireworks and fire
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach
• Show your children what to do in the event of a fire
• Have a fire escape plan that you practice with your children

You can find important fire safety tips in our post “How to Prevent Home Fires.” Also be sure to Like the Hue & Cry Facebook Page for additional tips and advice.

Beware of Latest Home Security Alarm Scams

For homeowners with a security system, there are multiple scams going on across the country that could open your house up to burglaries and other criminal activities.

Criminals, posing as security alarm company representatives, are calling homeowners trying to get security system passcodes to disarm systems so they can break in at a later time.

There are also those companies that initiate an automated call going out to random residences advising of a free security system installed and monitored by the local police department OR claiming to be a well-known local security company giving away a certain number of free systems.

If you get a call from any one of these sources, here’s what you need to know.

1. Your security company will NEVER ask you for the passcode that you use to arm and disarm your security system.
2. When security companies call, they will usually ask you for a personal identification number or a secret word to establish your identity.
3. If you believe the person on the phone is a scam artist, hang up and immediately call your alarm company to explain the situation.
4. Also ask the person on the phone for their alarm license number. You can check the number with your security company to confirm they are an employee.

Following these tips will help to protect your home and your family. Remember to never share your security alarm passcode with anyone outside of your family.

If you have any questions about how to protect yourself from these types of scams, we’re here to help. At Hue & Cry, Inc., we’ve been keeping thousands of families in Northern California and Southern Oregon safe for more than 30 years. Call us at 1-800-762-3196.

How Security Cameras Protect Your Valuables

The FBI says that a home burglary happens somewhere in the United States every 15.4 seconds. The average loss is around $1,300.

Some of the things that burglars love to steal include cash, jewelry, computers, personal electronics, firearms and important documents. Having a home security system can help safeguard your house. Additionally, security camera surveillance systems can help prevent vandalism as well as theft.

Here are a few ways that security cameras help protect your valuables.

• Monitors Household Staff & Guests – Keep an eye on repairmen and other maintenance staff while you’re away from your home with security cameras. If something turns up missing, you can go to the camera to see if a repairman or some other service staff was the culprit.

• Keeps an Eye on the Kids – Sometimes it’s the kids that are the culprits of stealing or accidentally breaking valuables in your home. Having security cameras positioned in rooms where keepsakes are held is an excellent way to discourage your children from handling them. Plus, you see who your kids are inviting into your home while you’re away.

• Watches Your Home When You’re on Vacation – Burglars often strike when you’re away from your home for long periods of time. Having security cameras can help you monitor your home when you’re on vacation. Positioning cameras at key access points around your home can help identify unwanted visitors when you’re away on a trip.

• Protects Outdoor Items – Are you worried about someone stealing patio furniture or other valuables outside of your home? Placing security cameras around your home acts as an excellent theft deterrent. Having cameras right outside of your garage can help to protect your car, bike and other valuable possessions.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., thousands of homeowners in Northern California and Southern Oregon trust us for their home security needs. To find out how we can help you, please visit us at www.HueAndCry.com or call 1-800-762-3196 to explore your security options.

Should You Insure Precious Valuables?

The answer to this question is a no-brainer. If you have valuable items in your home that you would hate to lose in a fire or a burglary… then you need to insure them.

Insuring valuable items can help you replace them or at the very least get money back should they be lost in a fire or stolen by burglars.

When it comes to insuring them, there are two mistakes that homeowners sometimes make:

1. They don’t tell their insurance agent about jewelry, fine art or other valuable collectables in their home.
2. They underestimate the value of their personal belongings when talking to their agent.

Don’t let this mistake happen to you. Take the time to inventory all of the valuable items within your home. Then think about how you want to insure them.

You general have two options. The first involves individually listing each item separately from your home insurance policy. The other, lists them under your homeowner’s policy under categories such as jewelry, art, sports memorabilia, etc.

Choosing the right option typically depends on the value of the item/items. If it’s a very valuable possession, you’ll want to individually list them. Typically, there are value limits when items are listed under a homeowner’s policy. Whichever option you select, it is very important to have proof of ownership and its value. This might require getting an independent appraisal.

The key is to know what you own and how you plan on protecting it when talking to your insurance agent. Keep in mind many insurance companies offer discounts and rebates for home security systems and hardwired smoke detectors.

For more great tips on homeowner’s insurance, read our post “Ways Homeowners Can Cut Insurance Costs.” Also be sure to follow us on Facebook. You’ll get lots of great money saving security tips for your home.

The Dumbest Places to Hide Valuables in Your Home

You’ll want to avoid stashing valuables in these five areas of your home because burglars will find them.

1. The Backyard

It seems like something only people in the movies would do. But it actually happens in real life. An Oregon woman buried a safe containing more than $250,000 in gold in her backyard. When she went to dig it up, it was gone. You can read the entire account in the Mail Tribune.

Burying your treasures and valuables in the backyard presents several problems:

1. You might forget where you buried it.
2. Someone may find it.

If you have a safe, keep it inside the house, preferably with a home security system. That way, law enforcement can quickly be alerted of break-ins. Another option is getting a safe deposit box at the bank.

2. A Safe

Let us start by saying a safe is a great way to protect valuables such as cash, jewelry and important documents. The problem is that many homeowners keep their safes out in the open where outsiders can see them.

If you have a safe, make it hard to find. Hide it inside a wall in your laundry room or put it behind a shelf or cabinet or in the floor. Burglars are typically in a rush when they break into your home. Make it difficult for them to find your safe.

