Thursday, March 23, 2017

HAVING A SAFE AT YOUR HOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU THINK

Better Safe than Sorry!

Businesses, banks, and billionaires have safes. But why should regular folks like us get one? If you are living in a neighborhood you feel comfortable in, you likely are thinking a safe isn’t needed. On the other hand, if you’re in an area you’re doubtful about, you may be at least a little bit curious about what type of safe you ought to buy. You might still be wondering: What would I ever keep in a safe, anyway? There are actually a good number of reasons to purchase a home safe ~ and some you may not have thought about before.

Do your homework. Carry out your own in-depth research so you will be able to choose the ideal safe for your particular place of residence. Consider the following:

  • What’s the most secure location in your home to put your safe?
  • How large does your safe have to be?
  • Are there any unusual factors regarding properly protecting your specific items ~ such as humidity, temperature, light, and so on?
  • Which individuals will you trust enough to know how to open your safe?
  • What company will you be able to contact should you ever get into technical problems?
  • Should your safe be visible or hidden?
  • Industry guidelines indicate the security rating for every safe manufacturer. What level of security is required for your situation? Would you like to have a standard combination lock, or something more sophisticated, such as an eye scan, and/or other features in between? What about a plain metal box? Or, what about something that’s significantly anchored?
  • Get acquainted with industry standards when it comes to water-resistance and fire-resistance levels.
  • Formulate a backup plan, in case someone misplaces the information you need for opening your safe?

Almost everybody owns valuables of some sort ~ treasured heirlooms, collectibles, and crucial documents. Why risk losing or misplacing them? Let’s consider the following:

Thwart theft. A safe will stop a burglar from taking your much-loved possessions. Protecting your valued items inside a safe will allow you peace of mind. Do you often give parties? Do you enjoy entertaining house guests? When folks visit, you cannot keep an eye on everybody. It’s a comfort to know that your irreplaceable items remain unscathed inside the safe.

Protect against floods. In case of flooding, or should any kind of water-related disaster occur, if you have the right safe, then anything in it will stay intact.

Guard against fire. In case of fire, a high-quality safe will protect whatever is inside from destruction. Think about what would happen if you lost the following vital items to fire?

  • passports
  • mortgage records
  • documents regarding any properties you own
  • birth certificates
  • your will
  • safe deposit box keys or other significant keys that you rarely use
  • emergency cash
  • rare stamps or coins
  • bank account information
  • tax records
  • outstanding loans and other debt records
  • insurance papers for filing a possible claim
  • prescription medication and pharmacy information
  • copies of your driver’s licenses or other ID cards and papers
  • powers of attorney, living wills, & healthcare proxies
  • retirement plans
  • investment documents
  • titles to your vehicles
  • a list of family doctors with their contact information
  • funeral arrangements

Restore computer data. As every computer owner knows, you must always make backups of your computer files. Moreover, if you store all your computer data in your safe also, should you ever encounter computer glitches, your files will be fully retrievable. If your computer ever suffers a complete hard-drive crash, you’ll still be able to restore everything.

Preserve your family photos. Store digital copies of all of your treasured family photographs in your safe, and also keep the older family photos there. Such photographic memories are irreplaceable otherwise.

Make sure your loved ones are out of harm’s way. If you have any weapons, then it’s absolutely imperative that you prevent them from falling into the wrong hands ~ a child, a babysitter, a visitor, an intruder. Take every step you can to avoid danger and tragedy! Buy a gun safe so no one but you will ever gain access to your guns, explosives, axes, knives, or any other harmful items.

You’ll always know where your stuff is. If you’re constantly losing your things, when you decide to keep your vital items inside a safe, you won’t ever misplace them again.

A safe is essentially better than a safety deposit box. You may assume that a safety deposit box at your bank is superior to keeping a safe at home. But the fact is, a home safe offers you several significant advantages:

  • Your home is a private space, not a public area, like a bank. You have direct access to your items.
  • Believe it or not, as a rule, at a bank, a safe deposit box’s contents are not insured. If you have a home safe, on the other hand, the items inside will indeed generally be covered by your renter’s or homeowner’s or insurance policy.
  • You can open your safe 24/7, instead of only during office hours.
  • You make only a one-time investment, rather than pay a monthly fee.
  • Any emergency cash stored in a safety deposit box is not FDIC-insured.
  • Upon the death of a loved one, if you’re the beneficiary, you may assume that you can open that person’s safe deposit box; but the truth is, a bank customarily seals a safety deposit box upon receipt of the death certificate, which means you won’t be allowed to open it until the estate representatives supply the proper court papers to the bank.

