Home security may be a big priority for you, specially if you live by yourself or if you’re a single parent. You can do things to help eliminate your fears. Read this article to find out more about home security.

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. Be sure any home cleaner you give your key to is trustworthy and reputable. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. You want to be sure that you’re the only one with a key. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.

Do you keep your dog outside when you aren’t home? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. Put it on their collar. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.

Is your dog outside when you are away? If so, the dog can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. This will keep your stash of diamonds, gold and other valuable items out of view and inaccessible to burglars. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. A loud ring that goes unanswered can alert people to the fact that you aren’t home. This makes you more likely to be the victim of a burglary.

When in the process of purchasing a home-security system, be sure to comparison shop. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. You might not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. Others have likely had both good and bad experiences that they can share with you that can then save you a lot of stress and time. Make sure to ask neighbors for advice too.

Conceal valuable spaces within your walls. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. There are many locales that are already around your home. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. You will be much more safe.

You should not be shy. Talk to your neighbors and those on your block. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. 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.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. These kinds of lights will pop right on when they detect motion near your home. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

Motion sensitive lights are an inexpensive way to increase your home’s security. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. If placed strategically around the house, motion detectors can make it very tough for criminals to get to your property.

An extremely important tactic for keeping your home safe is changing out the locks. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Do not obstruct doors and windows with plants or furniture. This makes it where people can’t hide in different nooks and crevices. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

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. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.

You want the security company to actually come to your house and install the system according to your needs. The needs and wants of each family and the configuration of each home are quite individual. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! Break up the boxes into smaller pieces before you put them near the curb.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Burglars are well aware of these hiding places. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

Discuss various contracts offered by any home security provider you are exploring. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. A long contract may lock you in even if you choose to sell the house or want to stop the services, but it can result in a lower bill every month. While the monthly rates may be higher for a short-term contract, this option is more flexible.

Obtain flashlights with solid batteries, and ensure they are kept in all the rooms of your home in the event of a power outage. It is extremely important that you have flashlights because they allow you to move around easier in the dark, which is especially useful in an emergency. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

When checking out security companies, ask whether they allow you to choose between buying or leasing the system. Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. On the other hand, while leasing is more expensive overall, it can get you a better system if you don’t have funds available immediately. Look at both of these to see what works for you.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. It is simple for a thief to pose as a representative of your home security company as a means of gaining access to your house. This leads to danger. Be careful to avoid any potential dangers.

You shouldn’t keep your car registration documents inside the glove box. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. You should carry them with you or find some other hiding place inside your vehicle. They should be close, though, since you’ll need them if you get pulled over.

Request that prospective security firms design a system specifically for your home. Every homeowner has specific needs for their home and their family. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

If your living room window faces the street, keep your curtains drawn at night. You don’t need to have an invitation to people through your window. If possible burglars get a look at what you own, they might target you next. Use some discretion and make sure to block your valuables from view with curtains or shades.

Wireless alarm systems are a great investment. While systems with wires are cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

Though it is often good to avoid neighborhood gossips, make sure you are friendly with those in your area. If there are people lurking around your home that look suspicious, this busybody may be the first to notice. If they know and like you, they will be more inclined to let you know.

If someone looks after your house when you’re gone, have them remove fliers from the door. Burglars often put fliers on the door to see if the owner removes them. If the flier is not taken down, the burglar assumes the homeowner is not in town.

Second floor windows have to be locked tight, too. Many people think a criminal won’t check them. Burglars watch for open second story windows. This is something that is a weak area, and criminals will go right to them.

Inquire as to the different lengths of contracts offered by your security company. Each probably has its own set of positives and negatives. Long contracts may cost less each month, but it could leave you with a larger bill if you decide to end your service. Short contracts leave you with freedom, but also a larger bill.

Locks that can’t be locked from the outside are not adequate. A deadbolt meets this requirement and is a good burglar deterrent as well.

Keep your windows covered if you’re out. By failing to do so, you are granting a prime view of your house and your belongings. If they notice something valuable, they’re more likely to invade your home. Do not forget to close your shades before going to bed.

Don’t leave toys lying around your yard children are not at play. This makes the burglars suspect that women live there, and they are viewed as easy targets. Since women have more jewelry than men, they are targeted more.

Make sure you lock your second floor’s windows. A lot of people forget to lock the windows on the second floor, but intruders will use these windows. This is not always the case. Criminals know very well that people think this way, and they will take advantage of that.

Securing your home and making it into a safe haven does not have to include expensive installations or impatiently waiting for a stranger to install a system. There are cheaper alternatives that can keep criminals at bay. If you want to feel safer at home, keep in mind the information in this article.

You need to replace the locks of a home you just bought, no matter who previously lived there. Always make sure that the lock is switched at least once a year.