Multi-residential tenants have to think about security a little differently than those who rent or own a house. If you live in an apartment or condo, here are some security tips to give you peace of mind.

Apartment Security Tips

Apartments come with more restrictions than condos, as you are typically renting instead of owning your residence. So you will likely have to check with your landlord about what you can and can’t do. (They are also a good resource, by the way, if you have safety concerns). Here are some general tips on how to improve security in your apartment:

• • Install a doorbell camera: If you’re able, install a doorbell camera outside your door. Some apartments don’t have peepholes, and you can’t install one yourself, but a doorbell camera lets you view who is visiting your door.
  • Meet your neighbors: The sooner you can get to know your neighbors, the better. For one, you won’t mistake them for a criminal; and two, they can keep an eye out on your apartment if you’re away.
  • Don’t advertise your absence: Don’t post about any trips on social media or tell anyone except your most trusted friends, and family about vacations. 
  • Keep valuables out of sight: Avoid giving burglars an excuse to break into your apartment. Keep valuable items, and belongings away from windows, and doors.
• Common sense: don’t leave a key under your doormat and if you have pin-code access… use a secure passcode. 

Condo Security Tips

You have a little more freedom when it comes to condo security, as you likely own it. (Though there still may be restrictions by the building owner.) Here are some general tips on how to improve the security of your condo:

• • Install a peephole: Or a video doorbell camera, as mentioned in the section above. It’s always safer to confirm visitors’ identities before letting them in your home.
  • Use timers for lights, and electronics: Whether interior or exterior, put lights, and TVs on timers so it gives the appearance of someone being there at all times.
  • Install new locks: If you haven’t changed locks yet, do it now. You don’t know who may have had access to your condo (or its keys) previously.
  • Don’t let strangers in the community: If you live in a gated community, don’t let anyone in who you don’t know. Many criminals pretend they live in an area to gain access to buildings.
  • Install a security system: While your building may have security cameras, you can’t expect the same for inside your condo. Especially if it’s a larger condo, put up cameras in your most vulnerable areas.
• Upgrade door hardware: While there’s quite a bit of spillover between security options for owners, and renters (apartments, and condos), being able to upgrade door hardware is a benefit specific to owners. Consider easy upgrades such as a new deadbolt or more high-touch, more-secure, upgrades like replacing your door entirely. 

Whether you’d like to improve the security of your apartment or condo, A-1 Locksmith is here for you. Stop by any of our DFW-area locations today, or give us a call.

Here are some tips for keeping your home or business safe if you’re planning to be away for any amount of time.

Keeping Your Home Safe During Summer Vacations

Keeping your home safe while on vacation during the summer looks a little different than it does for businesses, which don’t have this predictable seasonality of vulnerability. But you can put preventative measures in place regardless to ensure your home is protected. After all, it’s what you’ll come home to and where you’ll spend the most time after you get back. Here are some tips for keeping your home safe during summer vacations:

• Secure doors, and windows: All them! Most people these days have security measures in place for doors, but they can always be improved. Many don’t think about the windows, however (and criminals know this).
• Use timers: For lighting and electronics, invest in a timer to turn them on and off at the schedule you desire. This gives the appearance of someone still living there.
• Install a video doorbell: If you don’t have one yet, now is the time to get one. You can remotely access, manage, and even speak to visitors via a video doorbell.
• Stop mail, and newspaper delivery: If mail or newspapers pile up, that signals that you aren’t at home. Schedule a gap in delivery, or ask a neighbor to collect them for you.
• Maintain your landscaping: Another indication of a home without residents is a lawn that gets overgrown or messy. Make sure you keep up your landscaping schedule.

