It is every homeowner’s job to do everything they can to keep their homes safe. Installing an alarm is great, but there is so much more. Read the following article for more detailed information about making your home secure.

It’s important to shop around before you settle on the right security system for your home. Prices vary significantly, even for similar levels of protection. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

You should only provide a house cleaner your key if you completely trust them. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key. Check references thoroughly. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Do you have an outdoor dog? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. This is the perfect place to store a spare key, especially if your dog doesn’t care for strangers.

Get rid of all of the dead wood and vegetation in your yard during the summer months. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Look at a number of different companies and get at least three quotes before selecting what you feel is the ideal plan for your home.

Consult with your police department to find out about good programs for home protection. There are plenty of things that can be done, from a safety walk to cataloging expensive items to help protect your investment and your family. Call them up to find out more.

Spare Key

Be sure to keep your car in your garage rather than filling your garage with stored belongings. In this way, your car will be safer. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. Hiding your car from plain view will also keep potential intruders from tracking when you are home and when you aren’t.

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. A number of factors can cause problems with your security system, including wild animals and mother nature. If you aren’t paying attention, you may not be aware of these problems.

Never let a stranger inside. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. Some criminals will come in, case your house and then come back when you are away.

Be cognizant of what others can see when they look in your windows. If you have big windows near your big entertainment system, it can seem like an invitation to thieves. If your windows are facing the street, make sure you cover them and protect your valuables.

Avoid opening the door if you don’t know who is standing on the other side. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Even if you’re not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Never make things easy for them. Ask the person installing it to bury the wires or hide them inside the walls. You’ll be safer.

Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you really have no clue as to who they really are. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. Many other people could have keys to the property, and you probably don’t want them to all have access to your home.

To increase your home’s security, buy some outdoor lights that are motion activated. Cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing, these lights really add value to your home. If strategically placed, motion detectors ensure that it’s difficult for intruders to break into your home sight unseen.

Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. Avoid as many fees as you can by reading everything.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. It doesn’t take long for a quality company to prove itself in the security business, and you should look for a track record of satisfied customers and successful work. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Darkness allows for all sorts of nefarious activities. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.

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. A thief might still be in there, which could put you in danger. Your best bet is to contact the authorities and wait outside for them to get there.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. This can be quite dangerous because the burglar may still be on your property. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. This will allow you to see who is around your house. Cameras that can be seen are an excellent tool for preventing most burglars from breaking into your home. However, if they are brave enough to try to disable your cameras, hidden cameras will capture them. Many surveillance systems will allow you to access them through your cell phone; therefore, you can ensure your home is safe even when you’re gone.

A wireless home security system could be just the option you are looking for. While wired systems may seem cheaper, they need your home to be rewired and they can fail due to a power outage. Wireless systems are much more simple to install and upkeep, and the power inside your home will not affect them.

From the road, are your house numbers visible? If the numbers aren’t legible, police may drive right by. If you notice a problem, you should be able to fix it fairly cheaply, though.

If a friend picks up your mail while you’re away, have them check for fliers on your door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If it stays where they put it, they will know you are on vacation.

Don’t make an obvious or easy password for your numeric keypad lock. A thief can easily find this information out. Choose a math equation and make the answer your code, and make sure to keep the equation in mind.

A great way to deter criminals from getting into the garage is to make sure nobody sees inside it. Frosted windows prevent thieves from looking into your home and are inexpensive. Also, don’t leave your door open for long periods of time when you work there.

If your living room window faces the street, keep your curtains drawn at night. You would not want to tempt outsiders to look through your window. If potential thieves notice any expensive valuables within your home, they might target you. Use some discretion and make sure to block your valuables from view with curtains or shades.

If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. A burglar may see the box and decide to target you as a result. Remember to cut up the boxes when they’re emptied.

If your door is not made out of solid wood or metal, you should replace it. These doors will hold. If a burglar were to try and kick his way inside, he would have a lot of difficulty doing so. You ought to be able to get new exterior doors fairly cheaply, so make this a priority.

Steer clear of locks with spring latches. They give intruders and easy time breaking in, since they can be unlocked with a credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. If your doors have locks that are spring latch, add a deadbolt for extra security.

Inquire whether or not your security company offers motion sensor lighting. Most companies offer this option which detects within a given distance of your home and alerts you that someone is approaching. This can offer you additional safety as you are entering your home, and it can also deter an intruder.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. Buying will cost you more initially for the equipment, but will save you a monthly bill. Leasing is cheaper, but it can involve contracts and pricier monthly fees. Compare these two options before making your decision.

The sliding doors made of glass that you see on many modern homes are actually a big security concern. Shaking the doors or even simply lifting them can unlock them. If a security system isn’t attached to these doors, then insert pipe to place into the door channel. This keeps your door closed tightly and it will make it much harder to open forcibly.

Is your door made of solid wood or metal? If not, then replace it. Durability is key. Burglars would have a hard time kicking such doors down. You are probably able to replace your exterior doors for a small price, so do that soon.

Always lock all your windows, even the ones on the second floor. People often overlook their second floor windows, assuming that thieves won’t check them. This isn’t true. Intruders will check these windows if the first floor is secured.

Sliding glass doors can be a huge security problem in lots of homes. They can be unlocked very easily if you shake and lift them. If you don’t have an alarm set up for them, use pipe cut to fit at the door channel. This holds the door firmly in position. Even if the lock is broken, the door will still be held closed.

Women stand a much better chance of being the victims of home invasions, particularly if they live alone or with kids. Place large, muddy boots at your doorstep so it looks like a big, burly fellow lives there. This can discourage burglars from choosing your home for a robbery.

After reading these tips, your home should be safe. While it might seem like a lot of work, it is imperative that you do all you can to ensure the safety of your home and your family. Using these tips should help you out a lot.

If you have a large dog, it can really deter intruders. Burglars don’t want to put themselves in the position of being attacked. Choose a dog who looks scary but loves your family.