Do you wonder what options you have when it comes to the security of your home? The below article will help. It’s not easy making such a large decision that costs so much money. You need to be armed with knowledge so you can make wise decisions.

When you buy a new house, change the locks. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. When you lose your keys, have your locks rekeyed.

Use a safe to protect your valuables. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Keep the safe hidden somewhere remote.

Do not give the key to your home to your cleaning person unless you are certain they are worthy of your trust. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Check their references fully. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. You should hide it in your dog’s collar.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. Fasten the key to your dog’s collar to hide it from view. This is an especially good idea if your dog doesn’t like strangers, and gives you easy access to get in your home.

If you’ve got lots of people you don’t know on your social networks, don’t let them know that you’re going to be on vacation. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

Buy a safe. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. This safe should be hidden in a location where burglars won’t find it, such as a hole in the wall, the attic, or a basement closet.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Be sure you seek out advice by asking those people.

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. Make sure everyone in your house knows not to open the door unless they know the person standing outside.

People who live rurally often don’t think about home security. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.

Your garage needs to be secure. A common concern expressed among homeowners is that someone might enter their garage and use that as an entrance to their home. There is a solution, however. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.

Get creative and hide valuables inside your walls. You needn’t tear down your walls to do this. You can find pre-cut areas in your walls that can be used. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?

Use your garage for your car and not for storage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. While you may need to prepare if you have a spare key, it is wise to choose ways that do not increase the risk of a criminal gaining entrance to your home. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.

Motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home is a great idea. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Just do not forget to replace the bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.

Security System

Hide your security system’s wiring. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. This helps keep you and your family safe.

Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. One of the ways an intruder can get around a security system is by disconnecting or cutting the wires. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This will add security.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

When moving into a previously owned home, change the locks. The person who used to live there may still have a key. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

If you sign a contract for a security company, read all the fine print first. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.

When you consider a security company, be certain you read the details and fine print of the contract you’re about to sign. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. You can easily avoid these fees if you do your research.

The most useful tool for finding home security is the Internet. Research the possibilities, check out package options and pricing and analyze customer feedback. From there, you can make appointments with your top three selections to compare final package pricing and specific details about plans and monitoring.

You can find an excellent home security company with a simple Internet search. Check out reviews you find on the web. Then, you can choose a top three to contact and compare details and pricing.

It is a good idea to get some history on any home security companies you are thinking about doing business with. A company that has been in business for several years has shown that they can sustain in this industry and proven they provide reliable services that people recommend. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, get one. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home. If you don’t have a paper shredder, tear the papers up.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars love to operate in the dark. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders. 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.

If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. Break down the empty boxes whenever possible.

You need to inquire about whether you can buy or lease the home security equipment. Buying equipment can be pricey upfront, but it’s a single cost versus a monthly cost. While leasing might be less expensive, it also comes with high monthly fees and contracts. Check out both options to discover the best one for you. The option that’s best for one person may not be best for another.

One of the best home burglary systems is man’s best friend. Dogs protect their territory diligently, and tend to make noise if something goes awry. A big, vicious guard dog isn’t necessary. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.

Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place in your car. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.

Ask about different contract lengths that your home security company may offer. They all likely have different benefits and downsides. 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. Shorter contracts allow your greater freedom, however they usually cost more each month.

Hopefully, a close reading of the tips above has equipped you with some great guidance for your quest to make your home more secure. It is vital to grasp the gravity of the topic, as it can help keep your family secure. Use the information you’ve learned to make this a part of your daily life.

Secure your true valuables in an area that is as safe as possible. Items like family photos, passports, legal documents and expensive jewelry should be kept in a safe place. Floor safes are great for keeping these items inside the home. Or, a better idea, is to place them in a deposit box outside of your home.