Do you know much about home security systems? If you discover that you don’t know much about the subject, read on. This is an expensive investment that means everything to the safety of your family, so continue reading to learn more.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. The safe should be situated in an inconspicuous area of your home.

Have your dog protect the spare key. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

Store your car in the garage if you have it. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

Be outgoing. Be friendly with people that live in the neighborhood. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. Don’t disregard gossip either. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. The lights will notify you of motion and also deter would be burglars. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Skylights should be secure. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

Keep valuables out of sight of windows. While having huge windows may be good for letting in light and viewing what is outside, it also gives potential thieves a good look in your own home. Cover all street-facing windows.

Secure your garage. Some people are concerned about burglars entering through an attached garage. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

Choose an alarm which monitors other areas outside your doors. Burglars often enter through windows as well. Make sure the alarm is attached to all of them, and that monitoring is offered for all possible entry points. This will make your family safer.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. Your local police department will help you with preventive measures, inspect your home and show you how to mark your valuables so they can easily be found. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

Rotted Wood

Replace rotted wood around entryways. An intruder can simply pry away that rotted wood and enter your home. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. You may not be able to tell there is an issue by yourself.

Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. The flashlights are important because they make you able to get around the house in an emergency. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. It is impossible to know if the newly hired maid or one time repairman might be a crook unless you check them out. Providing them with your key might be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.

You should not be shy. Speak with your neighbors. Keep your eye on their houses, and ask for help to keep yours safe too. Don’t ignore the gossip. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Motion Detectors

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. Cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing, these lights really add value to your home. Properly-situated motion detectors will give your home a complete field of protection and make it impossible for a miscreant to approach undetected.

Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. Keeping a spare key is convenient but intruders will have access to your home if your key is too easy to find. Any thief knows all the typical hiding spots. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.

When you hire a type of home security company, read the contract’s fine print before signing. There are sometimes fees if you break a contract or need additional equipment. Avoid as many fees as you can by reading everything.

If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. Most burglars rely on concealment to approach a home. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. Keep your lights turned on during the night.

Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. Potential burglars can easily claim they are security company representatives so that they can enter your home. This could be quite dangerous. Proceed with caution.

When you landscape your house, make it safe. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. If they can be seen, there will be no place to hide. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. So it’s smart to put a light in typically darker corners around your home. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. A background check may also be a good idea. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.

Consider installing a surveillance system. You can have great home security with both hidden and visible video cameras. Visible cameras are a deterrent to most intruders, and should they decide to disable them, a hidden camera will continue to capture footage. A lot of surveillance systems may be accessed through a cell phone, letting you check on your house when you’re away.

What are your feelings about home security possibilities now that you’ve read this? The better educated you are on the subject, the more informed decisions you can make. Start today to put this knowledge to use and provide your home with security.

Use the Internet to find a reliable home security company. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.