You should already have invested in a  baldwin mortise lock for your front and rear doors. If you have patio doors, you should have installed proper patio door locks as well. But even adding the best security features to your home won’t deter a determined burglar.

Consider hiring a house sitter

The very best thing you can do in regards to vacations and home security is to hire a good house sitter. By having someone reliable and responsible in place to check on things for you while you are gone, you can feel confident that everything is taken care of well. If you have a house sitter to watch out for your mail and newspaper and keep things around the house looking lived in, you will go far towards discouraging break ins while you are gone.

If you are unable to find a licensed house sitter, perhaps a neighbor, relative or friend would be willing to help you with your vacations and home security plans. Whoever you get to help you out, be sure that you leave them with adequate contact information. It’s very important that they know where to reach you. Have good phone number posted by the phone and give them a copy to keep with them.

Give your house sitter a walk through before you leave so that he or she will be familiar with the way your house is supposed to look. In that way, your house sitter will be sure to notice if anything is out of place or missing. Give instruction for your house sitter to call the police if anything seems to be out of place or missing. Ask your house sitter to make sure your timers are working correctly and that all your light bulbs are functioning so that your timers will work to their best advantage.

Put your radios and lights on automatic timers

You may want to invest in some automatic timers for your radios and lights. Automatic timers are a good investment for your vacations and home security preparations. By hooking up radios and lights to timers you can have various radios and lights turn on and off at different times of the day and night. This will give your house the appearance of being lived in. Also, be sure to mow your yard before you leave. If you are planning to be gone for awhile, hire someone to come and tidy your yard and mow your grass at least once a week while you are gone. This will also give your home the appearance of being occupied.

Piles of newspapers and mail tell the world your home is empty!

Stop mail and newspaper delivery while you are gone or be sure that your house sitter brings your mail and papers in every day. Great piles of uncollected paper just scream “Empty house!” This is one of the things burglars look for. It may go without saying that you should lock your door while you are away, but be sure to lock your door while you are away. Leave a key with your house sitter, not hidden somewhere in your yard.

Go on Vacation and Relax!

If you take the time to plan regarding vacations and home security, you can leave for your vacation safe in the knowledge that everything will be taken care of while you are gone. You can enjoy yourself and know that when you return, your home will be intact. These few simple steps will work well to discourage any burglars who may be evaluating your home.

Home Security During Your Vacation is from Mortise Lock

Invest in a fence

We have already explored why you should fit a mortise lock on your front door but it may not be enough. A good strong fence will keep unwanted intruders away from your door. If you put up a decorative fence with a strong locking gate, you are sure to be able to deflect these unwanted guests. Nothing says, “Keep Out” like a good fence with a locked gate – except of course a “Keep Out” or “No Soliciting” sign. One very good way of improving your security and privacy is to simply be extremely straightforward about the fact that uninvited guests are not welcome.

Of course many renters and people who live in cities with strong ordinances may not be able to put up a strong fence with locking gate. In these cases, a good security gate on your door or at the entrance to your porch may be a possibility.  This option will just make it very difficult for intruders to get to your door to knock on it. They will usually just turn away if bothering you takes a lot of work.

Have you thought about a dog?

A big, loud dog is another way to keep intruders away from your house. A dog that looks like a watch dog will go far to keep people away. Your watch dog does not have to be dangerous, but it should look imposing. A super-friendly type dog might not be convincing enough.

Any good dog will bark when a stranger approaches; however, it takes a confident dog to prevent a stranger from entering your property. To be sure you have a dog that will do this, you will need to look for a dog with a confident temperament, and you will need to provide training so that the dog will know what its job is. Remember that salesmen see a lot of dogs. If a dog doesn’t look like it means business, an experienced salesman is likely to ignore it. You want a dog that will stand in the salesman’s path and not back down.

