If you have wondered about home security systems, this article has the information you need. You should never settle in regards to the safety of your home. You need to be in control of this decision, and you need the right information. Keep reading if you want to explore your options.

Make your house look like it’s always occupied. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. It’ll make it seem like someone is home. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. This is a great idea if your dog is outside all the time, or they can get out through a doggy door. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. If you lose keys, make sure to do this, too.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. Instead, try hiding a key on the collar of an outside dog.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. This ensures your home won’t be a tinderbox. Fire prevention is always a good idea, and sometimes it can be a lifesaving idea!

Remove old plants and debris from your yard. They are a potential fire hazard during warmer months. Regularly clear away your yard to keep your home in good standing and safe for your family.

If you have a lot of unfamiliar people on you social networking accounts, avoid letting everyone know you will be going on vacation. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.

When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. This goes for the installer, too. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.

Never let a stranger inside. Remember that intruders have a lot of experience with tricking people. Some criminals will use any reason to gain access to look for security systems and easy entryways into your house.

Hide your valuables in the walls. If you own smaller things that need protection, think about keeping them hidden in the walls. Simply take advantage of an unused switch plate, electrical outlet, or phone jack. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. It may shock you to know this, but a lot of intruders get inside homes through open doors. It does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.

A secure hiding place can be created in a wall. Keep small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. You can also install a fake one.

When deciding on an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Therefore, ensure the windows have an attached alarm. All potential entry points should have an alarm. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.

Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Do not make entry into your home easy. Make sure the wires are not exposed either inside or outside your home. Keep yourself safe.

Be on the lookout for rotten wood anywhere near your doors or windows. A burglar can easily strip away wood that has rotted. As a result, this will assist them in breaking into your home. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

If you are moving in your new home, ensure all the old locks are replaced. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. People may have lived in the home before those owners, too.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

Believe it or not, the wires on your house are worth stealing. Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. Copper wiring is very valuable and susceptible to being stripped from the outside of your home. In order to protect yourself from this risk, make sure wires on your house are difficult to find and hard to access.

Don’t let any service people into your home without checking their references completely. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. You can’t always be sure that maids, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.

Replace any wood surrounding your door frame that is rotting. The rotten wood will be simple to remove, allowing a thief access to your home. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. While these systems are great and can help protect your family, they are not necessary for everyone. In some neighborhoods, it may be better for you to have a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself. Ensure that you have considered all your options before making a final decision.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Invest in a good paper shredder. Thieves often look through garbage, trying to find credit card information or other important documents. If a shredder is too expensive, at least tear relevant paperwork into small bits.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. Windows should be free from obstructions like trees, shrubs and fencing. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. Plan your home with safety in mind.

A great protection against burglars is owning a dog. They are protective about their territory, plus they make noises that keep burglars at bay. Your dog doesn’t have to be a big, burly attack dog. Any dog who barks, small or large, can scare off a burglar.

The outside of your house should be well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Put a light anywhere where an intruder can enter your home. This means by the garage, in the doorways, around windows and much more.

Spring Latch Locks

Dogs are an excellent way to protect your home. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. There is no need for a mean, big dog either. Small dogs even scare off intruders as they don’t like anything to make noise when breaking into a home.

Don’t utilize spring latch locks. These type of lock is the easiest lock to pick, it could even be opened by a credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. If you have already installed spring latch locks, consider adding a deadbolt for even more security.

If you’ve got guests that you don’t want in particular areas of the home, close the area off so it is not accessible. If you do have areas to lock, consider getting keyless locks that you can open using a code, rather than carrying a huge ring of keys around with you. Many home security companies will install these, and there are also do it yourself kits available.

Put the shades down on your windows when you are out. Keeping them up can let intruders see directly inside your home. If they notice something valuable, they’re more likely to invade your home. It’s good to have them down at night, too.

Discuss various contracts offered by any home security provider you are exploring. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. While your monthly rates may be lower with a lengthy contract, you have no recourse should you list your home for sale or terminate your contract. A shorter term allows for flexibility, but it might be expensive.

Armed with this information, it should be easier for you to secure your home with the best possible outcome. It is important that you possess the proper knowledge when it comes to a home security system. Make use of the excellent ideas provided here to ensure your home and family’s safety.

Second floor windows have to be locked tight, too. People think no burglar will get up to that floor. This is not always the case. A burglar will attempt to get in any way they can.