You probably know someone personally who has had his home burglarized at one point in the past. Home invasions are a huge issue nowadays. All neighborhoods are targets for break-ins. This article talks about some things that you can do to improve its security.

Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Check references thoroughly. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. Parents of children can track their kids this way.

Buy a small home safe that you can use to keep your valuables in. This is vital since it means all of your things will be safe if someone breaks in your home. Keep the safe hidden somewhere remote.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Above doors or under doormats are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. Try hiding your key somewhere more unique, like your outside dog’s collar.

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. 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 not open your door for strangers. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Ask friend for any advice they have prior to purchasing a security system or service. Your friends have gone through both bad and good experiences and they will be able to share them with you. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. You will not have to worry about thieves taking your car if it is inside your garage. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Alter the combination of the locks in your home. There are many different people who might have keys from your past, and removing the potential of them accessing your home can be a very good idea. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. If the installers give you the heebie-jeebies, it’s not a good sign. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

When deciding on an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. You want a security system that monitors all your windows and doors. They are the most effective.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Never make things easy for them. Ask the person installing it to bury the wires or hide them inside the walls. Your system will be far more effective this way.

It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. An intruder can cut the wires if he can find them. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. You will be much more safe.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. You can’t always be sure that maids, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.

Unless you’re moving into a brand-new apartment or home, changing the locks should be one of your top priorities. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. You can install locks yourself to make sure you’re the only one who has a key.

If a friend picks up your mail while you’re away, have them check for fliers on your door. Robbers will place these on your door and may invade your home if they are not removed. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.

Security Company

If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. Burglars pay attention to this, and it will make them want to break in and get the items. You should cut up the boxes once you empty them.

If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.

Is your street number on your house visible from the street? The police will find it difficult to locate your home quickly if your address numbers are difficult to see. Happily, it’s quick and easy to fix this problem.

Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. Thieves don’t want to be visible. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. Keep lights on in the evening for a safer home.

A dog is a great alarm system. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. A common misconception, though, is that you have to have a large animal to be safe. Even small dogs can deter criminals just by making noise when something is afoot.

Make sure that whoever is getting your mail while you are on vacation also retrieves any fliers left on the door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.

Discuss various contracts offered by any home security provider you are exploring. They probably each have their pluses and negatives. While your monthly rates may be lower with a lengthy contract, you have no recourse should you list your home for sale or terminate your contract. A shorter contract gives you more freedom, but it may cost you more per month.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. That is not to say that a big, scary dog is required. Little dogs can also make big noise, which is the main thing that burglars care about.

Don’t utilize spring latch locks. These locks are the simplest ones to breach, since they are able to be opened by using just a credit card. The card is slid into the crevice between the latch and the door, pushing the latch back and springing the lock open. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.

Inquire whether a security company offers variable contract lengths. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. With a longer contract, your monthly payment is likely to be lower. The downside is you might be stuck for a longer period of time if you decide you don’t like the service or want to move. A shorter term allows for flexibility, but it might be expensive.

Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed when you’re not home. If you keep them up, intruders will be able to see right into your home. They’re going to want to get in your house if they can see items they want. You should also have them down when you are sleeping.

When you are out of the house, your drapes and blinds should be fully closed. You do not want any part of your home visible to the public. If something desirable is visible, you can expect a break in. You ought to keep them drawn while you are asleep.

Do you turn the lights on and off during the same time period? If so, consider a timer. This makes it easy for you because you do not have to turn the switch. It also makes the lights go off and on even if you are not at home.

Math Problem

If you have a door that isn’t solid wood or metal, change it for either one. These doors hold. Burglars would have a hard time kicking such doors down. Replacing doors is not very expensive and should make a real difference.

Never make the password to your keypad your birthday. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. Try using a number that is the solution to a math problem. Then you can just remember the math problem to arrive at the solution.

Keep the windows on the second floor of your home locked. These are easy to overlook because no one expects a criminal to make the effort to break in through an upstairs window. This could not be further from the truth. This is something that is a weak area, and criminals will go right to them.

Figure out if motion sensitive lighting is an option for your home by talking to your home-security company. This is often an option from a good company. Motion sensitive lighting turns on when a person approaches your home in the dark. This makes your home safer because it warns intruders away.

Indoor locks are nice, but outdoor locks are better. The best lock that you can choose are deadbolt locks, and the ones that have keys on both sides so that it cannot be opened by thieves are the ultimate choice.

Avoid thinking that burglaries only happen to expensive houses. Any home that looks easy to break in is a target. If you follow the tips in this article and ramp up the security of your house, you can protect your home and family better from unwanted intruders.

There are obviously benefits to owning a large dog with a scary bark. Burglars would not want to deal with potentially being bitten or attacked. Consider getting your family an animal companion that can contribute to the security of the home in addition to being a lovable pet.