3. Dressers & Closets

Many people like to bury valuables under clothing in dressers or closets. This is a big mistake. Burglars like to target bedrooms. They can easily dump all of the contents of a dresser drawer to find the cash, jewelry or other valuables that you’re hiding.

One way to throw burglars of the scent is to leave a small amount of cash inside one of your dresser drawers. They might think that it’s all that you have. You can then hide valuables in better hiding places.

4. Refrigerator & Medicine Cabinets

Hiding a wad of cash or a diamond ring in the refrigerator or medicine cabinet is not a good idea. Some burglars are looking to steal prescription drugs, which would lead them to your medicine cabinets as well as your refrigerator.

Plus if you hide any valuables in a food box or a wrapper, you’re risking the possibility of it accidentally winding up in the trash can.

5. Fake Rocks

Your house key is one of your most important valuables. Yet, many leave them right outside their front door under a mat or inside one of those fake rocks.

Seasoned burglars can easily spot those kinds of things. Get into the habit of not sharing your house keys or any security system passcodes. You don’t want to make it easy for burglars to get into your home.

How to Know That You Are Working With the Right Home Security Company

Many security companies make great promises such as low prices and excellent service. However, in reality, very few can actually keep their word.

That’s what makes shopping for a home security system a difficult process. It’s hard to judge if you’re working with the right home security company. To help you separate the good from the bad, here are a few qualities that stand out among the top companies.

No subcontractors for installations, service and monitoring

Some of the big national security companies like to outsource installation, monitoring and customer service to subcontractors. This can cause a lot of potential headaches because no one can really be held accountable.

If you don’t believe us, take a look at some of the online social media reviews. You’ll see numerous complaints. Here’s a Facebook complaint about one of the largest security companies in the country – “Does anyone have a line on a different alarm company that will provide prompt & effective service when I call them…because for the past 3 months (it) has been the exact opposite of that!”

Memberships to trade associations

Memberships to trade associations and business groups show the company’s commitment to quality service and ethical business practices. Some of the top trade associations and business groups include:

• Better Business Bureau
• Electronic Security Association (ESA)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Additionally, check to see if their monitoring station is U.L. certified. This ensures that highest quality of connection between your security system and the central monitoring station.

Keeps up on new technologies

You would be amazed how many security companies peddle old and outdated technology. Good companies train their employees on the latest technologies. They offer custom-designed home security systems that offer options such as:

• Fire detection systems
• Keyless entry systems
• Security camera systems
• Home automation
• Computer/smartphone control

A good security company realizes that no two homes are alike. People have different wants and needs.

Examining these qualities will help you determine if you’re working with the right security company. For even more home security tips, like the Hue & Cry, Inc. Facebook Page.

The Home Security System Shopping Checklist

Use this handy checklist to help you shop for a home security system.

Determine your needs – What are you looking for in a home security system? Before you start examining security companies, think about what you really want and how much you’re willing to spend. Do you need security cameras or a keyless entry system? What about home automation? Sit down and think about your wants and needs.

Research several security companies in your community – Would you interview a job applicant without looking at their résumé? Too often homeowners start calling security companies before doing any background research. Look at their websites. Examine their offerings. Read reviews. After you’ve done your homework, identify several companies that meet your needs.

Talk to some security companies – Once you’ve narrowed down the list, make some phone calls. Hear what the different security companies have to offer. Check to make sure they monitor their security systems from a U.L. certified monitoring center. Also explore all of their different offerings such as security cameras and home automation.

Think about it – This is the point where people start getting tired and just want to make a decision already. Stay patient. Don’t be in a rush to sign a contact. Think about the offers and the prices. Do a second round of research into the security companies that seem like the right fit. Read testimonials and reviews. Ask family and friends on social media if they have experience with the company. Also look at their social media profiles. Are the comments generally positive?

Make a Decision – Once you’ve got all of the relevant information, it’s time to make a decision. Use all of the information that you’ve accumulated to make the right choice. Make a decision that is right for you. Don’t let anyone pressure you into a decision that you’re not comfortable making.

How to Select the Right Home Security Company

Most homeowners are looking for some peace of mind when shopping for a home security system. Unfortunately, the buying process can be filled with potential headaches.

Between harassing sales calls and misleading promises, it can be frustrating to find a home security system. We feel your pain. As one of the leading home security companies in California and Oregon, we know how other so-called security companies treat homeowners. It’s not good.

To help you find an honest and reliable security company, here are a few things that you should ask those security salespeople.

Question No. 1: Do you outsource?

A lot of times, those big national security companies will hire independent contractors to sell their systems. They install the system, take your money and you never hear from them again. You’re then stuck dealing with some customer service center on the other side of the country when the security system doesn’t work.  Look for a security company that does things locally.

Question No. 2: Is it really free?

When a security salesperson tells you that something is free, take a look at the big picture. As an example, some security companies will offer a “free system” or “free installation.” That sounds nice doesn’t it? However, they then hammer you with start-up fees and other hidden monthly costs that can snowball out of control.

Question No. 3: Where is the central monitoring station located?

When something goes wrong, would you prefer to talk to someone in New York City or in your home state? Some security companies will claim to be “local business” only to outsource monitoring to some center thousands of miles away. Good security companies will keep monitoring nearby. When an emergency happens, you want the monitoring center nearby because every second matters in an emergency.

Get Help Now

Asking these three questions will help you find the right home security company. As you’re shopping, read online reviews and check with the Better Business Bureau.

At Hue & Cry, Inc., we’re dedicated to serving homeowners in Northern California and Southern Oregon. We’re a family company that cares about our customers as well as our employees. We serve thousands of homeowners and have gotten excellent reviews. To see how we can help you, please visit our page on home security systems.