3 Smart Moving Tips

3 Smart Moving Tips

Home is where the heart is. It’s also where your family, your possessions, your pets—pretty much everything you hold dear—resides. Protecting your home is always a priority, but when you’re moving into a new house, renovating an old one, or building your dream home from scratch, it’s the perfect time to make some smart home security decisions with Alarm.com.

Smart Tip #1: Unlock your new home’s potential

Whether you’re on the move or your home is currently under construction, installing a smart, connected lock helps keep workers and movers on task and on schedule, while protecting your home from outsiders.

With Alarm.com, you can:

  • Disarm your security system and unlock the front door from your smartphone.
  • Allow easy keyless entry with access codes for workers or cleaners entering your house.
  • Get immediate alerts if you forget to lock your front door or close the garage so you can react right away.

Smart Tip #2: Keep your eyes on the prize

Keeping an eye on your new home when you’re not there is simple with Alarm.com. Indoor and outdoor cameras give you a full view of your move, from the people involved to the overall progress.

  • Know who’s approaching your home with Video Analytics—find out if it’s a vehicle, animal, or a person.
  • Keep a close eye on your kids and pets inside your new home during the move with indoor cameras.
  • Answer the front door safely with a touchless video doorbell that alerts you when someone arrives—you can answer via the Alarm.com app from anywhere.

Smart Tip #3: Come home to comfort

With all the comings and goings during a move, an energy-saving smart thermostat puts you in control of your home’s heating and cooling so everyone can feel comfortable.

  •  Turn up the heat (or the AC) on-the-go via the Alarm.com app.
  • Connect your smart thermostat to your security system to automatically adjust temps for arrivals and departures.
  • Explore intelligent energy-saving options to keep your bills lower.

Investing in a smarter home sooner rather than later can help save you time, money, and worry right away and down the road. A connected security system from Alarm.com is the smarter way to protect your new home, along with everything (and everyone) important inside it. Get started below!

Home Security System  Maintenance Tips

Home Security System Maintenance Tips

Now that you have secured your residence with a state-of-the-art KMT home security system. You saw the stats on how a security system can both deter and detect intruders, protect from fire, and alert homeowners to everything from leaking pipes to broken furnaces. You have researched security providers and found that KMT Systems is local, family-owned and operated, and highly experienced. You have seen that our mission is to carry on the tradition of integrity and quality service that was started in 2005 when KMT Systems was founded. You have come to rely on the convenience of your  smart home security solution utilizing devices from industry-leading manufacturers.

What Now?

One of the many benefits of a home security system is that it’s largely independent and self-sustained. Once it’s programmed, it’s mostly a matter of setting the system when you’re not home or ready for bed. However, like any electrical appliance in your home, there are a handful of routine tasks you can perform to help extend the life and efficiency of your alarm system. By performing these tasks regularly, you can help to ensure your system protects and provides as well as it did on day 1.

Perform Regular Communication Test

Communication with a local monitoring center is the central role of a professional home security system. If the KMT Security Monitoring Center is not receiving your signals in an emergency, our operators will be unable to dispatch police, fire, or medical personnel to your location.

KMT Systems monitored customers have their systems programmed to send test signals to our Monitoring Center regularly. If we do not receive a signal at the appropriate time, our operators will call and let you know that there may be something going on with your system so we can find a way to fix it promptly. If you’re heading out of town for an extended period of time or just want to check the general health of your system, it doesn’t hurt to send a test signal yourself. Our team of operators in the Monitoring Center can work with you to put your system in a test mode, which allows you to send signals to them without alerting emergency services. By doing this, our operators can tell you if we’re receiving alarm signals from your system and you can see for yourself how quickly we receive them.

Your field devices – door contacts, motion sensors, and more communicate with the alarm panel as well and also need to be tested. If a glass break senses a shattered window, it sends a signal to the alarm panel, which sends a signal to our Monitoring Center. Therefore, it can also be beneficial to test the individual devices on your system as well. When calling our Monitoring Center and putting your account in test mode, you can go around your house and set off every device individually and check to make sure our operators receive the signal. Doing so ensures your system will function properly in the event of a real emergency and can help to prove your system is still functioning as it should.

Change Out Your Batteries

Newer home security systems often use wireless field devices for less invasive installations and more adaptable mounting options. Like all wireless devices, wireless security sensors run on batteries that need to be changed out every so often. While manufacturers estimate batteries to last three to five years in such devices, some devices that draw a lot of power or are sensing continuously may drain faster. Your KMT Security alarm panel will alert you when a battery in a device is nearing the end of its life cycle and, eventually, when the device has stopped communicating because the battery is dead.

