Do security systems scare you? Do you feel that there are too many options? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you need to educate yourself about all the options you can utilize for protecting your home. Read on to learn everything you need to know about home security.

Your home should looked occupied all the time. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This will give the appearance that someone is at your house at all times. This will keep people from breaking in.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. The person who previously owned the home may have made copies of keys. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

Be sure your roof, floors, and ceiling are fire resistant. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Check references thoroughly. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if their firm is well-reviewed.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. As things heat up in the summer, items may catch on fire and threaten your home. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. Keep a hard, fast rule that says you only open the door for invited guests in order to keep your family safe.

The police department in your area may offer a home protection program. There are plenty of things that can be done, from a safety walk to cataloging expensive items to help protect your investment and your family. Call them up to find out more.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Speak with your neighbors. Ask them to look after your home, and in return, look out for theirs. Don’t ignore the gossip. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Be sure to keep your car in your garage rather than filling your garage with stored belongings. In this way, your car will be safer. You will not have to worry about thieves taking your car if it is inside your garage. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. Most locksmiths can accomplish the job within 24 hours.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. Skylights are commonly used by thieves to enter a home. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. Your home should have a few pre-cut areas that can be used. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Make it hard for intruders and bury the wires or hide them inside your walls, if possible. This can make you safer.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. Many people never realize this value until wires are stolen right out of their home. The reason they are valuable is because of their copper. A burglar can easily strip off your wires from the outside of your home very quickly. Be sure to hide your wires or make sure they are hard to get to.

Be on the lookout for rotten wood anywhere near your doors or windows. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.

Door Frame

Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. It is simple for a thief to pose as a representative of your home security company as a means of gaining access to your house. This proves rather dangerous for both your family and also your valuables. Take care to steer clear of danger.

Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. Rotten wood is easily removed and can give an intruder a way into your home. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

To increase your home’s security, buy some outdoor lights that are motion activated. These lights not only give off light at night, but can also offer security around your home. If they are positioned correctly outside of your home, your motion detectors can make it impossible for strangers to sneak around.

Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. It is not a good idea to give anyone a key to your home, even contractors or repairmen.

A bright home is a safe home. They do not want to be seen. A well-lit home will make it hard for intruders to hide and take your valuables without being detected. At night, keep your lights turned on to boost security.

Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.

Don’t limit security to the inside of your home; the outside needs attention too. Windows should be free from obstructions like trees, shrubs and fencing. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

Get a custom-designed plan that fits your needs by having the security company do a site visit in your home. They should take your concerns seriously and address any issues you have. A good company will tailor your security plan to the needs of you and your family.

Before signing up for a particular home-security company, find out how long they’ve been around. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.

A dog is a great home security alarm. Dogs protect their territory diligently, and tend to make noise if something goes awry. It doesn’t need to be a huge dog either. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.

If there are parts of your home you want no one else to enter, there is no need to lock doors or have a set of keys on you at all times. You can have key-less locks which require a code. Either you or a security company can install them.

See if your security firm offers a variety of contract lengths. Each will have its own pros and some cons, too. A longer contract might give you a lower monthly bill, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. A shorter contract gives you more freedom, but it may cost you more per month.

Your security company might give you the option to lease and eventually buy your security equipment. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. The initial cost of leasing may seem low, but you may be required to sign a long term contract and it may carry a higher monthly fee. Explore both options to see which works best for you.

Spring Latch

Store those items you can’t bear to lose in a very secure area. Passports, jewelry and expensive electronics must be secured at all times. You may want to invest in a floor safe for these. Or, a better idea, is to place them in a deposit box outside of your home.

Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. These locks are the simplest ones to breach, since they are able to be opened by using just a credit card. The card is slid into the crevice between the latch and the door, pushing the latch back and springing the lock open. If your doors have locks that are spring latch, add a deadbolt for extra security.

The windows on your second floor always need to be locked. This is often overlooked by many people because they do not think that a criminal will check them. They do use this method of entry though. Never underestimate the ability of an intruder to get into your home if they are really determined.

Do you have a more realistic concept of home security systems? Use what you have learned in this article and apply it to your situation. You’ll be glad you did as you embark on this important matter.

Deadbolts are the best locks for your doors because they contain captive keylocks. These devices include a thumb latch so that no one can reach around and open the lock through a broken window nearby. When at home, leave your key in this kind of lock for easy egress in the event of fire.