The topic of home security is very important for many homeowners; unfortunately, this topic is also one that many people aren’t fully aware of. A good way to guarantee a safe home is to review the topic in a thorough manner. Keep reading to learn some valuable pointers on securing your home.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Is your ceiling resistant to fire? What about your flooring or roofing? This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. Fire prevention is paramount.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. Burglars have many clever ways to convince householders to open the door. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.

Car Inside

When you’re going away, turn off your phone ringers. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

Keep your car in the garage. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. Besides, intruders will have a hard time determining whether or not you are home if you keep your car inside your garage.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

No matter how good your security system is, it should be checked annually. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. Sometimes, you may need a professional to locate the problem.

Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.

You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all windows and entry points. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Stashing your most precious possession right inside the walls of your home can be a great idea. No need to damage your walls. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

The wires that are on your house are very valuable. Many people do not realize this until a crook steals it off of their home. The reason they are valuable is because of their copper. A burglar can easily strip off your wires from the outside of your home very quickly. Keep your wiring hidden or inaccessible to potential burglars.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. Always keep your windows covered and do not tempt others by displaying your possessions.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. You should do a background check as well to find out their criminal history. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and this could be a very bad mistake.

Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. These lights not only give off light at night, but can also offer security around your home. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

Checking out security firms online is a great idea. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.

Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. Most burglars rely on concealment to approach a home. With a well lit home there is no place for burglars to conceal themselves. Thus, you should always keep lights on at nighttime.

Don’t allow your landscaping make it easier for burglars to break into your home. All of your windows and doors should be unobstructed by plants, shrubs, trees or fences. If they can be seen, there will be no place to hide. If you want to have a garden around your home, keep trees and shrubs away from your house.

Make sure the outside of the house is well lit. Darkness allows for all sorts of nefarious activities. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. Some examples include first story windows, garages, doorways and porches.

Wireless security systems are the next generation in protection. While wired systems may seem cheaper, they need your home to be rewired and they can fail due to a power outage. Wireless systems don’t need your home’s power in order to properly work. In addition, they can be usually be installed and maintained easier.

Anytime you come home and notice that the door is open whenever you are quite certain you closed it, don’t enter on your own to investigate. This can be dangerous since the intruder might still be on the property. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. If you can not afford to purchase a paper shredder, just rip the paper into smaller pieces.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. Thieves might go through your trash bags to find bills for valuables or personal information. Cutting the papers into small pieces with a pair of scissors is another option.

Don’t use spring-latch locks. They give intruders and easy time breaking in, since they can be unlocked with a credit card. A thief only needs to skip the credit card in between the lock to make it open. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.

If you’re planning to be out of your home for a period of time, have a neighbor remove any fliers placed on your door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.

If you are away, pull your shades closed. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. If burglars see items in your home that appear valuable, they’ll likely break in to steal them. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

When you purchase an expensive item such as a computer or TV, be sure to take the cardboard box to the recycling center rather than leaving it on your curb for all the world to see. If a burglar sees your empty box, he or she will know that valuable item is inside your house. That’s good motivation for a break-in. You should cut up the boxes once you empty them.

You need to know your options with companies concerning either leasing or purchasing equipment. You’ll spend less money in the long-run if you buy the equipment outright. Leasing is a good way to avoid the initial expense, but you will have to pay monthly fees. Compare these two options before making your decision.

Spring Latch Locks

Don’t hide your key somewhere obvious. It’s easy to see fake rocks. A doormat is obvious, and a burglar is sure to look there. The most secure thing you can do is to entrust your key to a reliable neighbor or a friend you can count on. This will reduce the chances of a burglary.

Try to stay away from spring latch locks. These type of locks can actually be opened by using a credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. If you already have spring latch locks, install a deadbolt for added security.

Make friends with your neighbors. Busybodies may be quick to notice when someone odd is checking out your house. If you make friends with them, it’ll be like having another set of eyes watching your home.

Most people know that home security is vital to the protection of the home and family. They don’t understand how to protect their homes, though. Hopefully, the above article has provided you with excellent advice on how to keep your home secure during all times of the day.

Always lock second story windows. Many homeowners neglect this step because they believe burglars won’t bother climbing your home. Do not underestimate intruders. Intruders will check these windows if the first floor is secured.