Taking care of the battery issue ahead of time can save you from heartache in the future. What if you’re on vacation and you receive a call from the KMT Monitoring Center informing you that your front door contact is no longer communicating! While you may be able to get away with replacing batteries every few years, switching the batteries out regularly every year, low battery or no can help to prevent device communication loss from occurring down the line.

Sidenote: Changing out devices sends a signal to our Monitoring Center indicating that someone is tampering with your system. Be sure to call our operators before changing batteries out so they can put the system in test mode so we know to temporarily ignore these signals.

Checking For Wear and Tear

When you have changed out the batteries in your devices, it doesn’t hurt to inspect the state of the sensors themselves. Are they still mounted correctly? Are they dirty or dusty? Are they damaged in any way? If a device is looking worn for its wear, it might be time to have an KMT Systems technician out to repair or replace it. Your home’s security solution operates under the assumption that every device will function properly to provide proper coverage, and if even one device isn’t sensing properly or was damaged by environmental factors, it’s essential that the problem is addressed promptly.

Keep it Professional

Performing routine maintenance can go a long way in getting the most out of your security system. At the end of the day, the best way to maximize your system’s longevity is by entrusting routine maintenance to those you bestowed to install it. KMT Systems fields an entire team of preventative maintenance technicians whose job it is to inspect, test, and maintain both residential and commercial KMT security systems. Signing up for preventative maintenance ensures a visit from one of our technicians to check general communication, change out batteries as needed, and inspect your devices to determine if there are any repairs needed. 

By investing in a KMT Security System, you’ve created an environment of safety and convenience for you and your family. Secure your investment with a maintenance plan by KMT Systems and years of security expertise help protect your household long into the future.

Reacting To A Burglary

Reacting To A Burglary

One of the last things that anyone wants to go through is to return home and realize they have fallen victim to a burglary. It is devastating. It can be even worse if the act happens when you are home. If you were the victim of a burglary, would you know how to respond? How you react upon the initial discovery and following weeks can make a huge difference. 

Stay Calm

As soon as you realize what has happened, you will likely experience a strong mixture of negative emotions such as fear, anger, and anxiety, and a hard spike of adrenaline.  Your body WILL react to this acute degree of stress.  As a response, your heart rate and blood pressure will elevate, and you will likely begin rapidly breathing. In short, you will begin to panic, and panic isn’t helpful in a moment like this.  If possible, find a quiet, safe place to sit outside of your home. Relax your body and take a series of deep, slow breaths. Do not re-enter your home unless you are certain the burglar has already left. 

Call The Police

Now that you have calmed down, you need to notify the authorities. The sooner you let the police know what happened, the sooner they will be on their way, and the better your chances will be to regain your stolen items. As time lapses, the burglar/s will be harder to catch, so getting the authorities on their trail immediately is essential. Follow any instructions you are given by the dispatcher or officer they connect you with. 

Take Good Notes

If you were at home when the burglary occurred, or arrived while the burglars were still there, write down what you saw.  Any descriptions can help. How tall they were, what their hair looked like, gender, age, race, and what they were wearing are all important physical descriptors. If you didn’t catch anyone in the act but maybe noticed some suspicious individuals around your neighborhood recently, that information can assist as well. 

Do your best not to touch anything in your home.  Officers will want to see the crime scene as undisturbed as possible. Altering anything may impede their investigation.

You should begin giving your home a thorough examination for any damages and stolen items. Take notes and pictures.  Were any windows broken, or doors kicked in? Write it down and take a picture. What is missing? Write down a physical description of the missing item/s, what room the item was located in, and where in the room it was.  If you have pictures of the missing objects, serial numbers for missing electronics, or any security camera footage of the burglars, provide it to the officers. 

File An Insurance Claim

With a police report in hand, notify your insurance company. You will need to provide them with the report number, and several other pieces of information that are documented on the police report. Gather any receipts that are pertinent and have those handy, too. Your insurance company may send an adjuster to your home to assess the situation personally. If that happens, have copies of all of your paperwork ready. The insurance adjuster will probably take your evidence with him or her, but you should have a set of the information with you for your own records, too.

Reclaim Your Sense Of Security

One thing you are guaranteed to lose in any home invasion is your sense of security and safety in your home.  It may be the most precious thing you lose. The good news is that you can get it back.  If you haven’t invested in a home security system yet, now is the best time to do it. Burglars often target the same home more than once if they managed to get away cleanly the first time. A security system is the best tool for preventing, detecting, and catching a home invader. Security can make your home feel safe and secure again as well as prevent a repeat burglary.  If you know how the intruder entered your home, take steps to reinforce security in that location.  A stronger door, lock, or window can encourage a criminal to find a different target.

It’s always best to be proactive with the security of your home.  Too many families wait until after they are the victim of a home invasion before taking the right steps to guard their home from intruders.  Contact KMT Systems today and schedule a free home security consultation, and get the protection your home deserves!