Keeping Your Business Safe During Summer Trips

Business security has a different approach. You want to protect your building, inventory, and resources, but thankfully you don’t have to worry about family safety as much. Here are some tips for keeping your business safe during summer trips:

• Upgrade your security system: If your security system doesn’t let you access it remotely or doesn’t give you a view of all accents points, it’s time to upgrade.
• Install video or voice intercoms: This can help you protect certain areas of your business while you’re away, even if you stay open. Examples include a room with safes or a space with important documents. 
• Maintain your grounds: Like the landscaping note above, make sure you still have janitorial, and maintenance tasks completed while you’re away. Trash, dirt and other debris can tip off criminals that you’re gone.
• Don’t advertise closures in advance: This is a little tricky for businesses who have customers, but try not to post about business closures on social media far in advance (which gives criminals time to plan). If you have to post about it, do it the day of (or the day before) your trip.
• Ask neighboring businesses for help: Just as you can ask a neighbor to help watch your home, you can get to know fellow business owners in your area and ask them to do things like pick up mail/newspapers, and watch for any shady activity.

If you’re interested in more advice for keeping your home or business safe during summer vacations, contact A-1 Locksmith today or stop by any of our DFW-area locations.

From checking or opening any safes to installing new security measures afterwards, here are some instances after a house fire when it makes sense to call a locksmith (after the fire department has deemed it safe to re-enter, of course).

To Retrieve Valuables

At A-1 Locksmith, we’ve encountered situations where our customers experienced a house fire, and were unable to open the safes they had on the property. If you have a high-quality safe (like Liberty or Browning), it will likely stand up to intense fires, but you still might need help accessing it. When you have a house fire, a locksmith can determine if and when it’s safe to try, and open the safe again, as well as help actually open it (if, say, the combination/keys were lost or the LED screen melted, for example).

To Access Your Property

Fires can damage door locks. When that happens, you need to either repair or replace the locks. But first, you have to actually gain access to the entry point where the lock was located. A locksmith can potentially open the door and take out the lock, even if you don’t have the key (or the key no longer fits). 

To Secure Your Property

Homes that have recently experienced a fire are vulnerable to looting and additional damage. A locksmith can assess the security of your home, and recommend any necessary repairs or upgrades, from the door locks, and window hardware to new security systems, and keys. 

To Upgrade Your Security

Even if you don’t have any immediate needs, a professional locksmith can help you identify possible security upgrades to consider moving forward. Some solutions (like security systems) can even help you identify fires while they’re still small, reducing potential damage. Other examples of security upgrades include replacing old or outdated locks with smart or high-security locks, and replacing burned keys with high-tech duplications. A locksmith can assess your situation and provide more specific examples on site. “When to call a locksmith after a house fire” might not be the first question to come to your mind in such an emergency situation, but a locksmith, in addition to your local emergency services, is an ally for you during these tough times.

For a locksmith you can trust in emergency situations like house fires, call A-1 Locksmith or visit any of our DFW-area locations today.

If you’re worried about home security during showings, here are a few areas to consider.

Home Security System

For starters, what kind of surveillance system do you have in place? While you shouldn’t be spying on your visitors—especially in situations where they should expect privacy—it’s within your rights to monitor your property, and the items in it. Consider buying, repairing or expanding your security system for your home, at least when you’re showing it. A professional locksmith company like A-1 Locksmith Security, and Safes is a great place to turn for enhancing the security of your home.

Doorbell Cameras

If you don’t feel the need to invest in an entire security system (or you don’t want the expense right before you sell), a doorbell camera is another valuable option. You can record who is visiting your home, yet visitors get privacy for the rest of their tour. A video or voice intercom system can add another layer of protection and visibility—while primarily a commercial security need, it might be a wise idea at any access point. (Especially if your home is quite large.)

Keys

If your home has already had a security issue in the past—or you encounter a visitor you don’t trust—it might be wise to get new locks, and/or keys installed. At the very least, you can create duplicate keys for real estate agents, and the people on tour of your home so you don’t lose the only copies you own. 

Valuables

Do you have valuable items or belongings out in the open during showings? This is a bad idea for obvious reasons. But we’ll take it a step further and suggest that you don’t keep any valuables in the home at all during this showing period. Or, invest in a home safe where you can securely keep the items most important to you.

