4 Ways to Proactively Protect Your Home

The statistics don’t lie. Home burglary rates are high. According to a survey of 1,000 Australians, 1 in 5 people have had experienced a burglary or attempted burglary. When compared to the rest of the world, it’s clear we have a problem. The international average of home burglaries is 1.8%, and ours is 2.5%. This means that 1 in 40 Australian homes may be burglarized this year.

These figures are startling, but you can take action to avoid becoming another statistic. Here are 4 easy ways to proactively protect your home. With these tips, you can safeguard your family, property, and home.
1. Install a Home Security System
Only 1 in 3 people from the above-study responded that they had a home security system. However, the presence of a home security device is a powerful deterrent for a would-be intruder. A study by the University of North Carolina found that 60% of burglars would be deterred by the presence of an alarm.
Technological advances have now made it easy to install home security. As a leader in the DIY home security space for over 30 years, Swann is dedicated to helping keep your home safe around the clock with affordable solutions. Our wireless security cameras eliminate messy cabling and make installation easy. In addition, our high-definition security cameras can capture facial features, license plates, and see in the dark up to 30m. You can even check on your property remotely from anywhere in the world with your smartphone and a Swann app.
Additionally, Swann has cameras with True Detect™ heat- and motion-detection and the ability to generate push notifications and video recording when the camera detects activity. Using heat-sensor technology versus only motion detection means fewer false triggers and more reliable notifications. This combination can help prevent burglaries while also capturing and recording valuable video evidence most efficiently.
How do I choose between wire-free cameras or wired system? First, decide how many cameras you need and where you need them, try analysing potential break-in points around your home. Take a look at your home from the road and consider all of the potential points of entry.
Next, consider whether you want to install a system that connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network or not, including the distance from your router and how many devices will be connected. Do you want a system that is hardwired into your home, or totally wire-free cameras?
Hard-wired security systems give you more recording features. For example, if you’re concerned about a specific area of your property, you can set parameters to include or exclude certain areas from your camera’s view. All of these features provide you with reliable, affordable, and user-friendly home security. Also, wired cameras can offer a more stable signal at times.
Installing a home security system with cameras allows you to take proactive steps to protect your family, home, and valuables before anything happens. Not only does a visible security presence at your home mean that you may be less likely to be broken into, but it also gives you peace of mind.
2. Be Vigilant
Having a home security system isn’t the only action you can take to protect your home and family from intruders. A few easy steps can potentially make your home less attractive to burglars.
It’s difficult for a burglar to steal what they can’t see. Don’t tempt would-be burglars. It’s advisable to keep valuables hidden and your blinds closed when you leave your home. Or if you’re expecting a package, ask a neighbour to collect it for you to decrease the risk of theft and so it doesn’t look like you’re not home. While seemingly minor, these tips may help keep your property safe.
Are you among the 35% of Australians who leaves a spare key outside their home? If so, it’s time to rethink the idea of hiding a key under a flower pot or somewhere outside your home. This is a common practice, so it’s often one of the first things that a potential intruder will look for. Don’t make it easy for them to enter your home by leaving a key for them.
And, be aware of potential hiding spots on your property. You may not realise that you are creating the ideal blind spot outside of your home with poor lighting. Investing in simple outdoor lighting, including sensor lights, can sometimes be enough to help prevent a home break-in.
3. Work with Your Neighbours
You may not realise it, but you have strong allies in the fight against burglary – your neighbours. When you get to know the people who live near you, you can look out for their homes while they keep an eye on yours. Watchful eyes can be very helpful against home invasions and theft.
After you get to know your neighbours, consider taking your safety efforts a step further by creating a neighbourhood watch program. Together, you and your neighbours can arrange for community meetings and nightly patrols.
4. Discuss Insurance Coverage
Your best efforts sometimes aren’t enough to prevent a break-in. Home or renter’s insurance can make sure that you’re prepared if something does happen. Budget Direct Home Insurance offers a number of options that protect your home and belongings from burglaries, fire, storm damage, and more. The act of obtaining insurance is another great way to protect you from the unthinkable.
By following these easy home security tips, you can feel confident that you have taken proactive steps to reduce your risk of being a victim of a home break-in. We recommend taking a proactive approach regardless of if you’re going on holiday, especially if everyone in your home is gone during the day. Nothing can compare to the peace of mind that you have when you know that you’ve protected your home, property, and family.
Learn more about Swann’s user-friendly home security systems today!

Presidio POWER: Our first-ever battery case

We have something very exciting to share! Speck has created our first-ever battery case and it provides a full recharge for your iPhone 7!
After lots of research and design iterations, we developed Presidio POWER. It’s a single-piece, two-layer case with a 2,500mAh battery. The fold-back top allows for easy installation and the IMPACTIUM™ Shock Barrier protects your phone against damage from drops.

