Are you thinking about buying a security system for your home? Make sure you have thought this decision through before making a potentially expensive purchase! Locking your doors at all times and other simple ideas can make a huge difference.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. This is important if you have small kids.

Make sure your home appears occupied. You could purchase timers and have your TVs, lights, radios and other types of electronics to go on at various times. This way it will always look as if someone is home, even when you are away. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in it. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

Spare Key

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. If your dog lives outside or is able to come and go through a dog door, this is a viable idea. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. Call the local police department and inquire as to what programs they offer.

Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. It is best to do a reference check on them. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

You should mute your land line phone if you are going on a vacation. A loud ring that goes unanswered can alert people to the fact that you aren’t home. This makes you more likely to be the victim of a burglary.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.

Walls are a good place to hide things. Hide valuables inside of your walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. It will keep your family safer.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. Make sure the wires are installed inside the walls of your home. This will add security.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. Having a well-charged flashlight on hand is very beneficial in case of emergency. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Replace rotten wood near door frames. Rotting wood is easy to remove and take apart if someone is trying to get in. Replace this old wood if you want to keep your house safe.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. These lights not only give off light at night, but can also offer security around your home. If positioned correctly on the exterior of your home, the motion detectors make it virtually impossible for an intruder to sneak onto your property.

Power Goes

Make an appointment with a home security company to evaluate the security needs of your home specifically. Each situation is different. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.

Flashlights in your home should always have newer batteries if your power goes out. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.

Put a surveillance system in your home. You can have great home security with both hidden and visible video cameras. Cameras that can be clearly seen have a powerful deterrent effect, while concealed cameras are difficult or impossible for intruders to disable. It is possible to use your cell phone to look at your surveillance camera, meaning you can see your house when you’re gone.

A good way to scare off intruders is to keep your house lit at nighttime. Thieves don’t want to be visible. Thieves have a hard time stealing things when there are lots of lights around. Keep the lights on if you want your home to be secure.

Don’t leave empty boxes for big-ticket purchases outside on your curb. This will just alert criminals to the fact that you have expensive items in your home. Remember to cut up the boxes when they’re emptied.

The best method of preventing a burglar from breaking into your garage is preventing people from seeing inside. Cover your windows in frosting, which can be bought at big box hardware stores, so people can’t peek inside. Don’t leave doors open for long lengths of time when working there.

Speak with your security company about contract lengths and any options available. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. You may pay less if you sign up for longer, but you might also get left with a contract if you have to sell your house. Short contracts leave you with freedom, but also a larger bill.

If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. Burglars can see these and they know that you have them in your home, increasing your chances of a break-in. Remember to cut up the boxes when they’re emptied.

Your security company might give you the option to lease and eventually buy your security equipment. Although purchasing the equipment will likely cost you more money initially, this cost will only occur one time. It won’t be a cost you have to pay for every month. While leasing might be less expensive, it also comes with high monthly fees and contracts. Investigate each option and determine which makes more sense.

A great security system for your home is a dog. They generally bark when someone comes close to their property. You don’t have to have a huge, violent guard dog, though. Even the barking of a tiny dog can repel potential burglars, who want to avoid noises as they carry out their crimes.

If you want to hide your house key, find a spot that is not obvious. Rocks that aren’t real are easy to notice. Anyone looking for your key will look under your doormat. It’s better to have a friend, neighbor or relative keep a spare set of keys for you. If you cannot do that, try to be creative when it comes to hiding places.

Do not use locks with spring latches. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes. A card can be placed between the latch and the door, and this will open it. If your locks are spring latch, either replace them or put in a deadbolt to protect yourself.

Secure any valuables which can’t be replaced. Important legal documents and passports, family photos, expensive jewelry and financial records should always be protected. A floor safe could be a good place for you to keep these things inside your house. If you want to be very secure, you can put it in safety deposit boxes at your bank.

If you want to hide your house key, find a spot that is not obvious. It is easy to spot a rock that is fake. Doormats and rocks in front of the house are too obvious. The best idea is just to ask a friend or neighbor to hang on to a key for you. If you cannot do that, try to be creative when it comes to hiding places.

It’s very important to close your curtains in the evening, especially where your home faces the street. You want to avoid having people peek in the windows. A glimpse of tempting valuables may convince burglars that your home is worth a visit in the near future. Be discreet about what the public can see and you can reduce your chances of getting burglarized.

Any priceless items need to be secured. Important legal documents and passports, family photos, expensive jewelry and financial records should always be protected. Floor safes make for great places to hide such items. If you can, a safety deposit box that is outside your home is even better.

Though it is often good to avoid neighborhood gossips, make sure you are friendly with those in your area. If someone who looks suspicious is hanging around your home, this busybody might notice it first. As a friend, they will be sure to notify you.

A home security system might just be what you need. However, you may find that you only need to make a few minor changes. Be sure you know all the choices you have so you can choose the best one for you.

Choose some deadbolts with captive keylocks for your home. These have a thumb latch that prevents others from reaching around and opening the lock via a nearby broken window. Leave a key inside the lock in case there’s an emergency.