All homeowners should do all they can to keep their homes and families safe. Burglaries, fires and natural disasters can all damage or destroy your home. Keep reading to find out more about home security and how you can protect your family.

Your dog could carry a spare key for you. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. 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 you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Carefully check their references. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. The safe should be situated in an inconspicuous area of your home.

Keep your jewelry, vital documents and other expensive items in a safe. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Put the safe somewhere difficult to get to, like the attic.

Secure your garage. Often people are concerned that burglars can enter the home via the attached garage . Happily, there is a solution to this problem. If your garage door happens to lift on a track, using a C-clamp can help. the C-clamp prevents the door from opening if it’s tightened on the track close to the roller.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Use your garage for your car, not just storage. You will not have to worry about thieves taking your car if it is inside your garage. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

Never allow any strangers into your home. There are some people who are very convincing and good at getting you to let them into your house. Some people just want to know if there is a security system so they can plan on coming back later or not.

You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. You need to feel secure with the entire process.

You need to change our locks as your first step to ensuring your safety. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. It shouldn’t cost too much, and the process can be completed very quickly.

It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. If your windows are facing the street, make sure you cover them and protect your valuables.

Go with your instincts when choosing a security system company. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

Make sure the wires of your home security system are completely hidden. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. Do not make entry into your home easy. Make sure the wires are not exposed either inside or outside your home. This way, you will be safer.

Never place a spare key in a plant box or under your welcome mat. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Flashlights in your home should always have newer batteries if your power goes out. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Be sure everyone in your family is aware of the location of emergency flashlights.

Ensure that valuables are stored in a hidden area that isn’t visible from outside your home. 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. Be sure to put curtains on your front-facing windows so people can’t see your valuable belongings.

Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. This is a fairly inexpensive way to provide light and security to your property. If they are positioned correctly outside of your home, your motion detectors can make it impossible for strangers to sneak around.

Don’t limit security to the inside of your home; the outside needs attention too. Make sure that the doors and windows to your home are not covered by trees, fences, shrubs or any other type of thing. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. Plan these features for further away from your home.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Check out reviews you find on the web. After reading about these services, you can narrow down the results and use appointments for price comparisons.

Determine how much experience a home security company has before you decide to do business with them. Companies with a long history can give you the best service for many years. It’s good to know that the company won’t disappear overnight and leave your home unprotected.

Wireless Systems

Ask a home security company to come to your house and design a security system that is perfect for your needs. Each customer wants certain things as far as home security goes. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

A wireless security system for your home is a great option. 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.

Put a surveillance system in your home. Installing video cameras, both visible and hidden, are a great way to secure your home. Also, you can capture the intruder in the act. A lot of surveillance cameras could be accessed through your phone, giving you the chance to check it even when you’re away.

If you will be away from your home, arrange to have whoever is collecting your mail to also pick up fliers placed inside your door. Thieves have put them up in order to see if people are home to take them down. If their fliers are not moved, the crook knows the home is unattended.

Make sure no one can look inside your garage. If your garage door has windows, make sure they have a frosted coating. This is easy to find at any major hardware store, and installation is a breeze. Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when you are working in the garage or yard.

If you have rooms that are off limits to kids and company, the following is a great solution. You can have key-less locks which require a code. Install them yourself or get a local home security company to do that.

Can you read your house numbers while in the street? Small or obscured numbers can make it difficult for emergency personnel to locate your home. Luckily, this is a quick and inexpensive fix if you notice that there is a problem.

You need to take your car registration documents out of your car. The reason is that anyone who sees them will immediately have your home address. Keep them on you or hide them somewhere else in your vehicle. Remember that you have to have access to them in case you’re stopped by the police.

If you are away, pull your shades closed. When they are open, potential burglars get a free look in. They may break in if they spot something that they like. You should also have them down when you are sleeping.

If your door has a numeric keypad, don’t use your birthday as the password. Your birthday can be found on mail or social media sites, so this means anyone can access your home. Think instead of a more creative way to keep track of your code.

Make sure you lock your second floor’s windows. This is often overlooked by many people because they do not think that a criminal will check them. This is not the case. This is something that is a weak area, and criminals will go right to them.

A sliding glass door can make your home less secure. A quick heave is usually enough to open these doors, even if they’re locked. A piece of pipe or wood (e.g. a hefty broomstick) cut to the proper length and used to block the door channel can provide affordable security if you don’t have an alarm system. This can keep your door tightly closed and make it tougher to force wide open.

Women are more likely than men to be a target for burglary. This is especially true if they live on their own with children. Put muddy boots on the doorstep so that it appears there is a big man that lives in your home. This will make burglars think twice about breaking in.

Deadbolt locks offer the best security, and those with captive keylocks are even better. A thumb latch prevents outsiders from accessing your door locks through an adjacent window. When at home, leave your key in this kind of lock for easy egress in the event of fire.

Having a big dog with a loud bark is beneficial. Burglars don’t want to get bitten or attacked. Consider getting a large dog that will protect your whole family while being a playmate for your children, walking pal or friendly companion.

When it comes to locks, remember that you have to be able to lock it from both the inside and outside for maximum security. A deadbolt meets this requirement and is a good burglar deterrent as well.

Buy a security system from a reliable company instead of a re-seller. Resellers are interested in profits, not continued long-term service relationships. The manufacturer will give you a good deal and ensure your device works as it should.

Every homeowner needs to take the necessary precautions to protect their home and property from potential threats like thieves or vandals. The article below has some great ideas with regards to home security. Give all of them a try in order to make your home as safe as it can be.

Your external wiring can be an easy target for thieves and burglars. The copper in components and wiring is being sold for lots of cash. Hiding your wiring will thwart robbers from removing the copper and leaving the bill with you for the extensive repair costs.