Insurance

Even if you consider all these areas, and put security protections in place for your home during showings things can still happen. Criminals can still try to break in, people can steal more than you’d think and children or other visitors can damage the home. In light of this, make sure you have good insurance in place, and that it’s up to date, as well as covers these incidents.

Home security during showings might not be your primary consideration as you’re inundated with moving, staging, market volatility etc., but one mistake here can ruin the entire experience for you.

If you’d like more home security tips—during showings or any other time—contact A-1 Locksmith today!

Security follows the same trend.

This is why big businesses, and corporations perform security audits regularly, so they can identify, and minimize risks. Why can’t homeowners do the same? Well, because many don’t know where to start. 

Let’s highlight how you can conduct your own security audit (using several guidelines recommended by the National Center for State Courts).

Home Exterior Security Audit Checklist

First, let’s look at the exterior of your home. Here are some examples of security issues to watch for when performing an exterior security audit:

• Is there adequate lighting on the perimeter?
• Are there any overgrown shrubs or obstacles blocking views from inside?
• Are there any additional exterior buildings you need to inspect?
• Are all windows secured (including basement windows)?
• Is there an attached garage? Does it present a security risk?
• Does the mailbox or other signage reveal your identity?
• Is there a security system? Does it work? Does it need to be upgraded?
• Are door locks still functional, and do they provide adequate security?

Home Interior Security Audit Checklist

Next is the interior of the home. Here are some examples of security issues to watch for when performing an interior security audit

• Is there an alarm system? Does it work? Does it need to be upgraded?
• Are smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors functional, and installed throughout the home?
• Do the most important access points have deadbolt locks on them?
• Can you get into the home from any windows or openings?
• Do windows allow easy visibility into the home?
• Do you have a video doorbell that lets you identify visitors before you open the door?
• Do you have lighting on timers so onlookers don’t think you’re not at home?

These are just a few ideas for performing your own security audit, but why not turn to a professional instead? A professional residential locksmith, for example, knows what security issues to look for and how to address them. To get started on improving the security of your home or business, contact A-1 Locksmith today at (972) 284-7500.

Here are six security-related lessons you should consider teaching your kids, if you haven’t already.

1. Know How To Call 911

Any important phone number is beneficial for kids to know, but it starts with the easiest and most obvious one: 911. Even toddlers can be trained how to dial 911 if anything happens to mom or dad. Teach your children when it’s appropriate (and when it isn’t) to contact emergency services to help. It’s also wise to have a professional locksmith’s number on hand in case of a lockout, as well as other emergency service numbers.

2. Memorize Important Information

Another safety tip for parents is that it’s wise to have your children memorize your address, and any other important info. They should ideally be able to recall this info under tense circumstances, such as if a person’s life is in danger. Other important information that is helpful to know includes things like blood type, non-emergency phone numbers, and medication protocols. 

3. Don’t Talk to Strangers

This is an obvious security tip, but especially important to reinforce. When you’re at home, make sure your kids know not to just open the door to a stranger. They should confirm their identity first and shouldn’t open the door if they are home alone. (These days, you might want to make sure an adult answers the door at all times.) Kids should also avoid talking to strangers in public spaces, obviously, and be aware of kidnapping warning signs.

4. Practicing Security Tips Makes Perfect

Do you have an emergency plan in case of a burglary, fire or natural disaster? If not, it’s time to not only create one, but practice it with your family. Make sure your kids know where to go, what to do and who to contact.

5. Be Careful About What You Share Online

Many adults know not to freely share sensitive information like social security numbers, and credit card info online, but do your kids? It’s also important to remind them that people can see their posts, so they know if you reveal information like your family being on vacation or when you’re at home alone. Be careful!

6. Know How to Use Security Equipment

Finally, do your children know how to use your security system or video doorbell? This can provide an extra layer of protection, as your kids can avoid direct confrontation with any visitors or potential intruders. Even better, if they know how to trigger an alert in case of a security incident, it will be as beneficial as learning how to call 911.

