If you’re a single female or mother that lives alone and you don’t feel like you can defend yourself physically, the topic of home security may be a large issue for you. You can take certain steps to help yourself feel better and less afraid. Read on and learn all there is about home security.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

Your dog could carry a spare key for you. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

Get roofing, flooring and ceilings that are fire resistant. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. This will help you to reduce the stress that you have on your search for a good one. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

Before leaving for vacation, turn off the ringers in your house. A constantly ringing phone lets thieves know that you are not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

Be sure you have secured your attached garage. A lot of garage owners fret over burglars entering this way, but there are answers. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

Go with your gut when you invite a home security company representative into your house. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. Ask for someone else to come out or switch companies. The purpose of using the company is to calm your uneasiness, not worsen it.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.

Spare Key

Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. If you need to protect expensive items in your home, put them inside the walls. You can use the opening provided by an electrical switch plate or other device that is not being used. You can also install a fake one.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. Keeping a spare key is convenient but intruders will have access to your home if your key is too easy to find. Burglars always know just where to look. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

Conceal valuable spaces within your walls. It is unnecessary cut space into your wall. There are many locales that are already around your home. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.

Hide your security system’s wiring. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. This will make you much safer.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Windows are all potential entry points for burglars. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This will make your family safer.

Replace rotted wood around any door frames. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. Replace it as soon as possible.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

If someone from the security company comes to your home, ask to see their ID before allowing them in. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. This can put your family and possessions in danger. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.

Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. You should avoid such expenses if you can, so make yourself aware.

One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. With good positioning and properly set motion detectors, intruders will not be able to sneak up on your home unnoticed.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. You might find that an alarm isn’t necessary at all. Some neighborhoods would feel be safe enough if you knew basic self defense or had a large dog. Make sure you understand your risks so you can make wise purchasing decisions.

The most useful tool for finding home security is the Internet. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

Visible Cameras

Prior to purchasing a security system, think about what you need it for. Even though these security systems can guard you and your family, that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. In certain areas, it may be just as useful to learn self defense or buy a dog, whereas other places may require added measures. See to it that you understand the risks involved in making these purchasing decisions.

Install a home surveillance system. A wonderful way to make your home safer is by putting in hidden or visible cameras. Visible cameras are a deterrent to most intruders, and should they decide to disable them, a hidden camera will continue to capture footage. Nowadays, you can track your surveillance on your own cell phone.

If a friend picks up your mail while you’re away, have them check for fliers on your door. Crafty burglars will leave fliers on homes, and check to see if they’re being removed as a means for determining whether or not the home is vacant. If the flier isn’t removed, the burglar knows the homeowner isn’t there.

Is your street number on your house visible from the street? If an emergency occurs, the police will not be able to find your home as quickly if these numbers are too small or are obscured in some way. Thankfully, you can right this wrong cheaply and quickly.

Talk to your security company about the contract; in particular, inquire about the various contract lengths that are available to you. There are usually pros and cons in each contract. Longer contracts may offer more affordable monthly payments; however, it may be hard to cancel that contract should you decide to change services or sell your house. Shorter contracts mean more freedom along with higher costs.

One of the best home burglary systems is man’s best friend. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. That is not to say that a big, scary dog is required. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.

When you don’t want to spend a lot on maintenance, go for a hard-wired system. While there is a greater level of convenience if you go wireless, there is also a requirement that several batteries be changed, sometimes multiple times a year. If you neglect to change your batteries, the system can fail. It can also be pretty expensive to replace batteries.

Speak with your security company about contract lengths and any options available. There are usually pros and cons in each contract. Your bill may be lower with a long-term contract, but you could wind up paying for a service you’re not using if you decide to move. A shorter contract gives you more freedom, but it may cost you more per month.

If you often turn your lights off/on around the same time, consider using a timer. The automatic timer will keep the lights going on and off on schedule, so a thief will not be able to tell when you are away. Even when you are at home, the timer is convenient because it saves you from having to remember to turn on the lights.

Security can be affordable and quick. There are alternatives out there that are much cheaper and they can really help keep criminals away. Keep this information in mind if you want your home to feel safer.

Always keep your valuables secure. Passports, financial records, jewelry, photos or legal documents should be locked away. Floor safes make for great places to hide such items. To be even more cautious, you can get a safety deposit box at your local bank.