With so many people out of town visiting friends and family during the holidays, it’s no surprise that home invasions and burglaries see an uptick at this time of year. In fact, robbery rates increase by about 20 percent each December. To help ensure you don’t fall victim to any crimes during the holiday season, we’ve put together this helpful list of holiday home security tips in Fairfax, VA. Follow these tips—especially if you’re going to be out of town—and you can rest easy this holiday season.
Invest in smart locks
The top way to protect your belongings and family this holiday season is to upgrade your current locks with smart locks, which are controlled with a smartphone app instead of a regular key. In addition to allowing you to lock and unlock your doors from anywhere with the touch of a button, the app will tell you who’s in your home at any given time.
Buy a front door security camera
Installing a smart doorbell is another good way to tell if anyone is lurking in or around your home. Smart doorbell video cameras are integrated with apps that allow you to see who’s at the door from an app on your phone or tablet. Certain models even allow you to speak to the person at the front door.
Install a home security system
Another one of our best holiday security tips is to install home security systems in Fairfax, VA. While a home security system can be a major investment, it’s well worth the money. Hearing an alarm system go off will scare away any would-be burglars. And putting a security system sign in your front yard might stop them from even trying to break in!
Leave the lights on
For better home security without investing in new technology, we recommend leaving a few interior and exterior lights on while you’re out. Keeping a few lights on will give the appearance that you’re at home, even if you’re off on vacation or visiting family.
To help save on your electric bills, upgrade to smart fixtures and lights that will turn on at nighttime, when crimes are more likely to happen.
Avoid leaving gifts outside
A pile of delivered packages might as well be a bullseye for any burglars passing by your home. One of our best free holiday home security tips in Fairfax, VA is to bring your packages inside as soon as they arrive. Schedule delivery when you know you’ll be home, or ask your neighbors to pick up the delivered packages for you so they’re not sitting outside all day.
Buy your smart locks from Artie’s Lock and Key
If you’re thinking about bolstering your home security systems in Fairfax, VA with a smart lock, buy it from Artie’s Lock and Key! We only sell smart locks from the best brands, like Schlage and Kevo, and we offer expert installation. Call us today to learn more about all of our smart lock products and services.
We all have that certain someone on our holiday shopping list who’s impossible to shop for. The person either already seems to have everything, or claims they don’t need a gift. Fortunately, we have a solution: purchase those difficult individuals a smart lock as a holiday gift in Fairfax, VA!
Regardless of your home’s size or location, you could probably use some more home security. This post will cover a few of our favorite products that will bolster your home’s security this holiday season.
Locks
Ensure everyone on your list has total peace of mind by giving them smart locks this holiday season. Instead of using a traditional key, smart locks are opened via an application on a smartphone. That same app can also lock the door remotely. So, if you think you forgot to lock the door, you can click a button and lock it from wherever you are.
Just be sure to hire a professional to install your smart lock. Otherwise, your home security gift in Fairfax, VA might not be as effective or even work properly.
Doorbells
If someone already has a smart lock or doesn’t seem interested in receiving one, consider a smart doorbell instead. Smart doorbells like Google Nest Hellos, Arlo Video Doorbells or Ring Video Doorbells allow homeowners to see who’s at the front door using a smartphone app.
The homeowner can opt to get a notification every time someone approaches the door and subsequently see an HD video of the person. This is a great feature for the holidays, as it’s perfect for monitoring the front door for package delivery.
Devices
Amazon Echo, Google Nest and other smart devices are becoming increasingly popular in homes across the country. These devices are small and sleek, but incredibly powerful. In addition to playing music or telling you the weather forecast, your smart devices can aid in your home security.
When properly integrated, you can set your smart device to turn the lights on automatically when you’re not at home, monitor your doorbell or even lock your doors. These devices have also become much cheaper over the past few years, so they’re the perfect home security gifts in Fairfax, VA for shoppers on a budget.
Outdoor lights
If you don’t want to give a smart device that controls the interior lights, at least consider giving your loved ones exterior smart light fixtures. Exterior smart lights can be set to turn on automatically at nighttime or when you’re not at home, further deterring any would-be burglars.
Better still, some smart outdoor light fixtures come equipped with built-in hidden cameras to catch thieves in the act. Placing one with a camera at the front door provides the same functionality as a smart doorbell plus the added smart light technology.
Install your holiday gifts with help from Artie’s Lock and Key
If you need help installing the perfect smart lock holiday gift in Fairfax, VA, look no further than Artie’s Lock and Key. In addition to selling top-of-the-line smart home devices, we also offer residential locksmithing services. Give us a call today to see what we can do for you!
The locksmith industry is beginning to look a bit different than it did in the past. More homeowners are replacing the traditional lock and key with smart lock installations in Fairfax, VA. Meanwhile, in commercial buildings, digital door locks grant access with just a couple of buttons. All industries benefit from technological advancements, and locksmiths are no exception.
Smart locks
The locksmith industry has made smartphones the new house key. Homeowners can hire their locksmith in Fairfax, VA to complete a smart lock installation. Then, your phone uses Bluetooth to remotely unlock the front door. Smartphones are a reliable way of securing homes because, just like a traditional key, your phone is generally on your person at all times.
Keyless entry
Digital door locks can do more than secure a house. The newest car models have replaced the traditional locking mechanism with wireless remotes and push-to-start ignitions. That’s why locksmiths in Fairfax, VA are continually educating themselves about security systems beyond a simple lock and key.
Keyless entry is also great for commercial spaces that require heightened security, like hospitals and medical labs. With the push of a button, qualified personnel can gain entry to a restricted area. Technology has advanced beyond manual locks, and keyless entry is now the preferred solution for buildings that need it the most.
