Do you know anything at all about security systems? When you don’t know much, it is time to learn. A security system for your home is a big investment, but one that will pay off in keeping your family safe. Read the tips here for guidance.
Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. This will make your home look like someone is in it. That means burglars will pass right by.
TIP! Make your home look occupied at all times. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times.
When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.
Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.
TIP! Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest.
Spare Key
Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.
TIP! Keep your jewelry, vital documents and other expensive items in a safe. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents.
If you like to have a key hidden in case you lose yours, place it in a safe place. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.
When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Make broad inquiries so that you are able to make a well-informed decision.
TIP! Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies.
Talk to people you know about their security systems. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Make broad inquiries so that you are able to make a well-informed decision.
Turn the ringer off on your telephone if you are going to be away. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.
TIP! If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.
If you own a garage, be sure to use it to place your car, as opposed to using it as a storage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.
No matter how good your security system is, it should be checked annually. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.
TIP! Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check.
Security System
If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Not everyone believes this, though.
TIP! If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital.
You should regularly check your home security system, regardless of how reliable you believe it is. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. A number of factors can cause problems with your security system, including wild animals and mother nature. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.
If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.
TIP! Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. As nice as they look, they’re a prime target for thieves.
An extremely important tactic for keeping your home safe is changing out the locks. Whether an old roommate left or a relationship ended, changing your locks is a good idea. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.
Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves know about all these hiding spots. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.
TIP! It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home.
When choosing a home security firm, trust your instincts. If the men who come to your home to do the installation seem untrustworthy, you can change your mind. Never hesitate to has for a new technician or even go with a different company altogether. Your security system is supposed to help you, not cause you more stress.
Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Be sure and replace rotted wood with fresh wood in order to ensure home safety.
TIP! Replace any wood surrounding your door frame that is rotting. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door.
Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.
Alter the locks and the keys when you change homes. While you may trust those who lived there before you, you have no idea who lived there before them. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.
TIP! Change the locks on any new place you move into. 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 have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.
Consider your security risk and safety needs before purchasing home security systems. Security systems are a proven method of reducing your chance of break-ins, but it is not always the right choice. Some neighborhoods feel more safe than others, but a good security system definitely makes you feel more safe. Understanding your needs will help you make a good purchase decision.
TIP! Consider your security risk and safety needs before purchasing home security systems. Although these systems can protect you and your family, not everybody needs them.
Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. You should cover any windows that are facing the street so your valuables will be safe.
Look into wireless security systems. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. A wireless security system is easy to install and take care of. Additionally, this type of system is not dependent upon the electrical system of the home.
TIP! Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. It may cost less to get a wired system; however, rewiring to accommodate the system may be difficult.
Do you know how valuable the wires within your home are? The majority of people aren’t aware of this fact until a burglar steals these wires. Copper is expensive and most wiring is composed of it, so stripping it is a great way for crooks to make a quick buck. Hide the wiring and make it harder to access to prevent this from happening.
Is your street number on your house visible from the street? If an emergency occurs, the police will not be able to find your home as quickly if these numbers are too small or are obscured in some way. This is a very easy issue to have rectified.
TIP! Are the numbers of your home visible from the street? Small or obscured numbers can make it difficult for emergency personnel to locate your home. If you notice a problem, you should be able to fix it fairly cheaply, though.
Door Frame
Dogs make a great security system. Dogs are very protective of their turf and usually make noises when something is amiss. Keeping a huge and ferocious canine is not necessary. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.
TIP! A great protection against burglars is owning a dog. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders.
Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace the rotting door frame with a new one and keep your home much safer.
Don’t hide keys in obvious areas. Everybody knows about fake rocks. Many people will look under your doormat. A better plan is to ask someone you trust to keep your extra key in case you need it. When this isn’t an option, you should at least use your imagination when choosing a hiding place.
TIP! If you want to hide your house key, find a spot that is not obvious. The classic fake rock is too common and too easy to detect.
If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, make sure you get the locks changed. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.
Think about getting a hard-wired system if you have concerns about maintenance issues. While wireless systems are great, they do require batteries on a consistent basis. Your home security system will not function properly if you do not change the batteries. It’s also very costly to replace a lot of batteries at once.
TIP! Think about hard-wired security systems if you’re worried about long term maintenance costs. As nice as wireless systems can be, the constant charging and battery changes can become tedious and expensive.
Keep lights on at all times if you want to prevent break-ins from happening. This will deter crooks from trying your home. Ample lighting makes it difficult for would-be burglars to approach undetected, and this turns your home into a less attractive target. At night, keep your lights turned on to boost security.
Keep your most valuable possessions secure. This may include things like pictures of your children, heirloom jewelry or birth certificates. A floor safe can keep these items safe. A better idea could be to store these inside a box outside of your house.
TIP! If you have valuable items that cannot be replaced, you must keep them under lock and key. This can include items like important photos, passports, pricey jewelry, and legal documents.
Look online for a reputable home security business. You can check out their packages and rates and also read some customer reviews. After that, choose your top three for consultations.
Your alarm will only work if the police are notified. The only way to ensure this is to use a system that calls the police for you. You really cannot depend on your neighbor to contact the police.
TIP! A home alarm system is a great investment, but it only works if someone notifies the authorities when it sounds. This is why it’s a great idea to consider a centrally monitored system.
Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.
The best locks to choose are deadbolts which have captive keylocks. This makes it impossible to open the lock from the outside because of the thumb latch. Leave a key inside the lock in case there’s an emergency.
TIP! Look for captive keylocks when picking out a new deadbolt. These type of locks have a latch that cannot be reached through an open window.
Ask your home security company about coming to your residence and creating a system that is tailored to your personal needs. Everyone has specific needs and wants when dealing with the security of their house, belongings and family. If you are able to secure a company willing to tailor a system to your needs, there is a good chance that you will be satisfied.
Don’t leave toys lying around your yard children are not at play. Thieves might think women live there. Thieves assume that women are more apt to have valuables like jewelry inside.
TIP! Avoid leaving toys outside when they are not in use. Thieves might think women live there.
Make sure a surveillance system is part of your home security system. Video cameras are a great deterrent. Cameras that can be seen are an excellent tool for preventing most burglars from breaking into your home. However, if they are brave enough to try to disable your cameras, hidden cameras will capture them. There are surveillance systems that you can access and check by cell phone.
Clean your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors detectors clean. A build-up of dust can keep the device from working properly. For this reason, detectors will not do the job of detecting carbon monoxide and smoke.
TIP! Clean out all carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Lint and dust can build up in them and if they’re not cleaned regularly, it can affect their sensors.
These tips should help you become knowledgeable about a security system for your home. You can make a wise and informed decision with the information presented here. Keep this article handy so you can refer to this information as you shop.
If you have an air conditioner unit in your window, make sure it is secured or install some bars to protect it. Burglars could easily slide these out and enter the house if they’re not secured. Remove your window air conditioners in the wintertime for better security.
TIP! If your home has window-mounted air conditioning units, ensure that each one is secure and cannot be dislodged. A burglar could easily slide them out and get inside if you don’t have them secured.