Not sure where to start with teaching your children about home security? Want more security tips for parents? Visit one of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations today, and one of our friendly, and helpful technicians will assist you.

Regardless of which camp you fall into, it’s not too late to improve yourself or set some goals for improving in the upcoming year. Security is one area many people don’t think about, but peace of mind is something you can’t replace. Since this area is our specialty, here are five security-related New Year’s Resolutions to consider.

1. Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Car or Locked Out of Your Home

We humans can be forgetful people. Whether it’s your house keys or your car keys, it just takes one mistake to cause an unfortunate, stressful, and potentially dangerous situation. Fortunately, there are several ways to ensure that you are never locked out of your home, car or business. 

Here are a few ideas to help with this resolution:

• Get a duplicate key made, and keep with a trusted friend or family member.
• Upgrade to smart locks that let you use a combination or code to access.
• Buy a wireless key fob that won’t lock inside a car.
• Set up reminders for when you leave to include a reminder about keys.

2. Create an Emergency Plan

Another low-hanging fruit in the world of resolutions, an emergency plan can give you peace of mind about your loved ones, and employees in the event of an incident. Consider creating an emergency plan for fires, thefts, shootings, and other adverse situations. Document that plan and go through training with your family or employees to ensure everyone knows what to do.

3. Security Monitoring

If you don’t have a security system or video doorbell, a new year is a great time to invest in one. Security monitoring is becoming more, and more affordable while packing on new features. It’s never been easier to monitor your home or business when you’re on the road or out of town. 

4. Find a Locksmith You Trust

Many people search for “locksmith near me” without knowing who is reliable, and who’s not in an industry that’s known for having its share of fraudulent operators. Having a professional local locksmith that you trust is an easy security-related resolution. Just as you have numbers for doctors, plumbers, and electricians, a “best” locksmith number should be easily accessible. At A-1 Locksmith, we guarantee our customer satisfaction and will do our best to ensure we’re your ideal security partner.

5. Upgrade Your Security System!

If you’re already set with the different types of security solutions that make sense for your home, business or vehicle, an upgrade might be all you need. There are likely better or newer versions of every piece of security equipment you own, so at least look into your options.

If you’re looking to improve the security of your home, vehicle or business, contact A-1 Locksmith or visit any of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations today. 

Take security upgrades, for example. 

If your home has a security system, do you really need a safe? What about the opposite scenario? Isn’t only one of these options good enough? Let’s take a look at which security option is better for you, or if investing in both is the best decision.

Advantages of a Safe

Home safes are ideal for keeping valuable belongings secured. At the top of the list are firearms, ammunition, jewelry, cash and important documents. While a security system will alert you to suspicious activity, it won’t do much for physically protecting your most important belongings. Here are some of the other security advantages a safe provides:

• Portability: A safe can be delivered, and installed in the location of your choice
• Flexibility: bolt down the safe to the floor or wall, or leave it freestanding. 
• Variety: There are a wide variety of safe sizes, and features available today.
• Superiority: When it comes to protecting belongings in a fire, flood or burglary attempt, nothing provides safety, and security like a safe (especially with the right safe rating). 

Advantages of a Security System

Security systems don’t physically protect belongings, but they do give you awareness, and an extra layer of support in the form of a monitoring company. Using your preferred settings, and features, you can set up your home security in a way that gives you superior peace of mind—both at home, and on the road. Here are some of the other security advantages a security system provides:

• Visibility: you can install cameras, and point them anywhere you’d like.
• Safety: A team of professionals will be ready to alert the authorities should something suspicious happen and trigger an alarm on your property.
• Affordability: Many security systems are more affordable than large or advanced home safes, and there are different levels of systems for different budgets.

