You have to be as knowledgeable about home security as you can if you want to make the best choices for your family. It is not a decision to take lightly. Figure out what you can afford and what is most important.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. 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.

Don’t ever let it be apparent that there is no one at home. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.

The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Be sure to make sure their references check out. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. While these platforms are there for sharing, this is announcing to the world that your home is an open target.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

In the summer, remove vegetation and dead wood from your yard. They pose a fire risk. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

Keep your car in the garage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. Additionally, if your car is put away, burglars will not be able to tell whether or not you are home.

Is your garage used for storage? Consider removing those items and keeping your car there instead. It will be far more secure against thieves. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. Besides, intruders will have a hard time determining whether or not you are home if you keep your car inside your garage.

There’s no security system so durable that it can go without regular maintenance and inspections. Have yours checked out once a year. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. It’s quite possible for there to be a fault in your system even if you can’t see it.

Don’t be afraid to know the people who live near you. Speak to your neighbors. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. Also consider listening in on some of the neighborhood gossip. This might provide you with some valuable information, at times related to security, including information about potential strangers who you might not want near your home.

If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. Although a skylight can bring light into one’s home and look good, it’s also a common entrance way for burglars. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

Walls are great for hiding things. You can hide small valuables in your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Be sure to secure the skylights to your home. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Any skylights in your home should be secured with strong hardware.

Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. This can make you safer.

When choosing an alarm system, consider one that offers protection for more than just your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This is the pinnacle of safety.

Expensive Items

If you have any boxes to discard from large, expensive items, wait until the evening before the trash is scheduled for collection. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. These types of items are appealing to thieves, and you may as well put a sign in your yard inviting them to steal yours.

Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. Keep in mind that your family might be separated during a power outage, and make sure you children know where to find and how to use your flashlights.

Now that you’ve read this article, you are surely more knowledgeable about the given subject. You should not purchase the first system you find. It is essential that you put the safety of your family in the highest priority. Remember these tips as you formulate your home security plan.

Remove and replace any wood that is not up to par. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Therefore, replace rotted wood with fresh wood to ensure your home’s safety.