Signs Burglars Are Looking For

The FBI reports that a home in the U.S. is burglarized every 15 seconds. And it's the little things that might be tipping them off. "The majority of thieves are impulsive and don't look much beyond the opportunities that they see," says Joseph B. Kuhns, Ph.D., professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and author of the 2013 study, Understanding Decisions to Burglarize, from the Offender's Perspective.

Sure, you may have a neighbor pick up your mail or set your lights on a timer — but there are other indicators that give away that your home is vacant or that you've got vulnerable spots.

1. TRASH BARRELS ARE OUT — DAYS BEFORE PICKUP.

If your cans are out on Thursday and trash day is Monday, that tells burglars that you're gone for the weekend, according to home security and loss prevention consultant Chris E. McGoey. Also be wary of leaving boxes from that new flat-screen TV or gaming system at the curb — they make the home seem like a more enticing prospect. Plus, they reveal that you have money to spend and perhaps other expensive items in the home.

2. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF BIG BUSHES.

Entrances shielded by trees and shrubs or that tall privacy fence could provide burglars with the cover they need to fiddle with a lock or force open a door. And according to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), thieves don't shy away from the main approach: 81% enter through the first floor — 34% right through the front door. Burglars can also hide in tall bushes. "If you have to have them," says Kuhns, "pick a thorny version."

Overgrown grass also suggests that you might be away, or that you're a negligent homeowner more likely to to have faulty windows or doors.

3. THERE ARE WINDOWS ON YOUR GARAGE DOORS.

Obviously, if you leave your garage door open, it offers burglar easy access to your home, but garage windows might also lead to trouble. According to an NACHI survey, 80% of home invaders peeked in garage windows to determine if a homeowner's car was inside (thus revealing if the owner is home or not) — and 9% got in the green light and entered homes through the garage.

4. IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE A CAT.

Got a car or window decal that signifies your family has a pet? Thieves may assume that if you have a cat, you'll leave windows open so he can come and go during the day. And on the flip side, don't assume that a big dog will keep you safe: Experts say that little "yappy" dogs are actually best at preventing theft because they bark and make the most noise.

5. YOUR NAME IS ON THE MAILBOX.

Sometimes burglars will simply call your home phone to see if anyone answers, putting your name on the mailbox makes it very easy to find your listed number quickly. You should also avoid telling strangers who call you (like telemarketers — or burglars posing as them) a "more convenient time to speak with you." It may sound completely innocent, but your response reveals your schedule, including when you won't be around.

6. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF RENTAL PROPERTIES.

These areas are more vulnerable to burglars than those with many homeowners, says Kuhns. "The renters are typically concerned only with themselves, whereas in homeowner neighborhoods people have a stake in everybody's safety and they're more likely to pay attention to who's coming and going, and are often more proactive about calling the cops if they see something."

7. YOUR CLEANING SERVICE HAS A KEY.

Service workers who come and go in your home — maids, TV repair people, the pool cleaner, landscapers — can hurt, even if they don't actually steal anything. They may leave a door open for someone else or make a personal copy of your key for them to use later, says McGoey. So instead of giving service workers a key, "require a vendor to see your neighbor to retrieve and return your house key," he advises. "That will send the message that someone is watching."

8. YOU TURN OUT EVERY LIGHT AT NIGHT.

Even when you're home, keep a light on. When everything is dark, McGoey says burglars can more easily prowl around and peek in the windows without being detected. And though the NACHI survey says that most burglaries actually occur in the daytime when many homeowners are typically out, it pays to prevent moonlight recognizance. "Install exterior lights that are activated by motion sensors," advises McGoey. "Burglars suddenly illuminated may flee."

Smart Steps Every New Homeowner Should Take

1. Don't Overspend on Furniture and Remodeling 

You've just handed over a large portion of your life savings for a down payment, closing costs and moving expenses. Money is tight for most first-time homeowners - not only are their savings depleted, their monthly expenses are often higher as well, thanks to the new expenses that come with home ownership, such as water and trash bills, and extra insurance.

Everyone wants to personalize a new home and upgrade what may have been temporary apartment furniture for something nicer, but don't go on a massive spending spree to improve everything all at once. Just as important as getting your first home is staying in it, and as nice as solid maple kitchen cabinets might be, they aren't worth jeopardizing your new status as a homeowner. Give yourself time to adjust to the expenses of home ownership and rebuild your savings - the cabinets will still be waiting for you when you can more comfortably afford them.

2. Don't Ignore Important Maintenance Items

One of the new expenses that accompanies home ownership is making repairs. There is no landlord to call if your roof is leaking or your toilet is clogged (on the plus side, there is also no rent increase notice taped to your door on a random Friday afternoon when you were looking forward to a nice weekend). While you should exercise restraint in purchasing the nonessentials, you shouldn't neglect any problem that puts you in danger or could get worse over time, turning a relatively small problem into a much larger and costlier one.

3. Hire Qualified Contractors

Don't try to save money by making improvements and repairs yourself that you aren't qualified to make. This may seem to contradict the first point slightly, but it really doesn't. Your home is both the place where you live and an investment, and it deserves the same level of care and attention you would give to anything else you value highly. There's nothing wrong with painting the walls yourself, but if there's no wiring for an electric opener in your garage, don't cut a hole in the wall and start playing with copper. Hiring professionals to do work you don't know how to do is the best way to keep your home in top condition and avoid injuring - or even killing - yourself. 

4. Keep Receipts for Home Improvements

When you sell your home, you can use these costs to increase your home's basis, which can help you to maximize your tax-free earnings on the sale of your home. In 2008, you could have earned up to $250,000 tax free from the sale of your home if it was your primary residence and you had lived there for at least two of five years before you sold it. This assumes that you owned the home alone - if you owned it jointly with a spouse, you could each have gotten the $250,000 exemption. (To learn more about how having a spouse can affect your tax return, read The Tax Benefits Of Having A Spouse and Happily Married? File Separately!)

Let's say you purchased your home for $150,000 and were able to sell it for $450,000. You've also made $20,000 in home improvements over the years you've lived in the home. If you haven't saved your receipts, your basis in the home, or the amount you originally paid for your investment, is $150,000. You take your $250,000 exemption on the proceeds and are left with $50,000 of taxable income on the sale of your home. However, if you saved all $20,000 of your receipts, your basis would be $170,000 and you would only pay taxes on $30,000. That's a huge savings: in this case, it would be $5,000 if your marginal tax rate is 25%.

5. Don't Confuse a Repair with an Improvement

Unfortunately, not all home expenses are treated equally for the purpose of determining your home's basis. The IRS considers repairs to be part and parcel of home ownership -something that preserves the home's original value, but does not enhance its value. This may not always seem true. For example, if you bought a foreclosure and had to fix a lot of broken stuff, the home is obviously worth more after you fix those items, but the IRS doesn't care - you did get a discount on the purchase price because of those unmade repairs, after all. It's only improvements, like replacing the roof or adding central air conditioning, which will help decrease your future tax bill when you sell your home.

For gray areas (like remodeling your bathroom because you had to bust open the wall to repair some old, failed plumbing), consult IRS Publication 530 and/or your accountant. And on a non-tax-related note, don't trick yourself into thinking it's OK to spend money on something because it's a necessary "repair" when in truth it's really a fun improvement. That isn't good for your finances.

Bottom Line

With the great freedom of owning your own home comes great responsibilities. You must manage your finances well enough to keep the home and maintain the home's condition well enough to protect your investment and keep your family safe. Don't let the excitement of being a new homeowner lead you to bad decisions or oversights that jeopardize your financial or physical security.