What are the things that you know when it comes to security systems? If you discover that you don’t know much about the subject, read on. You should keep reading to learn how you can keep your family safe.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. You could purchase timers which make lights and TV’s, as well as other devices, power on or off at varying intervals. This way, your house will always look occupied. It is also another way to secure your home.

Do you have an outdoor dog? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. This is a good way to ensure easy home access, especially if your pet does not associate well with strangers.

It is a good idea to replace all the locks on the new home you buy. You’re not aware of any copies that have been made by the previous owners of the house. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

When looking for a system to secure your home, do comparison shopping. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

Ask friend for any advice they have prior to purchasing a security system or service. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Spending a few days asking for reviews is useful in helping you choose correctly.

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This adds more protection to a house, especially if you’re in a dry area with some power lines. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

Keep your car in your garage. You will not have to worry about thieves taking your car if it is inside your garage. Hiding it will help to deter people from tracking the times you aren’t there.

Always lock your house, even if you are only going to be away for a few minutes. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

A wall is a great hiding place. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Place them in switch plates, phone jacks or an electric outlet. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. Besides, other tenants or owners might have copies of the key if the previous owners did not change the locks.

Do not hide your spare key under your doormat or in a nearby planter. You may believe you are making life easier for yourself, but you may just be giving thieves simple access to your house. Thieves are aware of all these spots. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.

Before letting someone from a security company into a house, get some sort of official identification. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This represents a danger to your possessions and your family. Be very careful with who you let into your home.

Be cognizant of what others can see when they look in your windows. While having huge windows may be good for letting in light and viewing what is outside, it also gives potential thieves a good look in your own home. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. They do not desire to be seen. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. At night, keep your lights turned on to boost security.

When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. Burglars often enter through windows as well. You want a security system that monitors all your windows and doors. This will help to keep your family safe.

It is a good idea to get some history on any home security companies you are thinking about doing business with. Find a home security company that has a good reputation and many years of experience to get excellent service. You may not feel as safe if you opt to go with a company that has not been in business for long or that does not have a stable history.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. Your safety will increase.

Consider installing a surveillance system for your home. Both hidden and visible security cameras are effective in protecting your home. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. A lot of surveillance systems are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.

Make sure you have several flashlights that are charged and ready to go in the event of a power outage. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. Teach everyone in your home to use the flashlights so all family members can see and help each other.

If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. This will show that you have expensive equipment in your home. Remember to cut up the boxes when they’re emptied.

You should think about getting a home security system that is wireless. A wired system should be less expensive but you might have to spend your money on getting your home rewired. A wireless system, on the other hand, requires less maintenance and is simpler to install.

If you’ve got guests that you don’t want in particular areas of the home, close the area off so it is not accessible. Get key-less locks that need a code. You could install these locks yourself. Or, you may have a security company to do it for you.

Man’s best friend can be one of the most effective anti-burglary systems. Dogs become extremely protective of their families and bark when uneasy. You don’t even need a huge, vicious dog. A terrier will make enough of a fuss to stop someone from breaking in.

Discuss various contracts offered by any home security provider you are exploring. Each probably has its own set of positives and negatives. You may pay less if you sign up for longer, but you might also get left with a contract if you have to sell your house. While a short contract provides you with extra freedom, it can cost you more for each month.

If you have roommates or kids who you do not want in certain areas of the house, you do not have to lock the doors and carry around a ton of keys. Use a code-access lock for any door you don’t want others opening. You can either install these locks by yourself, or have them professionally installed if you are not that handy yourself.

Hard-wired home security systems can help you to cut down on costs. Systems that are wireless are convenient, but the batteries required can be cumbersome. If you forget to change the batteries, your system will not work correctly. Replacing all of those batteries will cost a lot, too.

Find out about the various lengths of contracts your chosen home security company has on offer. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Longer agreements may cost less per month, but you may not be able to get out of the contract if you need to. Shorter contracts likely allow you more flexibility with exiting the plan; however, you will probably have a larger monthly bill.

Obviously, owning a big dog that has a frightening bark has its benefits. Burglars don’t want to get bitten or attacked. A big dog can be a great burglar deterrent for your home.

Set up a timer to turn your lights off and on at regular intervals. This can simplify your life, but it also makes your home appear lived in if you are away.

The wiring outside may be easily targeted by burglars and thieves. Electrical wiring and wiring components contain valuable copper which can be sold by enterprising criminals. Conceal the wiring of your home to keep copper thieves from stripping it and leaving you with a big repair bill.

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 will make an intruder hesitant to break in, and it will provide you with additional safety whenever you arrive home late at night.

Try to hide any indications that there are women and children in the house, like leaving toys on the lawn, from view from the outside. This will inform potential burglars that women live in the home. Homes with women are more attractive targets because they probably have pricy jewelry inside.

Buy security systems directly from the company and not a reseller. Resellers only want to make the most money they can, and they don’t necessarily guarantee their products. If you deal directly with the security company, you will not incur added fees and you can be assured that your equipment will be serviced by the company.

Video surveillance systems are a crooks nightmare. Burglars that wear masks that are seen in movies are fake. A lot of home burglars do not wear masks due to the fact that they don’t intend to allow anyone to see them. When the video camera is spotted, they’ll head for the hills.

Are you feeling a bit better informed on the subject of home security? The more you know the better it is for you to make a decision regarding these things. Keep this article handy so you can refer to this information as you shop.

Look for a home security company that offers more than just a security system. A reliable company will inspect your home, and give you ideas about improving its safety. This could mean adding additional locks, trimming back some bushes or installing windows that are more secure. You want to feel like the company is worried about your security as a whole, rather than just their bottom line, and when they are willing to go the extra mile it helps you to feel confident.