A good watch dog or guard dog does not have to be vicious. It just needs to be confident enough to know that it has the authority to keep intruders off your property. You want a dog that won’t back down when faced with an aggressive salesman. People who don’t belong on your property are unlikely to take a chance on being bitten just to make a sale or give you a religious tract.

A home surveillance system may be the answer

Another good way to discourage salespeople is to install a home surveillance system. This simple method of improving your security and privacy can be very effective. By this method, you simply see the intruder before he or she sees you. With this edge, you will know when it is safe to answer the door and when it is not. If you never answer the door to salespeople, they will eventually give up on you.

Improving Home Security is from Mortise Lock

A mortise lock

A mortise lock is a very specific kind of lock containing a handle and lock set. Depending on where you buy it, you could buy a lever and tumbler style lock in the UK and in Europe, but in the US you are more likely to buy a cylindrical style lock as it is considered to be more secure.

You cannot just attach a mortise lockset to the door. It has to be cut into the panel into which it is to be fitted. The lock comes in a number of parts i.e. the lock body which is the bit you put inside the panel of the door, the lock trim i.e. the doorknob, handle or lever depending on the style you choose, the strike plate which is also known as the box keep. When the door is locked the bolt is inserted into the hole in the frame and it is the strike plate that keeps this aligned. The final part of the lock is the keyed cylinder which as the name suggests operates the actual locking and unlocking mechanism. When you open the door and look at it, you will see a solid metal plate securely screwed into place that is flush with the frame.

It used to be the case that a mortise lock was only found on older buildings as the bored cylindrical locks were more popular. This was partly to do with the fact that it takes a certain set of skills to install the former type of lock. However in recent years, the mortise has found a new following especially in the more up market houses primarily because it provides better security. It can also be found on modern commercial buildings for the same reason. There are a number of brand names associated with this type of lock, one of the most popular being the Sargent mortise locks. Schlange, Baldwin and Yale are some other popular providers.

Can you fit one of these types of locks yourself? Well yes if you have good carpentry skills but for most people you should employ a qualified locksmith or carpenter with experience in fitting this style. As it has to be fitted into the actual door as opposed to attached on top of the panel, you can do a lot of damage to the wood never mind end up with a lock that is not aligned properly if you do not know what you are doing. If you are fitting an exterior mortise lock to a steel door perhaps in a commercial building, you will need an expert used to fitting this additional security measure.

Although some people say that installing a mortise lock weakens the door, and they are probably correct as you have interfered with the original timber setting, it actually improves the security of your home making it more difficult for burglaries to break in. If you fit these types of locks to your home you should tell your insurance company or broker as you may find that you qualify for a discount on your home insurance premiums.

In addition to providing more security, the availability of various different styles of mortise lock furniture has accounted for the increase in popularity. There are a range of door knobs you can purchase including if you prefer an antique mortise lock, if you were restoring an old property to its former glory. Mortise door hardware comes in polished brass, satin nickel, polished chrome and antique brass so no matter what your personal taste is or the design of your home, you are bound to find the right style for you. If you live in an area prone to adverse weather, you may have been advised to install some mortise storm door hardware.

Up until now you may have taken locks for granted. In fairness most of us have busy and interesting lives and up until recently the security measures you employ at home were not usually the topic of conversation at the dinner table. Unfortunately with the current economic crisis and resulting rise in petty crimes and burglaries, all of us are becoming more concerned. Perhaps you have already had your home broken into and are trying to secure it more effectively to prevent a reoccurrence.

Some people are investing in firearms and safes for the first time while others are employing locksmiths and woodworkers to install a mortise lock on their external door. The in built heavy duty deadbolt helps to make us all feel more secure. If you want a deadbolt with a cylindrical lockset, you will need to install a separate deadbolt lock which means drilling more holes in your door.

A mortise lock is an investment – it will improve the security and look of your home but it comes at a price. There are many fantastic deals you can choose from so be sure to shop around to get the best based on your personal choice and requirements.

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