September is finally here, and it’s time to send your little guy or girl off to college. In all of the excitement of this big moment, don’t let the importance of home security get lost in the mix. The first days of the school year are thrilling regardless of whether it’s freshman or senior year, and thoughts of safety end up abandoned amidst the hoopla. As a parent, it’s up to you to remind your children of the importance of maintaining home security, either in the dorm or off campus. Here are some tips to pass along to your kids:

Remain Aware of Your Surroundings: While the first few weeks of freshman year can seem like summer camp, remember that not everyone is as trusting and innocent as you are. Thefts happen in the dorm everyday, and once a valuable possession is gone, it’s likely that it won’t be seen again. Remember to lock your door when you leave, and make sure your roommate is on the same page.

Ask Your Landlord for an ADT Home Alarm: Many landlords are coming around to the fact that home security is their responsibility, just like fixing a broken dishwasher or a leak in the roof. Ask your landlord to install an ADT home security system. Offer to tack on a few extra dollars per month; the savings will come back in spades when a burglary is thwarted.

Keep an Open Dialogue With Your Neighbors: Let the folks living around you know that you want to hear about any suspicious behavior. Taking collective home security seriously is the best way to keep everyone around you safe, including yourself.

With some basic precautions around campus and your home, you can go a long way towards a safe school year. Contact ADT today to see how they can help.

Spring, summer, fall, and winter each bring unique challenges to homeowners when it comes to home security and maintaining the safety of the family. As the seasons shift, it’s important to take nMaintaining Home Safety as the Weather Changesote of the changing conditions, and take the appropriate actions to combat the ill effects of Mother Nature. Below, you’ll find some information about each season’s potential hazards, as well as some ways that you can bolster your home security.

Spring: Spring brings extreme vegetation growth, and tall grasses can pop up within weeks of that first thaw. This can serve as camouflage for burglars doing recon for an easy entry point. Uncut grass is also a sure sign of an empty home, so you’ll want to be certain to have someone mow, especially if you plan on going on vacation.

Summer: Summer is a great time to take a vacation, and you’re not the only one who knows it. Potential intruders love the August and September, as folks across the nation head out of town for one last gasp of summer. An ADT alarm system is your best against burglars looking to breach your home security.

You’ll also want to be sure to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen; don’t forget that home security is applicable both inside of the home and out.

Fall: The fall can bring nasty weather to many parts of the United States, and in particular, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Don’t wait until the last second to figure out your options in the event of a hurricane or tornado. Instead, have a family action plan in place so that you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Winter: That beautiful, fluffy stuff that’s coming down in sheets? It can represent a real hazard to your home security. Snow piled two or three feet high on a roof puts immense stress on the structural integrity of the your home, and can result in an expensive (and potentially tragic) collapse. And don’t forget that a driveway left unplowed while you’re on vacation is like a neon sign to burglars.

Each distinct season requires special consideration when it comes to home safety. Take the time to prepare, and help your family remain protected 365 days a year.