Benefits of Both

Of course, as a professional security company, we’ll recommend that you invest in both a safe, and a security system, if your budget allows. This isn’t just bias; you’ll be able to keep your most precious, and valuable items locked away in a well-rated safe while keeping the rest of your home monitored, and ready to alert you (or the team monitoring your system). A consultation with a professional locksmith is all you need to determine what your situation requires, and they’ll be happy to recommend certain models, brands or systems.

If you’re in need of a new safe or security system, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today, or visit any of our DFW-area locations. 

You’re good at what you do and we’re good at what we do. Security systems are just one of our many areas of expertise, so today, we’re here to help you research, set up, and/or install yours. Read on to learn more about the basics of security systems.

Security System Components

First, you should know what all is involved in a typical security system and how each component works. A professional locksmith or security professional can give you a more detailed breakdown (or answer specific questions), but here are the general areas you need to know:

• Cameras: Obviously one of the most important components of a security system, the cameras give you views of your home or business. But did you know that you have options when it comes to aspects like placement, number of cameras, and features? You can even install cameras with high definition, motion tracking and recording capabilities. Cloud vs. local storage are also important considerations for your security cameras.
• Controls: Signals, lights, and motion detected by your security system components go to the control panel, where they’re interpreted, and the system determines whether an alarm should be activated or not. This is also where you can set up security system monitoring and maintenance services.
• Sensors: If the sensors for one area of your security system are down, it could compromise your entire building. This is why regular inspections, and maintenance are important. Security system sensors can get dirty or dusty, and need to be cleaned, so make sure you know where they’re all located.
• Signals: If an intruder trips your security system alarm and the system isn’t being monitored, it won’t do you any good (other than offering a mild cosmetic deterrent to would-be burglars). Test that the signals of our system are working properly, and call your monitoring company to ensure they’re receiving them. 

Installing and Monitoring Your System

Knowing about a security system and working one are two different things, so if you don’t have much security or electrical knowledge, we recommend trusting an expert to install, and/or monitor or maintain the security system of your home or business. At A-1 Locksmith Security, and Safes, we sell, install, and maintain security cameras, burglar alarms, card swipe systems, mobile access control systems, electronic/automatic locks, keypads, on-site security surveys, and more. We even provide full security monitoring services, so we have all of your security needs covered.

If you have more security system questions, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today.

Let’s discuss why it’s important to add your security system to your building’s regular maintenance repertoire.

Seeing What You Need To See

First, revisit why you got your security system in the first place. Wasn’t it to monitor every area of your business? If your cameras are out, there are blind spots or the entire security system is down, your business is at risk. These are after-the-fact problems, however. To prevent them from happening in the first place, it’s important to be proactive.

We recommend regularly scheduling security system inspections, and audits for any signs of trouble (e.g. loose wires, blank screens, etc.) and be sure to take both internal, and external criminal activities into account. Also, make sure you have enough cameras, and that they capture vulnerable areas like the entrance, exit and security or safe room. 

Monitoring Irregularities

Second, routine security system maintenance ensures there is a quick response for any irregularities or concerning behavior. By regularly maintaining and inspecting your security system, you can quickly find out if any cameras are not functioning, if they’ve been tampered with and if there are any gaps in the feed. These are all warning signs that indicate you either need to upgrade your security system, maintain them more regularly or have another security issue. (The latest security systems will let you monitor them remotely adding convenience to routine recording auditing.) 

A Professional’s Opinion

Lastly, a discussion with a professional locksmith / security expert can give you more confidence about the security system maintenance your business requires. Even better, you can get a commercial security inspection to more thoroughly, and accurately diagnose your security system (and building security in general). 

Commercial locksmiths have the training and experience to identify issues that might go unnoticed by you and your staff. They are also aware of the latest security equipment, standards, and features you can benefit from just by obtaining this expert consultation. Whatever you do, at least give your security system a once-over to replace any cameras or parts that need it—or to see if a new security system is in order. 

If you’d like additional security tips specific to your business including the aforementioned comprehensive security inspections, contact A-1 Locksmith today!