Have you ever considered buying a home alarm system? Make sure you have thought this decision through before making a potentially expensive purchase! Simple things, like keeping your doors and windows locked, can make a bigger difference than the system.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. The key can be attached to the collar of your dog. This will ensure that burglars cannot see it. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Be brave! Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Listen to gossip also. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.

Shop around when looking for a good home security system. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Be certain to obtain multiple quotes prior to making your choice.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. You can find areas in your walls that are pre-cut and use those. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Instead, try hiding a key on the collar of an outside dog.

Lock up your house every time you leave. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Proceed with caution.

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. However, you can use a C-clamp to help keep the door secure.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. You may find fees appear unexpectedly, including excessive costs for ending your contract early. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. While they are nice and help with lighting, they also provide the burglars help with access to your home. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. Thieves don’t want to be visible. With a well lit home there is no place for burglars to conceal themselves. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. You should cover any windows that are facing the street so your valuables will be safe.

Think about safety when designing your home. Don’t obstruct windows or doors with shrubs, plants, fences or trees. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Keeping the areas around your windows free of plants can help to deter criminals from lurking too close to your home, without you noticing.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. Realizing you at involved with a stable firm will give you a sense of calm that is important.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief. Be certain they are also alarmed and monitored. They are the most effective.

Be sure to get a home security service that will inspect your home and tailor a home security system just for you. Each customer wants certain things as far as home security goes. Working with a business that will look out for your specific interests will help you be much safer at home.

If the home you are moving into is not brand new, you should change the locks on all the doors. Although it’s normal for owners / tenants to surrender their keys when they leave, there’s no way of knowing who else might have copies. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.

Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. A wired system should be less expensive but you might have to spend your money on getting your home rewired. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. Thieves can pass themselves as workers, which can end up in a robbery of your home. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

If you will be going out of time, have someone you trust get your mail. Also, have them look for fliers stuck in your door. Burglars have been known to put these up, waiting to see if they are removed or not. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.

You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. Check out reviews you find on the web. Then, you can choose a top three to contact and compare details and pricing.

If you want to keep certain rooms in your home private, you don’t need to lock every door with a key. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. They are fairly simple to install, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing so yourself, you can ask your home security company about it.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Nothing is as attractive to a burglar as a dark, deeply-shadowed house. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. These locks can be opened easily with a credit card. The lock can be triggered to open by simply wedging the card in the lock. Add a deadbolt to doors with spring-latch locks.

What do you need to personally feel safe? Although they can be very helpful, security systems aren’t always necessary. In some areas, a class on self defense or a guard dog might be more suitable, yet in others, an advanced home security system will fit the bill. Be sure to assess the risk level you face before making big decisions.

A security system for the home might be necessary for you. However, you may discover that simply changing some things around your home may be your solution. Research all of your options to choose the best one.

Put up video surveillance. A wonderful way to make your home safer is by putting in hidden or visible cameras. Visible cameras are a deterrent to most intruders, and should they decide to disable them, a hidden camera will continue to capture footage. You can sometimes access security systems using your cell phone, keeping you informed on the go.