Do you know much about home security systems? If you discover that you don’t know much about the subject, read on. An alarm system is a significant investment and you need to know what you are buying.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. This is a great idea if your dog is outside all the time, or they can get out through a doggy door. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so it is always handy.

You should not let anyone inside your home. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Some criminals will come in, case your house and then come back when you are away.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. You should not let cleaners have your keys if you feel like you cannot trust them, or if they will be working in your home while you are away. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Install lights that use a motion-sensor. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. Prices vary significantly, even for similar levels of protection. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

Meet with representatives from the security company you are considering to determine if they are trustworthy. If the installers give you the heebie-jeebies, it’s not a good sign. You don’t want to refrain from choosing a different company or technician. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

You should not let anyone inside your home. No matter how innocent a person may seem or how interesting the product he or she may be offering, you must not allow access. Some folks will enter to scout for security systems, and upon seeing you lack one, will resolve to return at a later time.

If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Go with your gut when choosing a home security company to install a system. This is very true when you feel uneasy about the person installing the system. Ask the company to send a different installer or simply change companies. Your security system is supposed to help you, not cause you more stress.

It’s smart to use the Internet when you are looking for a good security company for your home. You can check out their packages and rates and also read some customer reviews. With this information, you can contact the companies you feel comfortable with and compare the rates to each other.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.

Wireless security systems are the next generation in protection. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.

You can hide your valuable items inside your walls. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. Most homes are pre-equipped with these handy spaces. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Often burglars will place these at homes and wait to see if people take them down. If a flier remains on a front door for a number of days, the burglar knows the homeowner is away.

Whenever you move to a new dwelling, make certain to get each lock replaced. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Use a frosted film to cover the windows. This can be purchased at many hardware stores. Keep your garage door closed as often as possible, too.

Equipping each room in your house with a reliable flashlight (charged with good batteries, of course!) is an excellent safety investment. They give you and your family the opportunity to move around should the electricity go out. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.

Don’t leave the boxes of any high priced electronics on the curb of your house. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Are the numbers of your home visible from the street? Make sure they are large in case emergency personnel need to find your house. Just replace them if you need to.

If you hire a security company, read any fine print. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. You’ll definitely want to avoid these types of fees if you can, so read carefully.

Your pup is a great crime deterrent. They are protective about their territory, plus they make noises that keep burglars at bay. There is no need for a mean, big dog either. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.

After learning more, what are your thoughts on security systems for your home? The more you know about it, the easier it will be to make a decision. Use all the ideas and advice in this article when you make your selections in home security.

Ask about different contract lengths that your home security company may offer. They probably each have their pluses and negatives. A longer contract might give you a lower monthly bill, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. Shorter contracts likely allow you more flexibility with exiting the plan; however, you will probably have a larger monthly bill.