The topic of home security is very important for many homeowners; unfortunately, this topic is also one that many people aren’t fully aware of. Learning as much as you can about home security can help you be proactive and not become a victim. Continue reading in order to find great stuff on how to assure your safety.

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 you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Check references thoroughly. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. If a burglar enters your home, he or she will have a hard time making off with your possessions. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.

Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Be certain to obtain multiple quotes prior to making your choice.

Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.

Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.

Be cognizant of what others can see when they look in your windows. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. If your house has street-facing windows, make sure they are always covered and your make sure your valuables are hidden away.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Replace bulbs regularly and check the sensors once a month.

Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. A thief can take plenty of valuables in minutes.

Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or beneath the welcome mat. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Instead, give your extra key to a neighbor whom you trust.

When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. It should protect the windows too. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. Do this to keep you and your family safe.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. Many people have their wires stripped each year. It does not take much time to strip off the expensive copper wires from the exterior of your house. Hide your wiring to secure it.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. This will make you much safer.

Equipping each room in your house with a reliable flashlight (charged with good batteries, of course!) is an excellent safety investment. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. Train your kids how to use flashlights so that all members of the family can contribute.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. These types of items are appealing to thieves, and you may as well put a sign in your yard inviting them to steal yours.

Determine how much experience a home security company has before you decide to do business with them. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.

Just moved in? Time for new locks! Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Also, there have likely been other owners of the home, and you don’t know them either.

If you get home and see the door is slightly open, don’t go inside by yourself to investigate. You have no way of knowing whether the thieves are still inside. Instead, you should call 911 and wait in a safe location for the police to arrive.

If you want to make your house even more secure, a cheap way to do that is to buy outside lights with motion detectors. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Thieves will drop off flyers to see if home owners are away. Fliers that are left behind signal to the burglar that there is no one at home.

When you hire a type of home security company, read the contract’s fine print before signing. 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. Be aware of these particular fees so you can steer clear of them.

Don’t neglect your garage when it comes to home security. Use frosting to cover the garage window, so people cannot peer inside. Do not leave doors open for lengthy periods while you are doing work.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. They should take your concerns seriously and address any issues you have. Working with a business that will look out for your specific interests will help you be much safer at home.

There is no need to have keyed locks on interior doors. Get key-less locks that need a code. You can install them yourself, or you can have a home security service install them.

Be sure and keep the outside of your house well lit. Thieves like to commit crimes when no one can see. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

When you will be away from home, keep the curtains and blinds shut. If you don’t, others can look in and see that the property is currently unoccupied. If something desirable is visible, you can expect a break in. You should also have them down when you are sleeping.

If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Often burglars will place these at homes and wait to see if people take them down. Intruders can get a good idea of what your schedule is like or figure out that you are on vacation if the flyer stays on your door for a long time.

See if your security company only sells equipment, or if they will lease it to you instead. Buying it may cost more, but this means there are no monthly charges. Sometimes it’s more affordable to begin with a lease, even though a continued lease may be costly in terms of ongoing higher monthly fees. You need to think about each option to think about what is right for your home.

Can you see the number of your house from the street? If the numbers aren’t legible, police may drive right by. Thankfully, you can right this wrong cheaply and quickly.

The glove compartment is bad place to store important documents like your car’s registration. This isn’t smart because anyone can reads them can see where you live. You should carry them with you or find some other hiding place inside your vehicle. Keep them close to you in case you get pulled over.

Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. Think instead of a more creative way to keep track of your code.

If you turn the lights off or on always at the exact time, utilize a timer. This will ensure that they turn on and off when you can’t be at home.

Using a timer on lights is a great idea. This is simpler, as you will not have to flip any switches, and you will know the lights will go off and on in your absence.

If your door is not solid wood or metal, replace it! Those are the doors that last. If a thief tried to kick the door, he would not be successful in doing so. The cost of replacing these doors is very minimal if they were to break.

Become chummy with your nosey neighbor. If there are people lurking around your home that look suspicious, this busybody may be the first to notice. If you are friendly with them, it increases the chances of them alerting you right away.

Most people know that home security is important. Many feel lost when it comes to choosing a home security system. Hopefully, the article you’ve just read has given you some ideas with regards to home security.

It’s sadly true that women who live on their own or with children are especially tempting targets for burglars and home invaders. One way to throw off would-be assailants is to put a large pair of muddy boots on the front porch, to suggest the presence of a big man. This will definitely deter criminals from entering your home.