If you are a single mom or a female living alone that does not feel comfortable defending yourself physically, home security can be a huge concern for you. Instead of staying afraid, there are simple steps you can take to feel better. Read the article below to learn about home security.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Be sure to make sure their references check out. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Above doors or under doormats are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. Instead, try hiding a key on the collar of an outside dog.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. People will check your doormat and frame first. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Avoid coming across as overly shy. Speak with your neighbors. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Never neglect gossip. You will learn a lot from your neighbors, including details about recent break ins in the area and the shady individuals they noticed.

Never let a stranger inside. This includes a salesperson or people looking for help. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.

When securing your home, don’t forget about skylights. As nice as they look, they’re a prime target for thieves. Any skylights in your home should be secured with strong hardware.

Do you know how valuable the wires within your home are? A lot of people don’t realize this fact until a robber steals it from their home. It does not take much time to strip off the expensive copper wires from the exterior of your house. Make sure the wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep this valuable item safe.

Avoid opening the door if you don’t know who is standing on the other side. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Alter the locks and the keys when you change homes. The previous owners or tenants might have made some copies of the key. You might even purchase and install your own locks so that you are assured of having the only keys.

Whenever you sign with a home-security company, it is important that you thoroughly read the contract. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. Be aware of these particular fees so you can steer clear of them.

If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. On a different note, some people believe homeowners in more rural areas are more likely to experience robberies because of the lack of nearby neighbors. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

Having your home lit up and bright at night is a great deterrent to crooks. They want to avoid being seen. When your home is lit well, the crooks have nowhere to hide, making it difficult for them to steal from you undetected. Keep those lights shining brightly at night.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Plan these features for further away from your home.

You can hide your valuable items inside your walls. It’s not necessary to cut out parts of your wall to do this. There are many locales that are already around your home. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. 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. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.

Personal Information

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

Get a paper shredder. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Frost your windows so people cannot look inside your home. Don’t leave the door unlocked for a long time, either.

Change all of the locks in your new residence. Although you may trust the previous homeowner, you cannot be 100% sure of their character. Keep in mind that other families might have lived with them, too.

Are you able to see the numbers on your house from your street? In the event of an emergency, police officers may have trouble finding your house if they cannot read your address numbers. Luckily, this is a quick and inexpensive fix if you notice that there is a problem.

Securing your house doesn’t mean you’ve got to go through pricey installs and waiting on slow companies to get the work done right. There are alternatives out there that are much cheaper and they can really help keep criminals away. Keep these tips top of mind to help you feel much safer in your house.

Replace rotted wood around any door frames. Rotting wood is easy to remove and take apart if someone is trying to get in. Replace it as soon as possible.