If you wish to learn all that you can about home security, this is your chance. This is one area in which it is not acceptable to compromise. It is important that you are in control of your home’s safety. To do this, you must be knowledgeable on the matter. Keep reading to find out about the choices available.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. When you lose your keys, have your locks rekeyed.

Place the spare key that you make on your dog. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. 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. One way to do this is to check their references. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. This will give your home added security. Preventing fires is the best way to deal with them.

Hiding places for spare keys must be chosen with extreme care and caution. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.

You should never give details about your vacations and other plans on social networks. While these platforms are there for sharing, this is announcing to the world that your home is an open target.

Is your ceiling resistant to fire? What about your flooring or roofing? This will help ensure the safety of your home, particularly if your home is located in a dry area. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. 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. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. These could catch on fire during the summer, especially if you live in a dry area. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. If your garage lifts up on a track, try using a C-clamp. This will prevent your door from opening up if the clamp is close to its roller.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. Mother Nature and wild animals can also cause issues with your home security system. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

The walls of your home make for great hiding spots. This is a great way to hide jewelry, for example. Any phone jack or electrical outlet that isn’t being used is a great place to hide valuables. Installing a false unused plate is very easy to do if your home doesn’t have one.

Skylights need to be secure, too. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. Be sure that the skylights for your home are durable and reliable.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. What about un-wiring an electrical socket which isn’t used to utilize as a cover to hide your jewelry?

Your valuables should not be easily seen from outside your home. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.

The wiring outside of your home can be valuable. Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. The copper in the wiring is valuable and can be stripped off of the outside of the home in a relevantly short period of time. To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.

Take advantage of the Internet while comparing your home security options. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. With this information, you can contact the companies you feel comfortable with and compare the rates to each other.

Change the locks on any new place you move into. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Your landscaping should be designed based on what will be safest for your home. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. If you want to have a garden around your home, keep trees and shrubs away from your house.

Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. You need to be very careful with the contractors, repairmen or maids you trust with being alone in your home.

It is a good idea to get some history on any home security companies you are thinking about doing business with. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.

If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. Burglars don’t want to be visible. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. So keep those lights on at night for a secure home.

A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. Dogs protect their territory diligently, and tend to make noise if something goes awry. It is not necessary to have an aggressive dog. Small dogs also have the ability to scare away burglars who definitely don’t want lots of ruckus when they appear.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. Any business with multiple years of history has a proven record in being reliable. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.

When you are out of the house, your drapes and blinds should be fully closed. If they remain up, criminals will have no problem seeing right into the house. If they see something they like, they will then break in. At night when you’re asleep, you should close your shades.

If you lose your house keys often, you might want to install a keyless entry system. Keyless locks require a code to unlock the door. Many home security companies will install these, and there are also do it yourself kits available.

Be sure not to use your birthday as the password on your door lock’s numeric key pad. Your date of birth can be obtained through Facebook or your mail. Rather, use a number that can be determined through an equation that you can remember instead.

Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. A thief can easily find this information out. Use a password that you can remember but that no one else will be able to guess.

If you are concerned about the cost of maintaining your security system, then you may find that a hard-wired solution is a good option. The wireless ones are convenient, however, they need multiple battery sets that must be changed frequently. The system will cease to work properly if the batteries are not fresh. It can also be very costly to replace many different batteries.

Replace flimsy doors with solid wood or metal versions. These doors will hold. A burglar is very unlikely to be able to kick in a solid wood or metal door. Make sure to replace exterior doors for the cheapest amount possible.

If your lights are generally turned off at roughly the same time, consider using a timer. They will go on when you need them, plus they’ll also go on when you’re not home.

Ask your security company if they offer motion sensitive lighting. Most companies offer this option which detects within a given distance of your home and alerts you that someone is approaching. This makes your home safer because it warns intruders away.

You should now have a better understanding of how to keep your home safe. Utilizing the right home-security system for your home and being knowledgeable on the topic are crucial. Use these tips and ideas to create a safer and more secure home environment.

Sliding doors are a huge security issue. These can become unlocked very easy by burglars. A piece of pipe or wood (e.g. a hefty broomstick) cut to the proper length and used to block the door channel can provide affordable security if you don’t have an alarm system. The pressure applied by the pipe provides added security and makes forcing a sliding door open a much less trivial matter.