Security is an important aspect of owning and maintaining your home. You need not read copious amounts of material, however! This article will help to boil down the important considerations so you are able to develop a program that works for you.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You cannot be sure of the number of key copies that the former owner gave out. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. In addition, replace your locks if your keys ever get lost.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.

Make sure your attached garage is secure. It is possible for an intruder to get in the garage and then gain access to the house; however, you can do something about it. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. The purpose of using the company is to calm your uneasiness, not worsen it.

Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Be sure your expensive belongings are not visible from the home’s exterior. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. Make sure you keep your blinds closed or arrange your possessions in such a way that they can’t be seen from outside.

Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. 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.

When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. This is the pinnacle of safety.

People who live rurally often don’t think about home security. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. However, understand that regardless of where you live, a theft can occur anywhere. Therefore, you need to be prepared.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

The walls are a perfect hiding place. If you need to protect expensive items in your home, put them inside the walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. You can also install a fake one.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. You can also put the locks on yourself so you can be sure no one else has a key.

Hide any valuables in wall spaces. It is unnecessary cut space into your wall. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

A simple way to increase your home security is to add motion lights around the house. In the evening, lights will help keep your home safe, and will add little in the way of extra expense. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.

Hide the wires of your home security system. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. You will be much safer.

Keeping your home very bright during the night hours is an excellent way to prevent thieves. That’s because they want to remain hidden. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. Keep lights on during the night.

Be on the lookout for rotten wood anywhere near your doors or windows. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. Look at various sites and read customer testimonials, along with details on various packages. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. These items will help you remain safe when there is no electricity. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

A reputable security company will send a representative to your home to design a custom system. Everyone has specific needs and wants when dealing with the security of their house, belongings and family. When you choose a company that pays close attention to detail in creating your home security plan, you will feel very secure.

An important part of vetting any security company before you sign a contract with them is finding out how long they’ve been providing security services in your community. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.

Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Burglars love to operate in the dark. Install some outside lights so you can see everything outside. This includes porches and doorways, the garage, as well as ground floor windows, which can invite an intruder.

Get a paper shredder. Thieves might go through your trash bags to find bills for valuables or personal information. Rip your important papers up before throwing them away if you can’t get a shredder.

Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. Even though these security systems can guard you and your family, that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. In some neighborhoods, it may be better for you to have a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself. Be aware of your risks to make an intelligent purchasing decisions.

If someone looks after your house when you’re gone, have them remove fliers from the door. Sometimes burglars leave fliers in an attempt to see if anyone is home to remove them. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.

Think about a wireless security system for your home. While systems with wires are cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

Don’t leave empty boxes for big-ticket purchases outside on your curb. This will just alert criminals to the fact that you have expensive items in your home. When you empty the boxes, cut them up and throw them away so that burglars do not see them.

Purchase a paper shredder to prevent your discarded papers from providing burglars with valuable information. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. Rip your important papers up before throwing them away if you can’t get a shredder.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. You’ll spend less money in the long-run if you buy the equipment outright. Although leasing is usually cheaper, you may have to fill out contracts and you will have higher monthly costs. Look at what you can afford, as well as what is offered and make an informed choice.

If there are parts of your home you want no one else to enter, there is no need to lock doors or have a set of keys on you at all times. Install key-less locks instead. These locks use codes instead of keys. Install them yourself or get a local home security company to do that.

Never keep the registration papers for your vehicle in your glove compartment. This is not wise since anyone who has access to them will know where you live. Keep these papers on you or hide them under a seat in your vehicle. Your papers should be easy to access in case a police officer pulls you over.

Keep your windows covered if you’re out. By failing to do so, you are granting a prime view of your house and your belongings. If they spot something desirable, they will seek access. Do not forget to close your shades before going to bed.

Spare Key

Make sure you have the curtains drawn if your windows are faced toward the street. There’s no reason to extend strangers an open invitation to inspect your rooms. If burglars spot the expensive items in your house, they may want to hit you next. Keep your valuables out of sight and you’ll make yourself less of a target for crime.

Put some extra thought into concealing your spare keys. The classic fake rock is too common and too easy to detect. Anyone looking for your key will look under your doormat. The best strategy is to have a neighbor or good friend hold a spare key in case you need it. If you have no choice but to hide a spare key, apply some inventive, out-of-the-box thinking when you do it.

The sliding doors made of glass that you see on many modern homes are actually a big security concern. Intruders can easily unlock these doors by simply lifting and shaking. You can install a security channel to protect your sliding glass door and/or cut a piece of pipe or a dowel that fits into the door channel. This can keep your door tightly closed and make it tougher to force wide open.

Every homeowner needs to learn about home security. It will take good sense to sift out the helpful information from that not useful to you. When you do come across security info you find helpful, (hopefully, including the article you’ve just read) it’s a good idea to hang onto it for future reference.

Buy your alarm system straight from the manufacturer. Middlemen tack on extra charges and offer very little in the way of guarantees. The manufacturer will give you a good deal and ensure your device works as it should.