If you have always wanted to learn more about making your home more secure, you can take this opportunity. You need not settle on such an important issue. Being informed can really help you to make informed and smart decisions regarding home security. Keep reading to discover the options available to you.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Just place your key on your dog’s collar.

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. Make sure you verify all references. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. 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. Check out their references thoroughly. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

If you retain a space key for when you get locked out, consider the place you hide it carefully. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Buy a small home safe that you can use to keep your valuables in. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.

Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.

Don’t open up your door for someone who is a stranger. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. The problem might not be obvious to you, though.

Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

You should not be shy. Talk to the people who live in your neighborhood. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. It does not necessarily pay to steer clear of gossip. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.

Security System

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Some people, though, believe that you will not be at risk for a burglary.

When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. You should be very picky when it comes to letting people inspect your home. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. Remember that every aspect of your home security system should support you in feeling more secure.

Never place a spare key in a plant box or under your 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. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

Don’t put your spare keys under floor mats or plants. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. If you have a neighbor you can trust, have them hold your extra key.

Always lock your home, regardless of how short your trip out is. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. It can be a quick job for a burglar to steal items of great value.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Windows need to be monitored too. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. You want the best security possible for your family.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Make it hard for intruders and bury the wires or hide them inside your walls, if possible. This will add security.

It’s smart to use the Internet when you are looking for a good security company for your home. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. Replace rotting wood with new wood to stay safe.

Have a home security company come to your house and come up with a system that best suits your needs. Everyone has different needs, and your security system should be designed to protect your home and family. The right company will make you feel more safe and secure in your home.

Always check references before letting anyone work on your home. Don’t be afraid of conducting background checks to determine if they have a criminal history. You can’t always be sure that maids, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.

Think about getting a home security system that is wireless. While the wired systems are less expensive, they usually mean rather intrusive wiring for your house, which can also go out during power outages. Wireless systems tend to be easier for installation and maintenance, and they will not go out if your power does.

If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. Avoid nasty charges or fees regarding early termination, contract expiration and additional features or equipment.

If you are out of town for awhile, ask a friend to take a look at your door for any fliers. Sometimes burglars leave fliers in an attempt to see if anyone is home to remove them. If the flier is not taken down, the burglar assumes the homeowner is not in town.

Request that prospective security firms design a system specifically for your home. All homeowners and homes differ. The right company will make you feel more safe and secure in your home.

There’s an easy way to secure interior doors (if there are areas you want to keep housemates and children out of) without obliging you to carry a key-ring around at all times. Get key-less locks that need a code. You can install them yourself, or you can have a home security service install them.

Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. This is a way people who are casing out your house can tell whether you are home or not. If the flier is not taken down, the burglar assumes the homeowner is not in town.

Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. Each probably has its own set of positives and negatives. A long term contract should have a lower monthly rate but it also requires you to commit for a long period of time. A short contract will avoid this, but may be more costly.

Spare Key

Inquire whether or not your security company offers motion sensor lighting. This system will cause the lights to flicker on when someone walks up to your home. You will find your entrances are well-lit and safe, as will intruders.

Choose an out of the way place to hide your spare key, not the obvious ones. Fake rocks are particularly simple to spot. Another obvious location is underneath the doormat. This will be one of the first places that a burglar will look for your spare key. Talk to a neighbor or someone that you know to hold your key. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

The sliding doors made of glass that you see on many modern homes are actually a big security concern. They are easily unlocked just by lifting and shaking. If you do not have a security system hooked up to them, cut a length of pipe to fit in the door channel. The pressure applied by the pipe provides added security and makes forcing a sliding door open a much less trivial matter.

Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. Anyone can easily get your birthday from a Facebook profile or your driver’s licence. Rather, use a number that can be determined through an equation that you can remember instead.

Make friends with a talkative neighbor who is home a lot. These individuals are aware when anything suspicious happens in the neighborhood and can alert you if strangers have been hanging around. If you remain in their good graces, then, you have a better chances of finding out valuable information.

Always keep your valuables secure. This includes important documents, jewelry and keepsakes. You can keep these things in a floor safe placed in a secure area of your home. An even better idea is to store them in a safe deposit box outside the home.

When it comes to pets, large breed dogs are an excellent security addition. Burglars don’t want to worry about getting attacked. Choose a dog who looks scary but loves your family.

You need to use this information in order to use it in the realm of home security. Having the proper information regarding home security can really help you to get the most out of keeping your home safe. Use the information here to help keep you and your family safe.

It is better to purchase your home security system directly from the company. Resellers are interested in profits, not continued long-term service relationships. By doing business with a manufacturer, you are guaranteed a lower price and more generous warranty terms.