Asset Protection for Renters

Do you rent an apartment, house, or condo? Do you feel that your belongings are protected from theft, natural disasters and fires through your landlord’s insurance policy? If so, think again. True, your landlord or apartment community likely has insurance, but their policy only protects their own property. Hopefully, your community offers security features such as an alarm system, gated entry, keyless door lock or some combination thereof. But even with the peace of mind these barriers provide, a burglary or natural disaster can certainly deem your home and property a total loss. Purchasing a suitable renters insurance policy is the best safety net to protect the assets you have spent years accumulating.

Before speaking with several companies about their renters insurance services, take a complete inventory of your belongings and assess their value. Also, gather the receipts from each item’s original purchase and appraisals for your valuables. Take a photo inventory of all items to be covered by your policy, including detailed photos of each room of your home in its entirety.
Selecting the right company to provide your renters insurance is a crucial step. Ask friends and family for recommendations, and do your own research including calling each company armed with a list of questions. Obtain a written statement of the events that are covered under each policy. Take detailed notes about each company’s coverage, rates and the overall impression you receive from the representative who assists you. Remember, these are the people you will be contacting for help after a devastating loss of property, so be thorough and choose your provider wisely.

Pay attention to what situations are covered by each company, and how they may affect you lest you need to file a claim. Ask about specific disasters that may affect you based on your geographic area. For instance, is your home in an area where hurricanes or earthquakes are a viable threat? If so, you may need additional coverage for these types of events.

Throughout your research, you will come to discover that all insurance policies are not created equal. Inquire whether each policy covers the replacement cost or the actual cash value of your possessions. Replacement cost and actual cash value are entirely different means of being compensated when you file a claim. A policy covering the actual cash value of your belongings will pay you the depreciated value of your assets (minus your deductible), regardless of the amount you originally paid. A three year old television for which you originally shelled out $2,500 will not be covered for the full $2,500 under this type of policy. A policy covering the replacement cost, however, will allow you to collect the full amount that it costs you for a replacement television (minus your deductible).

Policies, coverage and rates vary greatly among providers. Taking the time to perform preliminary research will help you make an informed decision and obtain coverage from a company you trust to deliver at the time when you need it most.

About the Author: Nolan Mondrow is the owner of Zurich Products, a leading provider of quality home security solutions, including the right keyless door lock for every need.

Upgrading to Keyless Entry in the Home

These days, most vehicles include keyless entry, which allows car owners the convenience of unlocking doors with the push of a button or code. So why do most home owners still fumble with keys when it comes to unlocking the doors in their homes? Home door locks that incorporate technology such as fingerprint recognition, electric and digital keypad locks and combination locks are convenient alternatives to traditional keyed locks. As keyless door lock technology has progressed, the equipment has become increasingly affordable for the average home owner. Keyless door locks provide benefits and convenience with the potential to one day take the place of keyed door locks as the standard in new homes.

When considering installing a keyless access system in the home, you will notice that there are mechanical and electric systems with diverse capabilities on the market. Keypad door locks require that you enter the correct code on a keypad to gain access to the home. Parents particularly value locks with keyless access because multiple children can learn the code and enter the house, eliminating the need to keep up with a key. Keypad door locks also offer the flexibility to change the code whenever necessary. A homeowner may give the home access code to a temporary worker who needs to enter the home on a particular day, and change the code thereafter.

Fingerprint recognition door locks are also growing in popularity in the keyless entry arena. Fingerprint recognition is the most accurate system of authentication, and has long been established in the security and criminal investigation fields. Today, door locks for the home utilizing fingerprint technology are widely available in the consumer market. Installing and programming a fingerprint recognition door lock allows every member of a household to access the home by simply touching a pad. Like keypad door locks, many fingerprint recognition systems can also be easily programmed to allow temporary access to workers or house sitters who have specific business in the home. Workers’ fingerprints can be pre-programmed to grant them permission to enter within a pre-established time range, giving the homeowner peace of mind and heightened security.

Upgrading to a keyless entry system in your home is surprisingly easy and affordable. Many keyless locks offer a combination of access options, such as fingerprint recognition and a keypad, adding to the convenience that keyless access to the home provides.

About the Author: Nolan Mondrow is the owner of Zurich Products, a leading provider of quality home security equipment, including combination, fingerprint and keypad door lock technology.

Multi-Level Home Security

Home invasion and burglaries have been increasing at an alarming rate, and people want to use the most effective tactics to protect their homes and families. A plethora of home security products crowd the market, making it difficult to determine the best way to truly protect a home. The mere thought of losing everything you have worked for years to build in an instant is frightening, and having it actually happen seems almost unbearable. While no one preventative measure is fail proof, a combination of conscientiousness and establishing multiple barriers can greatly reduce the chance of losing your valuable belongings to a thief and being robbed of your security at home.

First and foremost, keep in mind that home burglars are looking for an easy target. Most burglaries ensue after a thief has entered a home effortlessly through an unlocked door or window. It is important to speak with everyone in your household about the security plan, and make sure each person is an active part of the program. Always locking the door behind you does not help if someone else always leaves it unlocked. The simplest and possibly most valuable habit you can develop to protect your home is keeping all doors and windows locked, at all times. Criminals know the weak points of the average home, such as an unlocked back door or garage door. Keeping doors and windows locked is your first level of protection, yet it may be the easiest way to make a prowling criminal go elsewhere.

