Do you know anything about home security? If you don’t know anything, you need to work on learning more. This is a costly outlay that can greatly enhance your home’s safety, and therefore it is worth your time to learn more.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. You could purchase timers and have your TVs, lights, radios and other types of electronics to go on at various times. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This is just one of the many precautions you can take to secure your home.

Change all of your locks when you move in. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

Buy a safe. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

When looking for a system to secure your home, do comparison shopping. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies before you decide on which one you think is the best option.

Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. Your friends have gone through both bad and good experiences and they will be able to share them with you. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

Spare Key

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. If a burglar keeps hearing your phone ring, they’ll know the home is not occupied, making it more likely for a break-in to occur.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, they should not be given access. Some criminals will come in, case your house and then come back when you are away.

Get roofing, flooring and ceilings that are fire resistant. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Avoid opening the door if you don’t know who is standing on the other side. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.

Your garage should be as secure as your home. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. Using a C-clamp on the garage door will prevent it from opening by staying on the door’s track.

Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. Many programs include how to use some engraving tools to create code numbers for identifying valuables that are stolen, home inspection, and advice on protective measures. These programs can make a big difference to the security of your home, and they may just be a phone call away.

Home protection program details may be available at your police station. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. If your police department does not offer these programs, find a private security company.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

Conceal valuable spaces within your walls. You don’t need to cut out segments of your walls by the way. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.

When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. You want your new system to protect you, not be the way the thief gets into your home.

Even if you’re not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. Most real-world burglars aren’t master lock-breakers; they simply stroll in through a door left carelessly unlocked. It does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. Large windows allow you to keep an eye on who is approaching your home, but keep in mind that potential intruders will be tempted if they can see your valuables. If your windows are facing the street, make sure you cover them and protect your valuables.

If you move to a place that was occupied before, you should change the locks right away. 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 purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. As nice as the previous person may seem, you don’t really know them. Also, there have likely been other owners of the home, and you don’t know them either.

Do not use spring latch locks. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes. Wedging the card into the door crack can cause the lock to release. If your doors have locks that are spring latch, add a deadbolt for extra security.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.

Does your security company offer leasing and buying? It may be more expensive to buy equipment at the outset; however, you may save money in the long run if you are free from monthly payments. You’ll pay higher monthly fees if you lease the equipment, and that will add up over time. Compare these two options before making your decision.

Having a bright and lit-up home at night deters crooks. These crooks do not wish to be noticed or seen. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. Keep the lights on if you want your home to be secure.

The glove compartment is bad place to store important documents like your car’s registration. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place like your trunk. You must have them on hand if the police stop you.

Do you feel confident now? The more knowledge you have, the easier time you will have of it. Keep the tips that you’ve read in mind as you get started with your choice today.

Do not make a number-code password your birthday or other obvious number. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. Instead, make it a number which you can figure out through a math equation so you remember the equation instead of the number.