Making sure your place is safe and secure is definitely the job of every homeowner. It’s not necessary for that work to be expensive or hard. By reading this advice, you will see it is simpler and cheaper than you imagined.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. Your friends have gone through both bad and good experiences and they will be able to share them with you. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.

Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. These are vulnerable to fires and put your home in danger. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Try hiding your key somewhere more unique, like your outside dog’s collar.

If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. To make sure your home is safer, clear your yard periodically.

Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or beneath the welcome mat. While you may feel that you are keeping yourself safe by allowing a way in for yourself, you are also allowing everyone else to visit whenever they want. Burglars always know just where to look. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. Large windows let in a lot of light, but they also allow outsiders to see inside your living space. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.

You should not be shy. Speak with your neighbors. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. Pay attention to gossip as well. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. While you may feel that you are keeping yourself safe by allowing a way in for yourself, you are also allowing everyone else to visit whenever they want. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. A better solution is to give your key to a neighbor you trust.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. This can make you safer.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. It should protect the windows too. Be certain they are also alarmed and monitored. This will help to keep your family safe.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. Avoid giving keys out to contractors, maids and repairmen.

You should change all the locks if you just bought or rented a new home. You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Always enlist the powers of online research to help you make a smart choice when it comes to home security companies. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. With that information, you can make your appointments with the top three companies you’ve chosen so that you can compare pricing and look at specific monitoring and plans.

Before letting a home security representative inside, ask for identification. They might not be who you think they are. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

When you landscape your house, make it safe. You should have a clear view out of all your windows and an unobstructed path to any doors. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.

Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. You need to be very careful with the contractors, repairmen or maids you trust with being alone in your home.

Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. So it’s smart to put a light in typically darker corners around your home. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. If a paper shredder is not in your budget, consider tearing your documents into tiny pieces or even burning them.

Never enter your home if you arrive and find the door open. This is dangerous because the thief may be right inside. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. There are likely pros and cons to each. Longer agreements may cost less per month, but you may not be able to get out of the contract if you need to. Shorter contracts allow your greater freedom, however they usually cost more each month.

Ask about the various contract lengths offered by a home security company. There are usually pros and cons in each contract. 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 mean more freedom along with higher costs.

Do not keep the registration papers for your car inside the car’s glove compartment. This will prevent anyone from knowing where you reside. Keep these papers on you or hide them under a seat in your vehicle. You must have them on hand if the police stop you.

You should always keep your blinds and curtains closed. You don’t want potential intruders to be able to look inside. If they notice this, they may break in. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

When you don’t want to spend a lot on maintenance, go for a hard-wired system. Wireless systems are convenient, but they require multiple sets of batteries that have to be changed out on a regular basis. You might forget to change out the batteries, which will result in your system not operating as it should. In addition, replacing multiple batteries can be expensive.

If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. It is easy to spot a rock that is fake. Doormats and rocks in front of the house are too obvious. The most secure thing you can do is to entrust your key to a reliable neighbor or a friend you can count on. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

Having been given some good information, you stand ready to make your home safe and sound. Begin making changes where you live. The end result will be a comfortable home that offers your family peace of mind from morning until night. You’ll find yourself more relaxed before you know it.

Are you worried about the costs of ongoing maintenance? Then, consider using a security system that is hard-wired. Wireless systems, while convenient, will require much more maintenance. Neglecting this maintenance can cause faults in your security system and leave you improperly protected. Also, frequent battery replacements can be costly.