Safe as Houses: 4 Tips for Deterring Burglars from Your Home

Deterring Burglars with handgunsYou won’t ever be able to make your home completely crime proof, but you can do quite a bit to start deterring burglars. Most burglars go for easy targets, and a few simple upgrades will greatly reduce your risk of becoming a victim.

Switch to Safety Windows

If your windows are more than a few decades old, then you might want to install safety glass. That type of glass is strengthened by bringing it up to a very high temperature for a short period of time, and it is specifically designed to withstand multiple impacts. As an added bonus, safety glass could also improve your home’s insulation, and that will reduce your energy bills in the coming years.

Reinforce Your Doors

Many homeowners are surprised to hear that reinforcing a door is a simple project that usually only takes a few minutes to complete. The easiest way to reinforce your doors is to add heavy-duty deadbolts, but you might also want to install strike plates. A strike plate is nothing more than a metal receiver that is embedded in a doorway, and it will make a door very difficult to kick down. You should also re-key all of the locks if you have recently purchased your home.

Adopt a Dog

Most criminals won’t even think about breaking into a home if there is a dog inside. Even if your dog is relatively friendly, burglars don’t want to deal with barking or other loud noises. After you have adopted your dog, you should spend some time training it so that it knows exactly what to do if a stranger is inside the home. At the very least, your dog needs to be able to respond to all verbal commands in dangerous situations.

Install an Alarm System

When it comes to home security, very few upgrades are as effective as an alarm system. Modern alarm systems are incredibly easy to install, and you could have your sensors and cameras up and running in a matter of hours. Once your alarm system is installed, you should consider updating your homeowner’s insurance policy. Your provider might lower your monthly premiums if you have a high-quality alarm system.

Along with these few tips for deterring burglars, you should also be friendly with your neighbors if you want your home to be as secure as possible. Your neighbors will be able to look after your home whenever you aren’t there, and they can give you a call or contact the police whenever they notice any suspicious individuals.

How to make your home bug free – Some home care tips

bug free home ideasNow that the warm weather is in, the bugs in your area will be coming out of their winter hiding. It is a time of the year for them to look for sustenance. To them, your home looks like a cornucopia filled with delectable delights. It is no wonder that many of them will be headed your way.

So, you’ll need some effective tips if you want to make your home a bug free zone. We have gathered some for you:

Keeping your eyes open

Sure, if we ever face the apocalypse, cockroaches are the living creatures most likely to survive it. But the supposed otherworldly abilities of the creepy crawlies aside, they don’t just materialize into your home out of the ether.

Thus, staying sharp can clue you into the indications that they are about to set foot inside. For instance, ants will send out scouting members to scope your home. They are there to test how ant-friendly your house is. Therefore, as soon as you spot even a few ants, get to insect-proofing.

Moreover, you can also step outside and go right to the source. If there is firewood stacked next to your house, it could be where the ants and termites are staying temporarily. Keep the stack at least 20 feet from your house. Similarly, drain any catch basins or keep the water in them fresh if there are any in your yard. They are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Moreover, chop them off! Not that we want to scare you, however, you’ll want to know what the Entomological Society of America says about bugs. The ratio stands at a billion bugs to every human on the planet! A veritable insect army is waiting to declare war on your home! Overhanging branches close to your windows or overgrown shrubs can be the access points bugs will use to get into your home.

Repel houseflies and mosquitoes with Basil

Basil makes pasta sauces shine, but it is also a great natural remedy for insects like houseflies and mosquitoes. Since the plant is easy to grow and container-friendly, place a few of them in your kitchen. For families who don’t eat in the kitchen, you’ll want to get those containers into your entertaining spaces too.

You’ll also benefit from a basil-based insect repellent spray. Boil water (4 ounces) and throw in the same amount of fresh basil leaves. Let the basil leaves steep in the water for a few hours before straining them. Splash in as much of supercheap vodka, and you’ll have your spray. You can even store the spray in the fridge.

Essential oils may do the trick

Essential oils aren’t just great for helping you relax. They can also be used to make a bug free home.

