Not many people fully understand the concept of home security. The more you know about it, the safer you’ll be. Read this article to learn excellent tips on ensuring your home’s safety.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Make sure you check references. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. 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. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

Do you keep your dog outside when you aren’t home? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.

Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. There are some people who are very convincing and good at getting you to let them into your house. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

In the summer, remove all the dead trees from your yard. Due to the heat, these items in your yard are more likely to catch on fire. As a result, your home could be caught on fire. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

Don’t be shy. Be friendly with people that live in the neighborhood. Watch their homes for suspicious activity and get their word that they will do the same thing for you. Don’t disregard gossip either. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

You need to change our locks as your first step to ensuring your safety. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

Security starts with new locks. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Make sure the alarm is attached to all of them, and that monitoring is offered for all possible entry points. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. This is why it is so important to make sure all your wires are well hidden. You will be much more safe.

Were you aware that your home’s wires are valuable? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

Always enlist the powers of online research to help you make a smart choice when it comes to home security companies. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. After that, choose your top three for consultations.

Rotten wood on door and window frames needs to be repaired. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace wood that is starting to rot with fresh new wood to keep your home as safe as possible.

It is a good idea to get some history on any home security companies you are thinking about doing business with. Any business with multiple years of history has a proven record in being reliable. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

Flashlights in your home should always have newer batteries if your power goes out. Having a well-charged flashlight on hand is very beneficial in case of emergency. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.

Make an appointment with a home security company to evaluate the security needs of your home specifically. Every homeowner has specific needs for their home and their family. If there is a company that can come up with a customized plan, you will get what you really need.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This is dangerous for your family and your possessions. Proceed with caution.

Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. Both hidden and visible security cameras are effective in protecting your home. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. As an added security bonus, most modern systems will allow you to monitor your cameras remotely (via cell phone) for round-the-clock protection.

A simple way to increase your home security is to add motion lights around the house. These lights not only give off light at night, but can also offer security around your home. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

If there are certain rooms you want to keep unoccupied, then you don’t want to keep track of all the keys and locks. Instead, use a numeric keypad. You can install them yourself or you can hire a home security firm.

Always go over the small print on contracts offered by your home security company. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

Keep curtains closed when you aren’t at home. Keeping them up can let intruders see directly inside your home. If they spot an item they’re interested in, they will most likely try to enter. You should have the windows covered when you’re asleep.

Perform landscaping for your home which enhances your home’s safety. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

Avoid making the password your birth date for numeric locks. Anyone can get personal information online which they can use to access your home. Use a password that you can remember but that no one else will be able to guess.

Find out how long a company has been in operation before signing a home security contract. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.

If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. The wireless ones are convenient, however, they need multiple battery sets that must be changed frequently. If the batteries are not changed, the system might not work at all. It can be expensive to replace a ton of batteries.

Most people understand the critical role home security plays in our everyday lives. Surprisingly, though, very few people are aware of the steps that must be taken to protect their home and valuables. These tips should help you find an efficient way of securing your home and keeping intruders away.

Using a timer on lights is a great idea. This makes it easier for you as you won’t have to flip the switch, but it also ensures the lights continue to go on and off, even if you’re not at home for a long period of time.