Whether you own or rent, you need your place to be safe. If you suspect that your home is not as secure as it could be, taking a moment to learn more about home security will be very enlightening. This article will help you make your house much safer.

Does your dog remain outside while you’re gone? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Fasten the key to your dog’s collar to hide it from view. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Check out their references thoroughly. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. This is vital since it means all of your things will be safe if someone breaks in your home. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. This will keep your stash of diamonds, gold and other valuable items out of view and inaccessible to burglars. The safe should be situated in an inconspicuous area of your home.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. Every company offers different pricing. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. Try to find somewhere less obvious.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.

Attached Garage

Secure your garage. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Secure your attached garage. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. If your garage door happens to lift on a track, using a C-clamp can help. the C-clamp prevents the door from opening if it’s tightened on the track close to the roller.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Keeping your plants and bushes trimmed will benefit your family’s safety as well as the appearance of your home.

Get rid of all of the dead wood and vegetation in your yard during the summer months. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

Be outgoing. Speak with your neighbors. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. Listen for gossip too. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

Try not to have a shy attitude. Speak to your neighbors. Watch their homes and ask them if they’ll watch yours as well. Listen for gossip too. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. Remember that every aspect of your home security system should support you in feeling more secure.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. While they are nice and help with lighting, they also provide the burglars help with access to your home. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.

If you do not reside in a big city, you may not worry as much about home burglaries. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Burglars always know just where to look. If you have a neighbor you can trust, have them hold your extra key.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. This will make you much safer.

Security System

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. An intruder can easily disable your security system by cutting the wires. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. You’ll be safer.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. Do not hesitate to hire someone to run a background check if you have doubts. Anyone you bring into your home to work could be your worst enemy.

Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.

One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. This is a great way to deter prowlers and potential intruders at night.

You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. Different people require different plans. If you find a company that will tailor the plan you choose to your needs, you can get the highest level of security that makes you feel comfortable.

Having a bright and lit-up home at night deters crooks. Burglars don’t want to be visible. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

What do you need to personally feel safe? Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. In certain areas, it may be just as useful to learn self defense or buy a dog, whereas other places may require added measures. Think about your risk factor when making a decision.

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. As an added security bonus, most modern systems will allow you to monitor your cameras remotely (via cell phone) for round-the-clock protection.

A wireless home security system could be just the option you are looking for. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

Don’t leave empty boxes for big-ticket purchases outside on your curb. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! After removing the contents from these boxes, tear or cut them up.

Buy a paper shredder. Thieves might go through your trash bags to find bills for valuables or personal information. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.

You should always keep your blinds and curtains closed. If you leave them open, potential burglars can look in and case the joint. If they spot something desirable, they will seek access. At night when you’re asleep, you should close your shades.

Monthly Payments

Never make the password to your keypad your birthday. A thief can easily find this information out. Make it a random number that you and your family can commit to memory.

Talk to your security company about the contract; in particular, inquire about the various contract lengths that are available to you. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. A contract that is longer might offer lower monthly payments, but you may have to continue with these if you decide to sell the house or discontinue services. There’s more freedom with a contract that’s shorter, but the monthly payments may be higher.

All doors leading into your home should be made from solid wood or metal. Those are the doors that last. Few people can kick down such a door. You should be able to replace each of the exterior doors in your home for a minimal amount, so do so as soon as possible.

Don’t hide keys in obvious areas. If you place it under a rock, a good robber will find it. The first place a person will look is a doormat. The most secure thing you can do is to entrust your key to a reliable neighbor or a friend you can count on. If none of these options are possible, try to think of an unusual hiding place.

When buying a security system, aim to buy one from the company instead of through a re-seller. Resellers are interested in profits, not continued long-term service relationships. When you go through the company, they will offer a guarantee and won’t charge extra fees.

If you have valuable items that cannot be replaced, you must keep them under lock and key. This may include things like pictures of your children, heirloom jewelry or birth certificates. A floor safe could be a good place for you to keep these things inside your house. An even better idea is to store them in a safe deposit box outside the home.

Being able to own a gun is a law that many people like because it makes them feel secure. Get gun training if you decide to buy one. You may feel better once there is a gun around.

Now after taking in the above information you should have some great tips to begin securing your home. Don’t let the time you spend reading this article be a waste. Allow them to serve as a sounding board for all of your notions about home security. You are sure to rest more comfortably, so don’t wait another minute.

Do not allow any valuable electronics to show in the window. If these valuable items cannot be seen from outside, a thief is not motivated to break in and steal them.