You’ll find the following essential oils useful for this purpose:

  1. Neem oil has natural pesticide properties. That’s why it makes a useful non-toxic bug repellent. Mix it with coconut oil (carrier oil) and apply it on your skin. It will keep biting insects like mosquitoes away!
  2. The strong scent of peppermint oil is effective against many different types of bugs. Moreover, it is excellent for both the creepy crawly and flying varieties. For the former, adding a few drops on a cotton ball will be good enough. Place peppermint-scented balls wherever you will find spiders, ticks, and ants congregating. For the latter, you will need a spray. Just 4-5 drops of peppermint oil added to a quarter cup of water, and you have your mixture. Spritz it near entry points.

Seal the entry points into your home

Do you realize that the common cockroach increases the chances of asthma attacks and allergies in children? Leaving gaps in your entrance ways can give the pesky bugs a chance to get in. Don’t think there are many such spaces around your home? Look closely, and you’ll be unpleasantly surprised!

Start by sealing the space under all the doors leading to the outside. An aluminum or steel threshold can keep the insects from crawling under your door. To fortify, you can also purchase a cheap door sweep. Most hardware stores have door sweeps. But be sure to get nylon ones instead of vinyl or neoprene for maximum bug protection.

After the base is taken care of, you can shift to sealing the door frame’s perimeter. Insects can crawl in along the sides or the top without this protection. Do it with clear caulk. Follow the frame in the direction that the door meets the wall.

Finally, get the most use of your door sealing techniques by remembering to keep the door closed! Kids can be forgetful, and the door sweep won’t be effective if the door stays open all the time.

A hydraulic device known as the door closer can be really handy. Adjust the power and the closing speed on it when you install it. If someone leaves it ajar, the door will automatically close and latch because of the door closer. You can get a door closer at your local home improvement store. It is also easy to install, so you can do it yourself too.

Monthly deep cleaning is a must

Places like the kitchen see a lot of use and traffic. We cook there and often consume food in the kitchen too. Therefore, keeping it clean can be hard.

Moreover, if you work most days, you may not be able to do deep cleaning often. But you should have one done every month to clear away any accumulating food particles, etc. That is also true for other parts of the house. Any room where food makes a regular appearance needs regular deep cleaning. Also, grab a Bug Killer or any insect repellent spray for a cleaner, bug-free home!

Remove overripe fruits and veggies from the counter

Fruit flies, ants, and other bugs are attracted to overripe fruits and vegetables, especially if the organic treats are left sliced open or cut up. Keep them off the counter and move them to the fridge. Sure, fruit flies may not be as harmful, but pests like cockroaches may find their way to ripe fruits too. Once they get in, you’ll find it difficult to get them out of your home!

Parting thoughts

Bugs are creatures who cannot be allowed in your personal space for any reason. Want to make your home bug free? Our suggestions will help you do just that. Do you have other effective remedies? Share them with us!

4 Expenses to Remember When Building a Cabin

If you love the great outdoors, there is a little better way to enjoy it than building your very own cabin. You will find that such a place can become a holiday destination or possibly even a seasonal home if you want it to be. However, building a cabin is unlike a traditional home. There are several nuances that you must take into consideration.  Especially if you want at a finished cabin that will last for generations. Here are four expenses that you will want to keep in mind as you begin to build the cabin of your dreams.

Wood Treatment and Protection

If your cabin is going to be like most, it will be largely constructed out of wood. This gives it a beautiful exterior and adds to that outdoor ambiance that you have grown to love. At the same time, you will need to ensure that the wood is properly treated to last for decades. You must also keep the termites at bay, so remember to plan on annual expenses to get a professional pest control company out to keep your cabin safe at all times.

Sewage Disposal

When are out in the middle of nowhere, you have to account for sewage in one way or another. In the city, this is often taken care of for you. However, building your cabin will necessitate that you take matters into your own hands so to speak. Remember to plan on incorporating a septic tank system into the design of your cabin.

Energy Source

One of the great parts about building a cabin is that you are largely in control of how energy is provided to the residence. Depending on where you build, you will probably have many different options available to you. This might be the time to consider incorporating alternative energy sources, such as solar, into the design of the home.

Driveway Maintenance

You will also need to plan on how to get your vehicles up to your cabin. This will also mean incorporating driveway maintenance into your budget, particularly during the winter months. This will help make your experience much more desirable in the end.

These are just four of the many expenses you will want to keep in mind as you begin to build your cabin. These are all manageable if you will take the time to find the right professionals to take care of them for you. Remember to get the job done right the first time so that you can enjoy years of comfortable living in your new home.

5 Shooting Tips for Beginners

Just bought a firearm and ready to shoot?