The Holiday Hustle – 5 Security Tips

Family to visit, cards to send, gifts to buy, parties to attend – there is a lot going on this time of year. Most of us are juggling quite the to do list and it’s easy to get carried away and forget about the more mundane tasks. So here are a few security tips to keep your holidays merry and bright!

1. Don’t Let Packages Pile up on Your Porch.

If you have a porch full of packages that are left unattended it makes an easy target for porch pirates. Instead have your packages sent somewhere they can be received in person or even ask for them to be held at the post office for you.

2. Boxes Can be Billboards for Burglars.

You just got that new big screen TV hooked up and ready to go, so you drag that box outside to the curb for garbage pickup later that week. All these boxes piled up right outside your home can be a billboard for burglars. Don’t advertise all these new items, wait until the day of trash pick up to put the boxes.

3. Double Check Those Locks.

Burglars love it when we make things easy on them and leaving the door or window unlocked is an invitation to them. Even if you’re just going to be out for a few minutes make sure everything is locked up tight.

4. Keep Travel Plans Offline.

This is a big one, in the age of social media there’s nothing we all love more than sharing what’s going on in our life. It might seem harmless to post about a vacation you’re getting ready to go on and you might think you’re being careful, but you never know who is watching. By posting when you’re going away that gives burglars a time frame that they know no one will be home. Avoid this by waiting until you get back to post about your trip and share your photos. 

5. Use Your Security System!

This may seem like a no brainer, but everyone gets comfortable and can let their guard down. You might think you live in a safe neighborhood and that your doors are locked so you can just leave the security system off so when you come home with an armful of gifts you don’t have to struggle. But your security system is the most proactive way to avoid being burglarized. And if you don’t have a security system now is the perfect time to get one, give yourself the gift of peace of mind. We custom design every system and work with you to get you exactly what you need and nothing that you don’t. Contact KMT Systems today to get a FREE quote!

Deterring Burglars at Night – 5 Things Every Homeowner Should Do In Georgia

Make the most out of your time while at home! Here are some simple things you can be doing to make your home safer and family protected. Don’t wait for a burglary to happen before taking these steps. Always prepare for the unexpected.

Five Quick Steps to Reduce the Chance of Night-time Burglary

  • Keep your home well-lit externally and internally. 
  • Get notified of motion on your front porch with a smart doorbell.
  • Install a professionally monitored security system. 
  • Make sure your home’s landscape is well-kept. 
  • Ensure all your doors and windows are securely locked.

 

Become an expert on your home’s security as we explain each step on defending your home. 

The dark doesn’t have to be scary when you know your home is professionally protected. Call our team today at (770) 284-3144, or schedule a conversation about your home’s security now!

1. Well-Lit Homes Are Not Ideal for Burglars

Installing motion lights can be a simple part-time solution when preventing night-time break-ins. A home without proper lighting can become a target for burglars to hide and sneak throughout neighborhoods. 

  • Motion lights not only alert you, as a homeowner, that something is moving outside but they may also expose criminals and encourage them to flee. 
  • For convenience and safety, have your lights connected to your security system! With today’s technology, you can control your entire home on your phone! Set schedules for your lights to turn on and off while you maximize energy savings with KMT Systems.
  • The “part-time” solution means that this tip should not be the only step you take toward a safer home. Instead, adding motion sensor lights should be an additional piece of security and safety. 

 

2. Smart Doorbells

A video doorbell camera is a step beyond a traditional lock and doorbell as it allows you to see who is at your door before opening. 

  • Never have to open your door to a stranger–night or day! A smart doorbell allows you to interact with the person at your door without ever unlocking your door. 
  • Pretend you are home when you are not. On vacation or at work? You will still get notifications when someone arrives at your door and rings the doorbell. With the two-way communication, you can interact with the person at your doorstep without being home! 
  • Motion sensors just got better! If someone is on your porch and doesn’t ring your doorbell, you can still check in! Did your package come in? Simply get notified when movement is detected near your front door!

3. Professionally Monitored vs. Unmonitored Security Systems

Firstly, un-monitored systems will not provide the same level of protection for your home. Even when your system links with your smartphone, there can be times when you may not be in a position to do anything as an alarm goes off. 

With a professionally monitored system, your home is protected 24/7 with no days off! Leaving the monitoring to professionals may give you the additional peace of mind that you need. The main benefit is when the system detects a break-in, fire, or other emergency, it notifies the professional operators and emergency respondents immediately.

 4. How Landscaping Can Reinforce Security

By simply minimizing hiding spots for burglars, you are already one step closer to maximizing your security. 

