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Month: June 2020
Top 4 Reasons to Get a Video Doorbell
When it comes to safety, there’s nothing we depend on more than our abodes, not only do they contain most of our possessions but it’s what we rely on to keep our families safe.
And with
recent increase in crime throughout many cities in Georgia, it’s clear that we need to be taking precautions to protect ourselves and our homes at all costs.Years ago, well-known tricks like leaving lights on while you were away from home were strategies we might have depended on to deter unwanted visitors, but times have changed and homeowner are forced to start thinking bigger.
Video doorbells have quickly become a homeowner’s best option when it comes to keeping opportunistic burglars and thieves at bay. Not only will this give you peace of mind but installing these extra security measures could even lower the cost of your home insurance.
Let’s take a look at the top reasons why you should consider upgrading to a video doorbell – the latest in smart home technology to protect your house, family and valuables.
1. Record events and provide evidence
A video doorbell is comprised of a set of internet-connected security tools and equipment which can send data about movement and trespassing to your smartphone via an app. This system allows you to monitor what goes on outside your home. Video doorbells can ensure you know who is on your property without you having to go to the door and will lessen an opportunity for a thief to enter your home.
2. Check on your property from any location
Most video doorbells
links to your smartphone and make it possible for you to connect and monitor real-time footage from almost anywhere. This functionality gives you a much highersense peace of mind when you go away and can also give you an opportunity to thwart any potential attempts of burglary to your home. Additionally, many video doorbells include the option to remotely set off an alarm to scare trespassers away and draw attention to your home.3. Tower home insurance premiums
Your home insurance is usually broken down into two sections: buildings insurance and contents insurance. The first covers any damage to the structure of your home, which also includes the replacement cost of pipes, garages
and fences, whereas contents insurance covers internal possessions and furnishings.In some cases, installing a video doorbell becomes an incentive for insurers to give you a discount on your coverage. Having an added layer of protection around your home and its contents, along with the reduced opportunity for theft or damage to your property usually appeals to insurance companies because they may see your property as less of a risk, and not claiming on your insurance can lower it over time.
4. It can increase property value
When it comes to selling your home, the likelihood of getting a good deal increase if the home includes smart home security gadgets, such as video doorbells. One good suggestion is to add this extra protective layer to your home to make it more appealing to would-be buyers to help promote the assurance of a lesser chance of burglary and theft in the event that criminals are made aware the additional security measures being taken to monitor them.
Although some smart home security may seem expensive, with an increase in interest for these protective measures, there are now more affordable models coming out. So, everybody can guard their homes and families, whether they’re in or not.
3 Ways to Cut Insurance Costs with Security
Many homeowners assume that living in a safe neighborhood eliminates the risk for a burglary, which is not the case. In the unfortunate event that they find their valuables stolen or damaged after a home invasion, homeowners could issue a claim against their home insurance policy — and more often than not, filing a claim results in homeowners seeing a rise in their insurance premiums.
According to the market data, there were more than 3.7 million burglaries in 2003 – 2007, the equivalent of one burglary every 8 seconds, according to alarm.org, run by the Electronic Security Association. For these reasons, homeowners should consider whether installing a home security system is worth the investment, not only to protect their family and
possessions, but also to help possibly lower the cost of insurance.Here are three ways to reduce insurance costs with a security system:
1. Boost Home Safety
Insurers may provide a discount on insurance premiums for homeowners who have a home security system, which can help increase the overall safety of the home. Research performed by alarm.org stated that 90 percent of convicted burglars said they would keep away from homes with home security systems. The assumed decrease in incidents could help insurance companies perceive homeowners as less of a risk, and therefore qualify them for discounts.
2. Lower Costs on Home Policy Premiums
Homeowners could see their insurance premiums decline by up to about 20 percent with the installation of a well-rounded home security system, according to researchers. Not only can having a comprehensive security system help reduce insurance costs
, homeowners can also save money on would-be damages in the event that a burglary would occur without a security system.3. Minimize Risk of Cost Hikes
To steer clear higher insurance premiums, homeowners should carefully review their policies. Home insurance companies may opt to hike insurance policy premiums should a burglary occurs, so it’s a good idea to know what factors could bring about unwanted changes to the cost of your home insurance.
Outdoor Burning in Georgia.
The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resourcesrestricts open burning from May through September of each year.
Why?
During the warm weather seasons, the particulates in an open-air fire become more significant contributors to unhealthy levels of ozone. By banning open fires during those months in heavily populated Atlanta and the majority of its surrounding counties, there is a reduction in the
amount of pollutants.Once the weather has turned cooler, certain types of outdoor burning
is once again permitted in north Georgia counties. Georgia residents that want to do an open burn from October through April 2018, need to check with their county ordinances on outdoor burning.The following types of burning can be done without a permit:
- Leaves, limbs, and natural vegetation
- Fires that provide warmth
- Fires that cook food
- Recreational fires in an outdoor fireplace
Always check with your county before you do any sort of large surface, outdoor burning! If you need a permit, visit http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/online-permits/index.cfm.
General safety tips for any type of open burning:
- Gather the necessary supplies for controlling the fire—a rake, a shovel and a water hose connected to a good water source.
- Find a burn spot that can be easily controlled in a level area, away from any buildings.
- Start small.
- Make sure all the materials being burned are natural. No man-made products (such as processed lumber) that might contain chemicals that
ignites or gives off noxious fumes. - No burning within 20 feet of flammable or combustible materials.
- Never leave an outdoor fire burning unattended.
An outdoor fire burning out of control can threaten the safety of your home and family. And in Georgia, illegal outdoor burning can get you in a world of trouble. Don’t play with fire—play it safe!
Check out ourwebsite for information about fire protectioninside your home! You can add monitoring for fire, smoke, and heat at no additional monthly cost.
How a Social Media Status Update Can Cost You Thousands of Dollars
There’s almost nothing better than being on summer vacation.
When you’re having fun, it’s so tempting to share all the excitement on social media. However, you may want to read this before you update your Facebook status, check in on Foursquare or snap and post that beachfront selfie. Burglars that are intent on stealing your valuables will utilize your social media posts to determine if you’re at home.
78% of Burglars Use Social Media to Target Homes
Statistics show, 78% of home burglars use social media platforms to select the homes they intend to rob. Location-based platforms such as Facebook or Twitter make their information especially valuable to criminals, who are always looking for the easiest access possible to your home. And what could be easier than an unoccupied home? If the average home robbery takes 10 minutes, imagine the kind of access you’re offering a burglar when you announce you’re taking off on a 14-day cruise!
In addition to the risk of being robbed, some insurers in the United States are now denying claims for home break-ins when they discover that the policyholder posted on Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms while he or she was away on a trip.
How Can I Avoid being targeted by a Facebook-surfing Thief?
Hold off on posting while you’re away, and save all those great pics for an online photo album AFTER you return from your trip. Don’t use the check-in feature on any of your social media. If you’re traveling with family, set guidelines for posting to social media that apply to everyone.
Above all, make sure to ARM YOUR ALARM on your security system before you set off on your road trip.
EMC Security wants you to have a fun-and SAFE—vacation!
We’re home when you’re not, providing 24/7 monitoring for intrusion, fire, and smoke. If you want the alarm monitoring company with one of the fastest response times in Georgia to protect your home, give us a call at 770-963-0305 today or visit our website.