Card access
Card access is another popular form of digital door locks. Just like keyless entry, this type of security system is used all the time in commercial spaces. If you look closely, you’ll notice card access is everywhere. For instance, hotel guests may be given a card to access their suite. Government officials use card access to enter rooms that are closed off to the public.
In addition to keyless entry and smart lock installation, locksmiths are learning how card access works so they’re equipped to open doors that require something other than a manual key. After all, their job is to help stranded customers no matter which type of locking system is standing in their way. As technology evolves, so do the capabilities of a locksmith.
Digital passcodes
Digital passcodes have been around for decades, and can be found in both commercial and residential spaces. Homeowners who live in gated communities may use a passcode to enter their neighborhood. They might even have a gate located at their driveway entrance so only friends and family members can set foot on the property.
These digital locks are great for office buildings that have restricted access but still require many employees to come and go. Instead of handing physical keys to dozens of workers, everyone can get inside by memorizing a simple passcode. Digital door locks in Fairfax, VA also heighten security at the main entrances to apartment buildings. This cuts back on theft by allowing access only to tenants.
Technology continues to evolve, which is why you need a locksmith that leans toward the future. If you’re looking to update a security system, consult the innovative locksmiths at Artie’s Lock And Key. We install and repair locks that feature the latest technological advancements. Whenever you need help, we’re just a phone call away.
Many homeowners in Fairfax, VA don’t think to create a spare house key until it’s too late. No one likes to assume they’ll lose a key one day, but unfortunately it can happen to anyone. If you’re on the fence about getting a spare key for your home, below are some reasons why you shouldn’t wait any longer.
You’ll have a backup plan for lockouts
There’s no moment more defeating than when you reach for the house key and realize it’s gone. Where you left it is a mystery, and now you’re stuck on the front porch with no way to get inside. If your only copy becomes lost or damaged, you’ll have to wait who knows how long for a locksmith to show up.
A spare house key makes all those inconveniences go away. It doesn’t cost much to create a spare, and it’s less expensive than hiring a locksmith to open your front door. Hand over the key to a neighbor you trust or hide it in a safe location on your property.
You’ll be able to copy the spare to create a new key
Let’s say the original house key is either broken or lost forever. If you didn’t have a spare, your locksmith in Fairfax, VA would have to create a new house key. A spare key for your home saves money because it costs less to copy a key than to make one from scratch. If you have a spare, get it copied right away so you’re not tempted to use it as your primary key.
Help your day run more smoothly
There are a number of reasons why you’d entrust a spare house key to another person. Some homeowners in Fairfax, VA hire cleaning services to take care of the house while they’re at work. Maybe your HVAC system needs fixing, but you can’t afford to wait for hours until the workers arrive. A spare key for your home allows you be on the go while granting access to people who need it.
Allow a friend to house sit
Someone has to watch the house while you’re on vacation. You might trust a friend to enter your home, but that doesn’t mean you’re willing to hand over your only house key. That’s when having a spare comes in handy. You can rest easy knowing your property is being taken care of, and you’ll still have a way to get inside if your friend loses the spare.
If you don’t want to relinquish the only copy of your house key, a spare lets someone you trust keep the house as you left it. They’ll water the plants, walk the dog and collect the mail so there’s no stress when you come home from a relaxing vacation.
Keys go missing when you least expect them to. Be prepared for any situation with a spare house key from Artie’s Lock And Key in Fairfax, VA. Whether you need a copy or want to rekey the lock, one of our locksmiths is always ready to help. Send a quick message to let us know what we can do for you!
There are few things more frustrating than losing a set of keys. When your lost keyring includes a car key, your first instinct might be to call up the dealership and see if you can get a replacement key made and sent out to you. However, we’d encourage you to consider choosing a locksmith for these services instead, for a variety of reasons.
Here are a few examples of some of the primary advantages associated with opting for a locksmith over the dealership for car key replacement in Fairfax, VA.
Timeliness
You’re almost certainly going to need to get a replacement key as soon as possible so you can get back on the road and take care of all your everyday priorities and tasks. It can be a significant inconvenience to have to spend an extended period of time without access to your vehicle.
Dealerships help people solve a wide variety of problems with their vehicles, and they’ll likely be doing so in the order in which the car owners arrive. This means you might have several other people ahead of you dealing with any number of issues with their cars when all you need is to have a new key created. It might take hours or even days for you to get the job done.
On the other hand, by working with a locksmith who has experience in creating automotive keys, you’ll be able to have a relatively quick turnaround time, allowing you to minimize the time lost due to missing car keys so you can get back on the road.
Cost
Every dealership is different with regard to how it handles key replacement. In some cases, you might find that the cost of replacing a lost car key can be exorbitant if you go through the dealership. In such a case, you can generally assume a professional locksmith will be able to get the job done at a fraction of the cost, in addition to doing so with a faster turnaround time. You may as well save some money on the job, and support a local business in the process!
Availability
Locksmiths are always available when you need them, and many offer mobile services so they can come out to you and help you out of your situation. In addition, locksmiths frequently offer emergency services so you can get assistance at any time of the day or night.
Consider this: you could lose your keys at literally any time of day, and in any location. Dealerships have much greater limitations than locksmiths with regard to availability. They’re not going to come out to your location, and they aren’t going to offer emergency services to address your needs. If you find yourself in a jam due to lost keys, your trust is much better placed in a professional automotive locksmith than in the dealership.
Interested in learning more about key replacement services in Fairfax, VA in the even that you lose your car keys? We encourage you to contact Artie’s Lock and Key today with any questions about our services.
