A lot of people believe security systems require expensive technicians who leave your home a wired mess. This process doesn’t have to inconvenience you. Here are some ways that you can make your house more secure, starting today.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. 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. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. That means burglars will pass right by.

Home security systems offer other triggering features besides having an alarm sound. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. This will only be ideal if you have a dog door or an outdoor dog. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. Prices vary quite a bit. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. 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.

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Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

Don’t let strangers into your home. Burglars have many clever ways to convince householders to open the door. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Hide your valuables in the walls. This is a great way to hide jewelry, for example. Repurpose phone jacks and electrical outlets as tiny wall safes. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

You should regularly check your home security system, regardless of how reliable you believe it is. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You don’t have to cut pieces out of the walls. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. How about unwiring an electricity socket and using it as cover for a place to stash valuable jewelry?

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. While they are there to let light in, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. These items will help you remain safe when there is no electricity. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.

Check each spring for any rotting frames on your doors and windows. Replace them immediately if you spot any problems. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. This is very dangerous due to the fact that the thief can still be inside your property. Call the authorities and let them take care of the situation.

Home security installation technicians should always be in uniform and wearing identification. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.

Consider a wireless home security system. While wireless systems are often cheap, the cost of installation can be sky high. Wireless systems are easier to install and maintain, and they do not rely on the power in your home to work correctly.

To increase your home’s security, buy some outdoor lights that are motion activated. These lights will keep your property well lit and give you a good idea of who approaches your home. When they are positioned correctly, they make it pretty much impossible for intruders to get to your house unnoticed.

It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. Placing hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. Some security systems are accessible via mobile phone, which lets you look in on your house when away.

Think about safety when designing your home. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. If windows and doors can be easily seen from all areas, then burglars cannot hide as well, which will hinder their plans. Keeping the areas around your windows free of plants can help to deter criminals from lurking too close to your home, without you noticing.

If you live with children or others whom who don’t want entering some parts of the house, keys and lock sets aren’t the only option. Use a code-access lock for any door you don’t want others opening. They are fairly simple to install, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing so yourself, you can ask your home security company about it.

You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. Every family is different, and so your security needs will be unique. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

When you will be away from home, keep the curtains and blinds shut. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. If they notice something valuable, they’re more likely to invade your home. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

Make sure the outside of the house is well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Motion sensor lights can work great because they can also alert you when someone does come onto the property. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.

Does your security company offer leasing and buying? You can avoid interest rates by buying the security system right away. Leasing is usually the cheaper option; however, it does mean higher monthly bills and a contract. You need to think about each option to think about what is right for your home.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

Don’t hide your key somewhere obvious. The classic fake rock is too common and too easy to detect. Hiding a key under the doormat is even worse; this cliched tactic will fool no one. It is probably best to find someone you trust to hold a key for you. If you can’t do that, you must think creatively to find a good place to keep a spare key.

You don’t necessarily need a fancy security system to keep your home safe. Installing a fence, or adding safety locks to your door, are among the many options available to you to consider. Keep this advice in mind when attempting to make your house a more secure place.

A dog trained to bark will keep you safe. Burglars would not want to deal with potentially being bitten or attacked. Consider getting a large dog that is able to protect, but that also is gentle with children and friendly to your whole family.