Awesome!

But before you do anything with that firearm, read these shooting tips for beginners first. It’ll help you avoid common beginners mistakes (and a black eye). 

Let’s get started!

A Hunter’s Mind (Growth Mindset)

Everything starts in the mind. 

If you show up to the range for the first time expecting to stack perfect holes at 50 yards, then don’t go. Seriously. 

You’re going to fail. When you shoot, your shots will be off. No doubt about that. But you will become better through practice.

So, the first thing you need to do is adopt a growth mindset. Accept that you might not be good in the beginning, but through practice and dedication, you’ll become an aspiring shooter. 

Now that your mind is primed, it’s time move on to the other essential shooting tips for beginners…

Start Small (and breathe)

Like everything else in life, always start small.

Don’t be ambitious and start shooting at the 100-yard line. You won’t perform as good as you think.

It’s exactly like lifting weights for the first time. If you storm into the gym and try lifting a 100-pound dumbbell, what’s going to happen? I’ll let you answer that.

Instead, you want to start small and work your way up (25 yards is a good starting point). 

But before you start shooting, you need to understand shooting position (which I’ll cover down below) and your weapon. 

Know your firearm. The weight, feel, balance, mechanics (reloading, activating safety, trigger, etc.), recoil and cheek weld. Master your weapon. In fact, I recommend watching a beginners video for your firearm.

For example, if I’m using the AR-15 for the first time, I’d watch a video like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL-ZzgwkuzE

Once you primed your mind and internalized your firearm from top to bottom, it’s time to get in position…   

Beginner’s Shooting Position

There are multiple shooting positions: standing, sitting, prone and bench.

I definitely recommend starting off with the prone shooting position since it’s the easiest and most comfortable (for beginners). Another position I see a lot is bench shooting.

The most important thing you need to know here is when you place your firearm on the table, it’s crucial to have a rest for stability. You can use sandbags, rifle rest, elongated bag, bipod or something alike. 

Whatever you use, the point is to get the rifle as steady as possible. You don’t want the weapon to wobble around when you fire. 

After placing a steady rest, the sight should be eye level, allowing you to maintain a relaxed, erect head position without straining. 

Also, don’t lean heavily into the rifle to avoid forend pressure. Just make sure the butt of the firearm is nicely snugged into your shoulder. Lastly, have a firm grip so that the weapon doesn’t move around. 

Here’s a great video to watch to help understand proper shooting position:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AUldPdj9E4

(And if you’re using a handgun, read this article about proper handgun grip)

Now that you are in the proper position, let’s touch on something that most people don’t understand…

Cheek Weld 

Do you know how you lay your cheek on top of the weapon’s stock? That’s cheek weld.

Good cheek weld should allow your dominant eye to comfortably look straight into your sight without straining your neck. To achieve good cheek weld, firmly engage your cheek onto the stock. 

A common issue, however, is that people use scopes for their weapon and depending on the scope, the eye alignment can be thrown off. If your scope is higher than your eye level, then place your supporting hand on top of the stock to raise cheek weld.

Talking about scopes, I highly recommend a rifle scope if you want to increase your accuracy. Don’t know where to start? Read this guide: how to choose a great scope.  

By now, you’re fully aware of adopting a hunter’s mindset, starting small, shooting position and cheek weld. What about actually firing the gun?

Pulling the Trigger 

It’s not as easy as clicking a button.

Matter of fact, before pulling the trigger, you need to be in a state of calmness. Jerking the trigger can shift the gun, causing you to miss.

To avoid any possibilities of jerking the trigger, it’s important to get comfortable with the gun mechanics, especially the trigger. 

You want to know exactly where the trigger is without moving your eyes away from the sight. It should become second nature (and it will be through repetition).

Before firing, make sure to focus on each and every single shot. Take your time, breathe and focus on the target. Don’t try pumping out bullets like fireworks. Instead, make each shot count.

Take one last breathe, slowly exhale and then apply steady pressure to the trigger until the gun fires. Continue squeezing to avoid jerking the gun before the bullet leaves the barrel.

You’re Ready! 

You’re finally ready to go to the range and start practicing.

Don’t forget that you’ll miss the first couple of shots you take. But as you keep practicing, adjusting and testing, you’ll become a pro in no time! 

If you follow these 5 simple shooting tips for beginners, you’ll be off to a much better and successful start — I guarantee it!