Home Help: Keep home safe from burglaries

Tip of the week

Summer is a peak season for home burglaries, according to the Burglary Prevention Council. While you can purchase a pricey home protection system, there are some basic ways to boost your home's security without breaking the bank.

Lock your doors: Most burglaries occur between noon and 4 p.m., according to a 2016 burglary victimization study from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Invest in a solid deadbolt lock and be sure to use it. Keep your doors locked when you leave the house and when you're at home. Beef up security with a metal or solid core wood door. A home that appears occupied with a car in the driveway or a light on is a lesser target for burglary. Close curtains so passersby or would-be thieves cannot take an inventory of your belongings. Sliding glass doors are an easy target for burglary because many have weak inbuilt latches and they tend to be hidden from view. Reenforce security by adding a heavy duty lock at the top or bottom of the door. A solid metal jammer rod installed at the bottom also adds an extra layer of security. The garage needs to be protected whether it's attached to the home or it's a storage place for valuable items. The garage door can be easily breached with a coat hanger used to trip the safety mechanism of the door opener. A homeowner can remove the cord from the garage door release lever, but a better solution is to lock it place with a zip tie. Connect it to a loop in the emergency latch to keep thieves from gaining entry. If there are windows, frosting them is an easy do-it-yourself project.

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Gardening

Look for bad beetles

August is Tree Check Month. If you love your trees now is the time to check them for signs of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle, a highly destructive pest.

"Look for round holes the size of a dime or smaller in tree trunks and branches. If you see them or black beetles that have long antennas with black and white bands, report them immediately," said Josie Ryan with the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

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Home selling

Sell while on vacation

Taking a last-minute summer vacation? Put your real estate agent to work while you're away. It's a strategic time to sell, especially for families with children. Clean, declutter and get your home in tip-top shape, then hand the keys to your Realtor and let him or her worry about open houses and home showings while you're out of the picture. Late summer is a great time for potential buyers looking to get their kids into a school district before classes begin.

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Home renovation

Time for new AC?

To determine whether it is time to repair or replace your home's air conditioner, use the 5,000 rule, according to Angie's List. Take the age of the equipment and multiply that by the repair cost. If the number is more than $5,000, you should consider replacement. For example, a 10-year-old unit with a $350 repair equals $3,500.

Energy efficiency is another factor. If your unit is more than 10 years old, an energy-efficient unit is a good option.

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