You should always feel concerned about your home’s security. You can never know when you’ll be a victim of a home invader. Read the tips in this article so you can get ideas on making your home safe.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. When giving your house cleaner the key to your home, you need to be sure that they are reputable and honest. Make sure you verify all references. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

Make sure your home appears occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. That means burglars will pass right by.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

Spare Key

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. Lots of people are afraid that burglars will be able to break into their garage, which will result in them breaking into the home. Thankfully, you can prevent this. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. Try hiding your key somewhere more unique, like your outside dog’s collar.

Make sure to clear your yard of brush and dead wood in the summertime. As it gets hotter, the chances of these igniting and putting your house at risk increase. To make sure your home is safer, clear your yard periodically.

You should invest in fire-resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling. This can provide additional safety to the home, particularly in dry regions. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

It’s a good idea to have motion sensor lights installed. These kinds of lights will pop right on when they detect motion near your home. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. Remember to keep working bulbs in them at all times.

When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. By asking around, you will gain information about the pros and cons of a variety of options.

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

Before leaving for vacation, turn off the ringers in your house. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

You have a choice on who installs your security system, don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. This is very true when you feel uneasy about the person installing the system. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. You need to feel secure with the entire process.

Attached Garage

Don’t give outside people the ability to see into your home. 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. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

Secure your attached garage. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. Place a C-Clamp on the door track near the roller. This will prevent the door from lifting.

When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Be certain they are also alarmed and monitored. The safety of your family will be ensured.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Make certain the security company you choose provides for regular inspections. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. If you don’t see the problem, you may remain unaware of it.

When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. Intruders can easily disable your home security system by cutting or unplugging the wires. Don’t make it easy for an intruder, have the wires buried or hidden within the home’s walls. Keep yourself safe.

If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. People who live in the country may even be more vulnerable because they do not have nearby neighbors. Some think rural areas see less burglary.

If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. The person who used to live there may still have a key. You might even purchase and install your own locks so that you are assured of having the only keys.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. Many places around your house have areas that are already 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.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This is dangerous for your family and your possessions. Be cautious to stay away from those potential dangers.

If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. These types of items are appealing to thieves, and you may as well put a sign in your yard inviting them to steal yours.

When about to sign a contract with any home security firm, read all the small print. There could be fees for terminating the contract early or acquiring additional equipment down the road. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. This can come in handy if someone has cut your power and is attempting to break in.

Checking out security firms online is a great idea. Review different websites and review comments from previous customers. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

If you need to make the outside of your home secure, you can achieve this relatively inexpensively by installing lights with motion detectors. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Don’t obstruct windows or doors with shrubs, plants, fences or trees. These types of places provide the perfect cover for prowlers. Plan these features for further away from your home.

When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

A dog is an excellent burglary deterrent system. Dogs naturally protect their homes and they make lots of noise when things go wrong. You do not need a large, vicious guard dog. Any size dog will drive criminals away, as the barking will be too much noise for them to be stealthy.

You should find out how many years of experience your home security service has. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

If your door isn’t either metal or solid wood, replace it with one that is. These doors will hold. Burglars would have a hard time kicking such doors down. Replace outside doors as quickly as possible.

Rather than hoping nothing bad ever happens to your family or you, have a more realistic view of the world. Understand that bad things can occur anytime; therefore, being prepared is extremely important. Keep this advice in mind to make your home a safe place.

Ask the security company you hire whether they have lights with motion sensors. This system will cause the lights to flicker on when someone walks up to your home. Motion sensitive lighting can scare off an intruder and allow you to safely enter your home.