Sadly, it seems to be a growing sign of the times that the once-simple act of answering your own front door bell has turned into an increasingly dangerous proposition; especially if you live alone. But by keeping these three tips in mind you can minimize risk of a possible home invasion:

1. Unless you are expecting someone, do not open the door when your door bell rings. Instead, walk up to the door and clearly announce “I am not expecting anyone at present so I must ask you to leave.”
2. If the person on the other side states that it’s an emergency and they need to use your phone, don’t fall prey to this tactic. Instead announce “if you give me the number to call I will be happy to place the call for you.” If they say they want to give you literature, ask them to mail it.
3. If the person remains persistence, clearly announce that you are now dialing 9-1-1 and do exactly that.

As harsh or abrupt as these tips may seem, it’s important to remember that we’re not living in the same kind of towns we were living in 50 years ago. The times have changed, and with that advancement brings a need for new personal safety practices.

When all has been said and done you haven’t been rude – you’ve offered to help by making a call if the situation is indeed an emergency –but you have preserved your personal security.

There are few things more appealing to a curious toddler than something to climb onto, including bulky, top-heavy furniture. It takes almost no time for a piece of furniture or large item to topple over, potentially causing serious injury. Even if your home’s exterior is secure with an ADT home alarm system, there are hazards inside of your home that can be easily fixed.

So take a look around, evaluate your living area and apply these simple home safety tips to help prevent furniture tip-overs in your home.

* Anchored away: Secure any top-heavy or unsteady pieces of furniture to a wall using anchors, braces, brackets or wall straps. Beware of placing large items on stands or furniture because items like book cases, fish tanks and TVs can fall off stands and injure children. Be especially careful when anchoring flat screen TVs to the walls.

* Lower is better: Keep heavier items on lower shelves to help make furniture bottom-heavy and less prone to tipping over. But always read manufacturer’s instructions on placement of your TV and furniture and follow the guidelines and warnings.

* Stray items: Make sure unsteady furniture and shelves are clear of items that can be tempting to children like toys, candy and  remote controls.

It’s easy to leave the car running and leave your GPS in the passenger seat while you grab the mail or run into a store. But these habits increase your chances of falling victim to auto theft.  And it’s important to know that auto theft prevention is about more than simply locking your car doors. Here are a few tips for keeping your car and the belongings inside it secure:

1. Park in a garage: If your garage is full of junk and tools, clean it out. Parking your car in the garage makes it that much harder for thieves to break into it. This will also put your vehicle under the protection of your home alarm system. If you don’t have a garage, park your car as far into the driveway as possible. Keeping the driveway well lit at night is helpful, too.
2. Hide valuables: Never leave personal items or valuables like driver’s licenses, bills, jewelry or mp3 players in your vehicle. Also hide any CDs or cords to electronics that hint your pricey items may be in the car.
3. Get a security system: Vehicle security is almost as important as home security. Many vehicles already come with security systems. Learn how yours works and how to arm it. If you don’t have a car alarm, explore options like windows and glass-break sensors.

Keeping up your home’s aesthetics and functionality is important. However, finding a safe, reliable contractor to help you do this is just as vital when your family and home’s security could potentially be put at risk. So keep these precautions in mind when searching for and hiring a contractor:

1. Decide what you want: Determine what should be done before you contact contractors, so you don’t get talked into work that you didn’t consider before.
2. Get recommendations: Ask friends, family members and acquaintances for recommendations. Hardware stores and consumer-rating websites like Angie’s List are also good sources to check out. If any red flags come up, eliminate those contractors from your list. Compromising your home security isn’t worth saving a few bucks.
3. Compare candidates: Check to see if contractors have experience in and are licensed to do the desired work. Also get estimates for what you want done.
4. Get it in writing: Get a copy of everything you sign, and make sure it has all your stipulations and you understand it.
5. Pay when the work is complete: Make sure all work is complete before you pay your final bill.

As summer vacation approaches, children will have more time to wander around the house and get into trouble. Keep in mind that home safety doesn’t stop at alarm systems, or the main interior of your home.

Take the time now to organize your garage and tool shed with these tips so that little hands won’t have access to hazardous objects and substances:

• Use kid-proofing instruments: Treat the garage as any other part of the house you’ve already kid-proofed with outlet covers, drawer and door latches and other safety devices.

• Be careful with garage doors: Keep all garage door remotes out of reach, and look for models with counter-balance systems and automatic ones with features that stop or reverse doors when they come in contact with an object.

• Secure large equipment: Store ladders horizontally so children can’t climb on them, and keep sharp, large objects like rakes and shovels in a locked cabinet or secured on a wall in a low-traffic area.

• Hide harmful substances: Store and lock up all harmful substances so they are out of your child’s reach. If a child swallows a potentially poisonous substance, call the National Capital Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 and have the product’s packaging in hand.

With winter quickly approaching in many parts of the country, it’s important to keep home safety in mind. The colder months of the year present their own unique challenges. Below, you’ll find some tips to keep you safe.

Keep Up Appearances: When you go away on vacation to some sunny spot, don’t forget to arrange to have your driveway plowed. If it’s completely snowed over, criminals will be much more likely to target your home.

Start Your Vacation By Setting Your Alarm: In the rush to pack and make a flight, even the most responsible homeowner can forget to set his or her ADT home alarm system. Take an extra second to stop and double-check.

Beware the Cold: The weather can do severe damage to your home. When a frozen pipe bursts, the results can be disastrous. Likewise, snow piled on top of your roof could cause a collapse, risking not only damage to your property but hazard to your family as well.

Be aware this winter. With a few simple but important considerations, you can help to ensure that your home and family will make it through to the warmer months without a problem.

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.

Summer is nearing its end, and that means children across America will soon be hearing that first bell that kicks off the new school year. That makes some kids happy and other kids sad, but regardless, every child needs to understand that safety and home security take top priority. There are too many potential hazards out there to give this anything less than your full attention. Look below for tips to help ensure your child’s safety this school year.

Perform Some Bus Stop Recon: No matter whether it’s your kid’s first or hundredth ride, it pays to spend a few minutes scouting out the place where he or she will wait for the bus. If there is a walk from your home involved, take the time for a practice run.

Replay Home Security Basics: Now is as good a time as ever to go over your expectations for keeping your home protected. If your child is old enough to operate the ADT home alarm, have them show you how to do it. This is especially important if the child will be left alone.

Talk to Neighbors: Have a discussion with the folks living around you about expectations for the new school year. Consider setting up a schedule to take care of each others’ kids if an adult isn’t always available in both homes.

Lay Out Rules for Older Children: Kids in high school and college represent a whole different set of challenges. Sit your child down and have a frank talk about the dangers involved with operating a motor vehicle, especially in cases where alcohol is involved. Parents are the number one deterrent for bad behavior, so take the few minutes to speak to your kids.

As the dog days of August turn into cooler September rain showers, make sure your children are safe. Practice these home safety and school safety tips. There’s nothing more precious than their well-being, and you should take every step possible to ensure it.