100% recharge

Presidio™ POWER’s 2,500mAh battery provides a full recharge for your iPhone, so you always have power when you need it.

Two layers of protection against drops up to 8 feet

A polycarbonate outer shell and the IMPACTIUM Shock Barrier inside the Presidio POWER battery case protect your phone during a drop up to 8 feet.

Easy on/off

The fold-back hinge design allows you to easily install and remove your phone.

Charge and sync through case

Presidio POWER charges through a microUSB cable, which allows you to charge your phone and sync data with removing the case. The charging cable also charges your phone and case together. Bright LED lights show how much battery power is available — just press the power button on the front of the case.

Raised bezel protection

The raised bezel around the screen protects your iPhone’s screen against damage if it lands face down during a drop.

Extensive laboratory battery testing

Presidio POWER has undergone dozens of rigorous battery safety tests that include drops, short-circuiting, overcharging, and exposure to extreme temperatures.

Presidio POWER is available now!

You can pick up Presidio POWER on speckproducts.com right now.

Top Automated Home Thermostats

Home automation is becoming more and more practical with every new product, but none are as practical as the smart home thermostat. It self-adjusts to precisely meet your family’s comfort needs and use less energy, and it can be controlled from afar—which ultimately saves you time and money. If you’re interested in installing a smart thermostat, check out the most impressive models that will update your home for 2016.
Insteon Smart Thermostat

If you’re looking for sophisticated integration, the Insteon Thermostat has you covered. It’s compatible with most HVAC systems, including advanced two-stage systems, and can control other heating and cooling-related products like ceiling fans and duct dampers. You can purchase sensors to detect when doors and windows are open, as well as leak sensors that will help you keep an eye on your heating and cooling expenses. It’s compatible with HomeKit and can be controlled remotely via your devices, including your Apple Watch. The thermostat preserves your settings even if the power goes out, meaning you spend less time worrying about heating and cooling in your home and more time being comfortable.
The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation)

Nest is a pioneer in smart thermostat technology. Even though other brands have given it a run for its money, the 3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat lives up to its legacy. The already sleek and bubbly LCD display has gotten even more attractive, and its remote management features surpass even its looks. Some of this model’s best features include:
More temperature sensors: if a thermostat is going to learn about your home as it claims, it needs to be able to sense what’s going on inside of it. The additional sensors help it recognize drafts, humidity, and even HVAC shut-off patterns that warn when something is amiss. It then warns you via notifications on your device.
Farsight: the thermostat senses when you enter a room and lights up to display the current temperature.
Pattern recognition: Over time, the thermostat learns your habits. If you like to turn up the temperature by a couple degrees every winter morning, it will learn to follow your routine, helping you go on with your busy day without thinking about your comfort level. It also shows you your energy history so you can know how much you’re saving and what areas you need to improve.
Refined control settings: you can manage your thermostat remotely from your device, as well as establish Auto-Away settings—these will minimize the action of your HVAC while you’re not at home to save you both energy and money.
Ecobee 3 Smarter Wifi Thermostat

Ecobee goes head-to-head with Nest for the best smart thermostat, and similarly brings its A-game with its third model. One of its most attractive features is the highly intuitive LCD touchscreen display with easy-to-navigate options. Several of latest Nest model’s best attributes are found in some form here, but the Ecobee 3 Smarter Wifi Thermostat has one advantage: it comes with an external sensor that can be placed anywhere in the house, and up to 32 additionals sensors can be purchased. This allows it to adjust not just the overall temperature, but the room-to-room temperature based on occupancy, which it registers via the remote sensor. It also registers the outdoor temperature in order to bring your optimum indoors comfort.
Honeywell Lyric Wifi Thermostat

Honeywell’s past smart thermostat models have looked a little clunky and old-fashioned compared to the polished designs of its competitors. But the Honeywell Lyric Wifi Thermostat is up-to-speed in looks and maturity. Its responsiveness relates more to you and your devices than the environment; for instance, rather than sensing the occupancy of your rooms, it senses when you are nearby and adjusts accordingly. It also learns from you and automatically creates settings based off your patterns, which you can easily modify. The Smart Cues feature keeps track of your HVAC system and alerts you when something is wrong, ultimately helping you gain better control of your energy usage.
While all three models are highly intuitive, the remote sensor feature of the Ecobee 3 is ideal for getting the most out of your heating and cooling and keeping everyone in your home comfortable, even if your house is large and normally difficult to stabilize when it comes to climate control.
You can find more Smart IOT Products over at SmartHome.