Without a doubt, a home safe provides endless benefits. Safes are available in many different brands, types, and sizes. If you have any concerns regarding which safe is best for you, and you are in Miramar, Florida, consider bringing your questions to a professional safe technician on staff at Locksmith Miramar, where free consultations are available.




Aricle source here: HAVING A SAFE AT YOUR HOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU THINK

Monday, March 13, 2017

What To Do, Ignition Cylinder Problems

Everyone wants to be able to trust that their cars aren’t going to fail in the course of their day. A malfunctioning ignition could cause you a lot of issues, from getting a key jammed in the cylinder to more serious problems related to operating your vehicle.

That’s why we’re going to focus on how to take care of any ignition matters that may arise. Keep reading as our experts chime in with their recommendations.

Keep an eye on these common issues

When trying to identify the best course of action, you should consider the different ignition cylinder problems that you might come face to face with:

Your key keeps getting stuck inside 

This is a very common complaint for car owners all over the world. Wear and tear are the main reasons for a key becoming more difficult to insert or remove. Sometimes, it may be the car key that is in need of replacement, but more frequently the ignition cylinder is the one to blame. The stress endured by an ignition cylinder over time will cause its insides to become less malleable – eventually, it will start binding your key in place, ultimately rendering you unable to fit it into the keyhole altogether.

Sometimes, your key may get lodged into the cylinder simply because the wheel is still in lock position. See if moving your steering wheel side to side releases the key – if not, you might need to call an auto locksmith in Miramar to extract it for you.

Otherwise, check your ignition and your key for signs of wear or damage and get whichever component is the cause of your issues replaced immediately.

The engine fails while you’re driving

A worn out ignition switch can be the reason for engine failure. Corrosion inside the cylinder can cause low contact or loss of voltage. That in turn can lead to the engine misfiring, stumbling or cutting out completely. If this starts happening to you, get in touch with a locksmith right away – they’ll be able to provide you with the right fixes.

It’s also worthy to note that, while you can’t prevent your ignition’s wearing process, there are some ways to slow down its progression. Avoid putting a lot of stress on the cylinder: for instance, don’t keep your keys on bulky keyrings that will weigh everything down.

You’re having difficulties powering on your vehicle

This is quite common when your ignition cylinder is damaged. Once again, wearing and age will be to blame: your key won’t be able to respond to certain positions, and you’ll eventually lose the ability to power it on altogether. But once again, don’t discount the possibility of other problems – if you have a transponder system, for example, it could be that your car key needs to be reprogrammed to transmit the right signals. It is best to ask the advice of your auto locksmith on this one, as they’ll be able to tell you exactly what’s causing your glitches.

The car won’t start, period

This can signal various issues, like a faulty sensor, a dying battery, or malfunctioning ignition. Again, an inspection is the best way to find out where the problem lies – if it is the ignition cylinder that’s rendering you unable to power on a vehicle, it will need to get replaced.

You can hear the engine running but the car won’t budge

A glitch in your car’s anti-theft protection system is more likely to cause this, but a faulty ignition can do it too. If your ignition is turned, the engine is cranking, and you can see a light flashing on your theft protection device, your key needs to be reprogrammed. Keep in mind that a fuel facing system can lead to similar issues – the diagnosis will be tricky to do without proper knowledge or training, so you’ll need to find a locksmith to look into your issues.

You might have noticed a common theme along our recommendations. This brings us nicely into our final point.

Hiring a locksmith to take care of your ignition cylinder problems

A reliable lock and key expert in your area will bring you full peace of mind over all kinds of automotive issues. They will have all the tools and equipment to repair or replace any faulty components, and will do this much more affordably than your local dealership.

Just remember, not all locksmiths specialize in automotive services. It’s always good to inquire with a couple of locally-based businesses to find out if they provide the solutions you are looking for. We recommend that you ask around to find some credible professionals – word of mouth is still the best way to identify whether a locksmith is trustworthy. Otherwise, check online reviews, look through your Better Business Bureau for any filed complaints, and ask the locksmith to provide you with a list of client references. Also request details about license and insurance, and get a full price quote for all services (including minimum callout charges and after-hours rates).

A few things to be wary about. Don’t hire any business you can’t trace a physical address to, has no contact details listed, or refuses to give a full company name upon request (you should ask this of people who answer the phone using a generic sentence). Partial deposits are a standard request, but upfront payments are not legitimate procedures. Also be on guard if a locksmith requests cash payments and changes their price quotes on arrival.

