Anyone can see the layout of your home and what you paid for it - Do this to stay safe

There’s more information about you online than you probably realize. Your hacked passwords, your address, even your credit card details.

Details about your home are everywhere, too. Government sites and resources like Zillow and Redfin list everything from what you paid to the very layout of your house.

That’s very interesting information for a potential burglar. Knowing the layout, the exits and which room is which is valuable for someone looking to get in and out quickly. Bad news for you.

If you haven’t already, it’s high time to secure your home the right way. Kim’s pick is our sponsor, SimpliSafe, and there are a few reasons it stands out above the rest. More on that below.

So, what can someone find out online?

Anyone can check a county’s assessor site to find information on properties. These government-run sites use information from assessors to estimate the value of real property within a county, city, town or village.

Not all assessor sites provide the same information, but they make for a great starting point for anyone who wants to find out more about your property. This information will not usually be used for nefarious gains, but it certainly can be. If a scammer calls, they will use their collected data to convince you they are legitimate.

Details include how much you paid for your home, who else is on the deed, your property’s size and layout, and any other properties you own. Here’s a creepy bonus: Some of the documents you signed when you bought your home are uploaded there, too, so anyone can grab your signature.

Beyond that, real estate sites give even greater detail. Someone may be able to click through an entire photo gallery of your home. It doesn’t matter if you redecorated — the bones of your home are likely still the same.

If you don’t want your home listed on Zillow, head here to find out how to remove as much of the information as possible.

What can you do?

Your best bet is to make sure your home is protected 24/7. Back in the day, installing a home security system meant sitting on the phone with a sales rep, scheduling an appointment for someone to install it, then paying a ridiculous monthly fee. You were locked into a long-term contract, of course.

Continue reading

10 most-stolen dog breeds and 3 smart ways to protect your furry friend

Few things terrify a pet owner more than finding out their furry friend disappeared. In the U.S., around four million dogs go missing each year. Pet owners have a lot to worry about: medication, closing gates, so the dogs don’t get out and even outright kidnappings.

Continue reading

Have a SimpliSafe system? There's a brand new HD outdoor camera to add to your home's arsenal

When it comes to home security, you need a company you can trust. Traditional home security companies are all about the bottom line. You work with a salesperson to find a system, someone comes over to install it, then you’re locked into a long contract with high monthly fees.

Continue reading

Ding, dong: 6 funniest moments caught by video doorbells

Sure, you probably know all about the ways doorbell cameras like SimpliSafe can boost your home security system. Connect them to your phone, and you get a 24/7 live stream of everything going on in your home. With these nifty tools, you can catch burglars, find missing children and even tell your neighbors about a fire.

Continue reading

The best way to keep an eye on your pets inside and out

Pets are notorious for causing a stir when their owners are away. When you drive off, dogs might bark so loudly they bother the neighbors. Cats might scratch the sofa to punish you for leaving.

Animals have many methods for messing up the house when you’re away. Sometimes, you may return home and walk into such an outrageous mess you can’t help but wonder, “How on Earth did that happen?”

Continue reading

6 essential features you need in a home security system

Most people who don’t have home security systems yet are probably still planning on installing one in the future. How many times have you left your home thinking, “I wish I had some kind of protection system in place?”

Continue reading

Headed back to the office? Best way to keep an eye on your home from anywhere

You know the stress of being a parent. When the kids were young, you jumped at every sneeze, cough and wobbly step.

Now that they’re young adults or teenagers, there are different stresses. Are they driving while distracted by texts and social media messages? At home, are they safe? Are they being responsible for getting home on time from school, not raiding your liquor cabinet and staying out of trouble?

Continue reading

Comparison: SimpliSafe vs. ADT vs. Vivint

This is pretty cool. We wanted to do a visual comparison to show you how SimpliSafe is the better choice for home security, so we decided to look at two big-name competitors — ADT and Vivint.

You never know what’s going to happen when you compare a sponsor to its competitors, but we were thrilled with what we found.

Continue reading

SimpliSafe's winter sweater sounds the alarm when people stand too close

Sick of people standing too close to you? Here’s a great new way to enforce the six-foot social distancing rule: Sound a siren through your sweater!

That’s the idea behind SimpliSafe’s new sweater. The company that keeps your family safe and sound made its own festive garment this year, decked out in tech to inspire social distance.

Continue reading

Take the guesswork out of home security

It’s almost a new year, and that means you’re likely contemplating New Year’s resolutions. One of them should be to make improvements to your home security system.

Start 2021 off right and keep your family safe by adopting a security setup from our sponsor, SimpliSafe. It’s Kim’s pick for lots of reasons.

Continue reading

4 critical features to look for in a home protection service

Even though some coronavirus restrictions are starting to be lifted across the U.S., many Americans are committed to staying home. At least until they feel safe going out in public.

While you’re still at home, the last thing you need is the added stress of worrying about burglars trying to break into your home. That’s why it’s important to have home security from a company you can trust.

Continue reading

Now, more than ever, it's time to protect your home

Like millions of Americans, the coronavirus pandemic most likely has you practicing social distancing. With all the uncertainty in the world, feeling safe at home has never been more important.

That’s why we want to talk to you about home security. SimpliSafe has made it easy to get protection for your entire home, without a technician or salesperson coming to your house.

Continue reading

Stuck at home? Make sure your vacation property is safe without having to travel

Do you own a second home? It’s pretty common to own a vacation home or rental property. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 7.5 million Americans do.

With coronavirus (COVID-19) fears and travel restrictions ramping up, you might not be able to take that trip you were planning anytime soon. These are strange times and you might be worried about your other property if you can’t travel there.

Continue reading

SimpliSafe protects your whole house in under an hour

You’ve probably heard how easy it is to protect your family, home and valuables these days. It’s nothing like the hassle it used to be.

Technology has changed everything — and simplified it, too. That’s because wireless technology has made installing home security an afternoon project, rather than the all-day nightmare it was when techs had to drill holes in your walls, cut wires and mount a system that worked just OK.

Continue reading

3 critical features that make a home security system great

Protect your home from intruders and other elemental hazards with help from our sponsor, SimpliSafe’s, complete home security system.

It’s easy to install, with no drilling involved — you can do it yourself in less than 15 minutes! Their service does not require contracts, and it offers 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for less than 50 cents a day.

Continue reading