Disclosures

Who runs this site

MakeMyHomeMyFortress.com is owned and operated by Randy Plaice as a sole proprietorship based in the United States. It is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon.com, The Home Depot, Lowe's, Wyze, Eufy, or any other retailer or manufacturer mentioned on the site, except as a participant in the public affiliate programs listed below.

Affiliate disclosure (FTC)

This site contains affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and complete a qualifying purchase, MakeMyHomeMyFortress.com may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions help fund the time and equipment that go into testing products and producing the articles you read here.

We make this disclosure to comply with the Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides, 16 CFR Part 255, and the FTC staff guidance "Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers." Every article that contains affiliate links carries a clearly labeled disclosure at the top of the article body, in addition to this site-wide page.

Amazon Associates

MakeMyHomeMyFortress.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Other affiliate programs

We also participate in affiliate programs operated by other retailers and affiliate networks. These currently include or are expected to include:

• The Home Depot affiliate program (via Impact)
• Lowe's affiliate program (via CJ Affiliate / Commission Junction)
• Wyze affiliate program
• Eufy / Anker affiliate program
• SimpliSafe, Frontpoint, and ADT affiliate programs (via Impact and CJ)
• Nature Hills Nursery and Fast Growing Trees affiliate programs
• Other retailers via Impact, ShareASale, Awin, and FlexOffers

When we link to a retailer through one of these programs, the link is an affiliate link and a qualifying purchase may earn us a commission. The price you pay is the same whether you click an affiliate link or go to the retailer directly.

Editorial independence

All editorial decisions on this site — what to cover, which products to recommend, which products to warn against, and how to rank them — are made solely by Randy Plaice. Affiliate compensation does not influence which products are recommended.

• Products we have personally bought, tested, or use ourselves get the strongest endorsements.
• Products we have researched but not personally tested are framed as "generally regarded as effective" rather than "we recommend."
• If a product in a category is not worth the money, we say so, even if it pays a higher commission.
• Commission rates do not influence editorial placement. Higher-paying programs do not get preferential treatment.
• No retailer, brand, or affiliate network has the right to review, edit, or veto an article before publication.

Sponsored content and gifted products

We do not currently accept sponsored articles, paid placements, or guest posts written for backlinks. If that ever changes:

• Any sponsored content will be clearly labeled "Sponsored" at the top of the article and in the page title, in keeping with FTC guidance on conspicuous disclosure.
• If we accept a free product for review, that fact will be disclosed at the top of the review. Receiving a product for free does not guarantee a positive review, and we will not agree to copy approval or pre-publication review as a condition of accepting a sample.
• Any other material connection between MakeMyHomeMyFortress.com and a brand we discuss will be disclosed in the article in which the brand appears.

Not professional security advice

The content on this site is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not professional security, legal, engineering, or law-enforcement advice, and should not be treated as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional.

Home security is highly situational. Building codes, locking hardware, fire-egress requirements, landlord rules, and local ordinances vary by jurisdiction. Before making structural changes, drilling into doors and frames, modifying electrical or networking wiring, or installing surveillance equipment, you should confirm that your plans comply with applicable laws and any agreements (lease, HOA, insurance) that govern your property. If you are renting, get written permission from your landlord before making modifications.

We do not guarantee that following any recommendation on this site will prevent a burglary, home invasion, package theft, or any other crime or property loss. Use of any information on this site is at your own risk. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Randy Plaice and MakeMyHomeMyFortress.com disclaim all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or other damages arising out of or related to your use of the site or reliance on its content.

If you are dealing with an active threat — stalking, harassment, an attempted break-in — please contact local law enforcement and, if appropriate, a licensed security consultant. We are not equipped to help with active threats.

Accuracy and corrections

We try to get the facts right, and we update articles when we find we got something wrong. Corrections are made in place with a visible "Updated" date. If you spot a factual error, please let us know — see the contact details below.

Trademarks

Product names, brand names, and trademarks referenced on this site are the property of their respective owners. References to third-party brands are for descriptive, comparative, and editorial purposes only and do not imply endorsement of this site by those brands.

Contact for editorial issues

For corrections, complaints about a recommendation, questions about our relationship with a particular retailer, or sponsorship and partnership inquiries, see the contact page.

For privacy-specific questions (data access, deletion, opt-out), see the privacy policy.