A home’s landscape is usually the first line of defense when coming to security. Ask yourself these questions when thinking about your landscape security defense lineup…

  • Can someone walk up to your door without making a peep? Try eliminating ways to silently walk near your house. Instead of using mulch, use gravel so intruders cannot walk up to your home without a sound.
  • Are your windows easily accessible? Edges of leaves that have thorns and spines can help protect windows. With a KMT Security System, each window can have a sensor to alert you when any has been opened. 
  • Where could someone hide outside?  Cleaner, more open areas give burglars fewer places to hide. Try eliminating areas that are potential hiding spots around your home. 

5. Keep Your Doors and Windows Locked

Always lock your doors while you are home or away! 

Forgetting to lock doors is an easy mistake. Would it help if you were notified as you left your home to lock your doors and arm your security system? KMT Systems has remote technology that can alert you when you make an easy mistake! Make sure your doors are locked, lights are scheduled to turn on, garage door closed and the system is armed– all from your smartphone!

 

When Do Most Burglaries Occur? Everything You Should Know

When most people think of a home burglary, they generally imagine that the crime happens in the middle of night. In this scenario, they often visualize a stealthy criminal or team of criminals sneaking into a home and quietly placing items into large duffel bags before making their exit.

They do this without waking the family or alerting the neighbors to what they are doing, and they escape before the break of dawn.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Burglaries Don’t Happen Like They Do in Movies

Midnight break-ins are commonplace on tv and movies, real-life burglars behave quite differently. In reality most burglaries happen between 10am and 3pm because robbers want to gain entry to the home while no one is in the home. Entering an empty home means they can get away with making louder noises and have a lower chance of being caught.

With the kids at school and the parents at work, late morning and early afternoon is the perfect time for somebody to try to rummage through a home and take any valuables they can find.

Criminals always go for the most expensive, small items that are easily accessible on tables or countertops or in drawers. Laptops, tablets, jewelry, firearms, and cash are the prime targets of a home robbery, along with anything else which has high resale value.

Know Your Neighbors

Knowing when a robbery is most likely to happen makes it easier to plan ways to prevent a robbery. Having a neighborhood watch designed to keep tabs on houses is a good way to ensure that everyone is invested in protecting the community from crime.

Having engaged neighbors in general is important to securing the area. If your next-door neighbor knows you’re not expecting anyone to come by your house to do work on anything, they’ll be able to prevent a fake moving company or plumber from slipping into your home and making off with your valuables.

What Time of the Year Are Burglaries Most Likely to Happen?

Take steps to prevent break ins especially during the summer months, as this is when break-ins reach their annual peak. Families leave town for vacations, their homes become easy targets. A criminal knowing they have all day or night to rob a home is a criminal that’s confident they can take whatever they want without fear of being caught.

Summer is the season with the highest crime rate,  so if you’re worried about something happening to your home while you’re away, there are plenty of different ways to secure it.

Installing a Video Doorbell

Installing a video camera doorbell is one of the newest ways to protect your home from thieves. These systems usually will allow you to lock your home up remotely and also include an app that lets you watch the camera on your phone or tablet while you’re away from your house.

If you are worried about a thief trying to take that package you’ve been waiting for, you can turn the phone on around the time the package is supposed to be delivered and keep track of the package until you’re home. If anything happens, you can alert the police quickly before the thief has much time to make their getaway.

These systems can also allow you to check the door when somebody unexpected arrives at your home and you can see if it’s just a friend coming by for a surprise visit or a stranger who you want nothing to do with. If they get pushy about things, you can call the cops on them without having to engage with them face to face.

Benefits of a Home Security System

If you’re looking into getting a home security system, you should do some research into exactly what kind of system you want and what will work for your family. If you have young children, consider how they may interact with the system. For instance, young children may not understand the system and may be unable to enter in the security codes should they accidentally arm the alarm.

The best security system accommodates the needs of your family and protects them without creating additional issues that could lead to false alarms or require frequent battery changes. Talk to the different security companies to see exactly what sorts of systems they can offer you and what are the price ranges for those systems.

Also ask if the security company has an app for the smartphone that you can use to arm and disarm the system should a family member set it off and call you in a panic.

This will allow you to fix things before the police need to be alerted to the situation, saving you from costly fines for false alarms.

Home Security on a Budget

If these options are too expensive for you, a simple lockbox or small hidden safe might be more than enough to keep a criminal from stealing the things you’re trying to protect. Making sure your windows are always secured and that you have working deadbolt locks on your doors may be more than enough to protect your home.

The average age of a criminal who commits a home burglary is 25, and usually they don’t plan out what they are doing. Therefore, offering up a solid bit of resistance may be enough to encourage them to give up and leave.

To learn more about security systems for your home or business, talk to an KMT Systems Customer Representative at (770) 284-3144