Home security solutions often conjure up visions of technicians roaming through your house installing a myriad of wires, cables and sensors. Actually, though, that isn’t the case. Go over this article to learn more about home security and how you can keep your home safe.

Have your home always look occupied. Timers can be used to turn lights and televisions on and off when required. This will give the appearance that someone is at your house at all times. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

You should only provide a house cleaner your key if you completely trust them. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Be sure to make sure their references check out. If they work for a firm, call the local Better Business Bureau to find out that firm’s reputation.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in it. This will keep your stash of diamonds, gold and other valuable items out of view and inaccessible to burglars. Put the safe somewhere difficult to get to, like the attic.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Most companies have different price schemes for the the same general level of protection. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. There are many reason why a home security system can have problems, and it might be the weather or wild animals that cause it to malfunction. You might not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.

Shut off the ringer for all of the telephones in your home if you are planning to go on vacation for a long time. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

You need to change our locks as your first step to ensuring your safety. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. It is pretty cheap and the job won’t take more than a few hours.

Do not invite strangers into your home. Remember that intruders have a lot of experience with tricking people. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

You can hide things in your walls. This is a great way to hide jewelry, for example. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. You can easily install fake unused plates.

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. There is a way to prevent burglars from entering your home through the garage. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. Keep your curtains drawn to keep your valuable items safe.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. Hiding it will help to deter people from tracking the times you aren’t there.

When deciding on an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. Windows are all potential entry points for burglars. Be sure your alarm is secured to them all and that monitoring is in place for every point of entry. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Motion Sensors

Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

Install lights that have motion sensors. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. This lets you know something is moving and also drives off criminals. Just remember that you must change the bulbs often in order to keep the lights working in order.

Ask a home security company to come to your house and design a security system that is perfect for your needs. Every family is different, and so your security needs will be unique. The right company will make you feel more safe and secure in your home.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you own smaller things that need protection, think about keeping them hidden in the walls. Repurpose phone jacks and electrical outlets as tiny wall safes. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.

What do you need to personally feel safe? Some systems might not be adaptable to your situation. Some neighborhoods may do better with self-defense classes or having a dog, while others may require the best home security technology you can get. Know what you want and make your decisions based on that.

Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. Rather, give your key to a neighbor you find trustworthy.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. The thief may remain inside. Your best bet is to contact the authorities and wait outside for them to get there.

Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from the outside. Though it is nice to have big windows to get a great view of the outdoors, it is also easier for burglars to look into your home. If you’ve got street facing windows, be sure and keep them covered.

You may want to get a security system that is wireless. Systems that are wired can be a little cheaper, but may need significant reworking of your home’s electrical wiring and can fail in a power outage. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Your windows are also points of entry for burglars. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This is vital to keeping your family safe.

A great protection against burglars is owning a dog. Dogs are very protective of their turf and usually make noises when something is amiss. It is not necessary to have an aggressive dog. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.

Rather than getting a personal home security system, think about alternatives for protecting your family. Whether you add fencing, install new locks or purchase a gun, there are things you can do to help. Keep this advice in mind to boost your home security.

Ask your home-security company about what contract lengths they provide to their customers. You will probably find there are many pros and cons associated with each different contract. A long term contract should have a lower monthly rate but it also requires you to commit for a long period of time. Shorter contracts offer greater freedom, but may be more expensive each month.