Now is the time to learn all you can about home security. This is one area in which it is not acceptable to compromise. You must be in control when it comes to this decision. This is made easy if you have the right information. Read on to learn about the choices you have.

Make your home look occupied at all times. You could purchase timers which make lights and TV’s, as well as other devices, power on or off at varying intervals. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.

Does your dog stay outside while you are gone? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. Fasten the key to your dog’s collar to hide it from view. This is an especially good idea if your dog doesn’t like strangers, and gives you easy access to get in your home.

Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

Home security systems offer other triggering features besides having an alarm sound. The majority of systems are able to be set to put out an alert when any individual enters the home. If you have little ones wandering about the house, this makes it easy for you to know if they have come in or gone out.

Consider the advice of your friends when selecting your home security company. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

Shop around when looking for a good home security system. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

Local Police

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. If the phone rings when you are away, burglars will know there’s nobody home, making the house vulnerable to a break-in when you are out.

Take advantage of any and all security resources your local police force makes available to homeowners. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they’re available in your area.

If your garage is attached to your house, make it secure. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

The walls are a perfect hiding place. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. Several in various jurisdictions have programs which entail providing a home inspection, what protective measures will help your home and even how to engrave valuable items to make them easier to recover. Call them up to find out more.

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Always have your security system checked each year. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. Wild animals, domestic pets, and weather are all factors that can affect the reliability of your home security system. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

Whenever you move to a new dwelling, make certain to get each lock replaced. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

You should not be shy. Speak with your neighbors. Ask them to look after your home, and in return, look out for theirs. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Obtain flashlights with solid batteries, and ensure they are kept in all the rooms of your home in the event of a power outage. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Install lights that use a motion-sensor. These kinds of lights will pop right on when they detect motion near your home. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

Previous Owner

When it comes to securing your home, start by changing your locks. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.

If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.

If you scheduled an appointment for a member of the security company to come to your house, ask them to show you some identification first. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Be cautious to stay safe.

Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.

If you want to make your house even more secure, a cheap way to do that is to buy outside lights with motion detectors. They lights will light up your property at night and they are cost-effective and efficient. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Conceal valuable spaces within your walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. You can find pre-cut areas in your walls that can be used. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

The most useful tool for finding home security is the Internet. Look at various sites and read customer testimonials, along with details on various packages. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

It is important that you do not put expensive valuables in plain sight. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. If you’ve got street facing windows, be sure and keep them covered.

If you come home and see your door ajar, never investigate it alone. This can be dangerous since the intruder might still be on the property. Instead, wait outside until the police come, after calling them on your cell phone.

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 does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.

Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. Also, you will have a very easy time installing them.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Intruders can get around security systems and into a home by cutting the wires. Make sure the wires are installed inside the walls of your home. That will make you safer.

Arrange for someone to pick up your mail and remove any fliers from your door if you are out of town. Burglars have been known to put these up, waiting to see if they are removed or not. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.

Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. This can be risky for you and your belongings. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.

Discourage burglars by making your garage windows opaque. 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.

Can you locate your house number if you are standing on the street? If there is need for cops to come to your home, it will be hard for them to find it if the numbers are not readable or are tiny. Fortunately, this is something that can be corrected quickly and cheaply.

Your pup is a great crime deterrent. Dogs can be extremely protective of their space and are great at barking when something is afoot. Keeping a huge and ferocious canine is not necessary. A terrier will make enough of a fuss to stop someone from breaking in.

A dog is a great home security alarm. These pets are usually territorial and want to protect their masters. That is not to say that a big, scary dog is required. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.

Ask whether companies offer options to lease or buy your security equipment. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. Leasing may seem cheaper but might require contractual agreements and fees. Check out both options to discover the best one for you. The option that’s best for one person may not be best for another.

Keep your most valuable possessions secure. Items such as family photos, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. Floor safes are great for keeping these items inside the home. It is even better to rent a safe deposit container for absolute security.

The tips you just read should help you find a good home security system. Having the proper information regarding home security can really help you to get the most out of keeping your home safe. Put what you have read today into play so that you and your family sleeps safe and sound.

Lock all of your windows that on the second floor of your home. Many folks forget this point and believe that burglars will not bother with those windows. Oh, but they will. This is often a weak area that criminals know about.