Locksmith Miramar is always available to help car owners in Miramar, FL. Our licensed and insured professionals know the ins and outs of all things automotive, including ignition cylinder repairs or replacements. You’re welcome to call us to schedule a free consultation, or talk to us over the phone to find out more about our solutions.

No matter where you live, researching a few auto locksmith companies in your area will ensure your ignition problems are addressed accordingly. Make sure to look out for the most common signs of damage, and ask a licensed specialist to look into things as soon as you experience an issue.




Aricle source here: What To Do, Ignition Cylinder Problems

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Why Have Home Locks Changed

If you are moving into a new home it would be a mistake for you not to change the locks. There is so much to think about when you’re moving into another home. The last thing you want to worry about is someone breaking into your home. If you think that you’re living in a safe neighborhood, you might have a false sense of security. Your home can be broken into know matter where it is located. It is usually within the first 12 months of your occupying a new home that you often experience a break-in. A new homeowner is three times more likely to experience a home intrusion than someone who’s lived in their home for at least 10 years. Now that you know this, what are you going to do to protect your home and loved ones. We feel that this alone is compelling enough reason to change your homes locks.

High Security Locks

Reasons for Changing Locks

  • Keep out anyone who may have had a key

This is very important because you never know when someone may come back who has a key. When you have had contractors in your home and you had to give them keys, it is always a good idea to change the locks. If a previous family member has a key and you no longer want them to have access inside your home, you’ll have to change the locks to keep them from getting inside. It is better to be safe than sorry, so rather than taking chances, change the locks and avoid an unpleasant situation.

  • Unpaid Claims

If someone should happen to break into your home, the insurance company may want to exam the locks of your home. If it has been discovered that you moved into your home and never had the locks changed, they may not feel obliged to pay your claim. This is another good reason to make sure you change the locks of your new home before you you move in.

  • Poor Locks

The locks that you may want to replace the existing locks with may not be the best quality of locks that you can have. You could always contact a reputable locksmith in Miramar, FL. Poor locks are a sure way for you to experience a break-in. Burglars like the route of least resistance. Therefore, you’re making it very easy for them to break into your home when you have weak locks.

  • Lack of Locks

When you don’t have enough locks, it means it’s easy for someone to break-in. Make sure you have locks in all of the key areas of your home. In some cases, you may need deadbolt locks on some of your doors. In fact, we always encourage homeowners to have deadbolt locks installed on all exterior doors. This helps to maximize the level of security you have for you home.

  • Non-industry Standard Locks

A lock that is not an industry standard lock will not be of much use to you. The existing locks may not have the best locks and could pose a threat to your safety and security. In order to make sure they are durable and resistant to the pressure applied to them by a would-be intruder, you should change the locks. All locks should be industry standard.

Equipped with the aforementioned information, you may now see why it is necessary to change the locks of your home. In order to achieve maximum security, you should have your locks changed before you move into your new home. You should take it a step further and check the level of security that you have for your home. This includes evaluating the locks of doors and windows. A locksmith will discuss where new locks are needed the most and where you may need brand new locks installed. All of the information that a Miramar locksmith would offer to you will prove very beneficial. No one knows better than a locksmith, the must susceptible areas of your home. There are some types of locks that should be avoided, which can hinder the movement of our family. This isn’t a good idea in cases of emergency. You should know exactly which locks to install and the ones to avoid.

In addition to changing your locks, it is also a great idea to consider having an alarm system installed, external sensors installed around the exterior of your home ad deadbolt locks wherever needed. If you keep an existing alarm system, you’ll have to make sure hat all of the codes are changed. We would actually suggest that you change the code to your alarm system as often as possible.

If you lose track of who has spare key to your home, you could be putting your safety in jeopardy. Make sure that you change the locks as soon as this has been discovered. You may have gone out of town or had a family emergency, which meant that you had to leave a key with a neighbor. Even if you trust the neighbor, you may not know everyone that they know. This means that your keys could fall in the hands of the wrong person. As soon as you return home, make sure the locks of your home are changed to avoid an incident from occurring.

We do not wish to see anyone harmed or burglarized and this is why we willingly offer these suggestions to you. It is up to each individual household to determine how they will go about protecting their loved ones and the things that are of value to them. We think that simply by changing the locks, this affords you an affordable and practical way to secure your home. You can find locks in various price points and can get the help that you need in determining the types of locks that are best for your home. Don’t take unnecessary chances with the safety and security of your home. Change the locks right away.




Aricle source here: Why Have Home Locks Changed