A home security system, which can connect to authorities when activated, is a great second level of protection against thieves. Most home security systems come with decals, which should be prominently displayed to show that your home is protected by an alarm system. The intent is for the presence of the alarm to deter a burglar from pursuing your home further.
Preventing a criminal from gaining access to your home is the primary goal of this multi-level home security plan. But it is also important to implement some form of protection from being completely cleaned out if a criminal penetrates your first barriers and enters your home. A great way to protect your valuable possessions is to have an appropriate sized fireproof safe installed in your home. Safes are typically bolted to a floor or wall, and come in a wide variety of sizes to secure your most prized belongings.

An effective home security program does not require a huge budget. Accepting that burglary is a real threat and taking simple precautions to prevent it can provide a priceless payoff in home protection.

About the Author: Nolan Mondrow is the owner of Zurich Products, a leading provider of quality home security solutions, including the right fireproof safe for every need.

Child Care Surveillance

Video surveillance systems continue to rise in popularity across the board, showing up more in businesses, at traffic lights and on city streets. Advances in technology are making video surveillance systems smaller, more affordable and more practical, most types being compatible with a standard home computer. Thanks to the dropping price and shrinking size of surveillance cameras, surveillance systems are now mass marketed and increasingly making their way into the homes of average consumers. With home invasion on the rise, consumers are seeking the increased security barrier that video surveillance provides, both for the deterrence factor and for their own awareness. The added sense of security provided by the use of video surveillance systems makes them invaluable to homeowners.

As with most technological trends, availability of the equipment through mainstream avenues has affected multitudes of new applications for video surveillance. Not surprisingly, parents are using video surveillance in their homes while they are away to monitor the behavior of children and caregivers. In-home monitoring has been both welcomed and met with controversy, as technological innovation inches one step closer to giving us the benefits of being in two places at once.

Sadly, neglect and abuse are not unheard of in the childcare industry. It can be argued that video surveillance of childcare providers is a step in the right direction. Many day care centers across the country agree, and are even installing video surveillance systems that allow parents to remotely view the daily activities at the center. The increased accountability that takes place alongside the implementation of a day care surveillance system can give parents invaluable peace of mind regarding their children’s safety.

So what are the limits regarding surveillance of your child’s nanny or babysitter in your home? The answer touches on the controversial topic of privacy rights that could constitute an entire book in and of itself. It is currently legal in the U.S. to record video surveillance of a person’s actions without consent, so the ultimate decision lies with the parent. While individuals express different views on the ethical implications of surveillance, the general consensus is that awareness of the surveillance is key. Childcare providers as a whole seem not to oppose video surveillance, as long as they are aware that it is taking place.

The benefits that parents receive from knowing the conduct of a nanny or babysitter are obvious. Parents can now have the peace of mind of knowing that their child is not being mistreated by a caregiver, and can consequently be selective in finding find the best care for their children.

About the Author: Nolan Mondrow is the owner of Zurich Products, a leading provider of quality home security products including video surveillance equipment, keyless door locks and a perfect wall safe for every need. For more information, please visit http://www.zurichproducts.com.

Benefits of Keyless Door Locks

Rapid technological advancement continues to bring about complex innovations centered around simplifying our lives. We rely on expediency more than ever, and consequently expect products we buy to make our lives increasingly convenient. Today we can hardly recall our lifestyles before the advent of luxuries like cell phones, high speed internet and keyless vehicle entry. With the demand for convenience rising and keyless door locks becoming increasingly affordable, a growing number of people are upgrading to keyless door locks to protect and streamline their homes and businesses.

A keyless door lock is one that can be controlled using a combination, an access code or fingerprint recognition, eliminating the need for a key. Keyless door locks allow each person who lives at a residence to enter the home without a key, and give employees easy access to designated areas of their workplace. Lost, stolen or forgotten keys are problems of the past. For most people, the convenience of not having to toil with a key is enough, but numerous other benefits are associated with utilizing a keyless door lock.

Utilizing a keyless entry system is especially beneficial when a contract worker or house sitter needs temporary access to your home. It is not necessary for contract workers to have a permanent key to your home, especially since key duplication is effortless. Additionally, the common practice of hiding a key outside makes your home vulnerable to burglars who know the routine. Fingerprint recognition systems allow admittance only to those who have pre-programmed access, and many even allow you to grant access for a specified period of time. For instance, a housekeeper or contractor can be given permission in advance to enter on a certain date within a scheduled timeframe. And since fingerprints cannot be duplicated, fingerprint recognition systems have a tremendous authentication advantage over traditional door locks and even keypad locks. Similarly, access codes to keypad locks can be shared with temporary workers and then easily changed when access is no longer necessary.

A keyless door lock is also advantageous in cases where locks would otherwise need to be changed. People encounter the need to change the locks in their homes and businesses for a number of reasons, such as losing keys, theft, or to prevent entry by a former employee. Changing access codes or fingerprint permissions is much more expedient and cost effective than the process of changing all of the keyed locks in a building at once.
Keyless entry systems are no longer reserved for the elite few. Along with more affordability, the security and convenience that keyless door locks provide are transforming them into a mainstream consumer commodity.

About the Author: Nolan Mondrow is the owner of Zurich Products, a provider of quality home security solutions,
including a keyless door lock for every need.