Continue reading to learn more about your options concerning home security. It is difficult making such a big decision that is costly. Knowledge is what you need to make a sound decision.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. It is best to do a reference check on them. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. 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.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your extra key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Make sure everyone in your house knows not to open the door unless they know the person standing outside.

If there are people you don’t know that have access to your social media sites, then you don’t want to let all of them know you’re on vacation. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

The police department in your area may offer a home protection program. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Call and see what is available.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

Security System

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. There are many things that can reduce the quality of your system. You might not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. The weather and animals are two things that may cause havoc on your home’s security system. The problem might not be obvious to you, though.

The first step in making your home more secure is to change out your locks. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It doesn’t cost much and they can usually show up within a day.

Security starts with new locks. Perhaps your roommate left town or you have gone through a messy divorce, and you need to feel that the home is safe. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Don’t put your spare keys under floor mats or plants. Instead of letting you into your home in the event you are locked out, you are providing criminals with easy access to your home. Thieves are aware of all these spots. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.

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. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. The purpose of using the company is to calm your uneasiness, not worsen it.

Lock your home when you leave, even if you don’t think you will be away for long. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. Avoid giving keys out to contractors, maids and repairmen.

Are you aware of the value of your home’s wires? Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. Hide the wiring and make it harder to access to prevent this from happening.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. At night, not only will these lights be handy to light up areas around your home,they are also a cost-effective and efficient security addition. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Replace this old wood if you want to keep your house safe.

Don’t allow your landscaping make it easier for burglars to break into your home. Windows should be free from obstructions like trees, shrubs and fencing. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. This will give your home additional safety.

Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. Each homeowner has different priorities in terms of home security. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

If you are moving into a new home, change the locks right away. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

Before you think about home security, consider personal security and safety. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Be sure to understand the sorts of risks you face before deciding what sort of security is best for you.

Look into wireless security systems. While systems with wires are cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.

Never enter your house if the door is open or something doesn’t feel right. This is very dangerous due to the fact that the thief can still be inside your property. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. Thieves may look through your garbage for information. If you can’t get a paper shredder, try ripping papers into smaller pieces.

Arrange for someone to pick up your mail and remove any fliers from your door if you are out of town. Crafty burglars will leave fliers on homes, and check to see if they’re being removed as a means for determining whether or not the home is vacant. 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.

Don’t use spring-latch locks. These locks are easy to pick, and it can be done with an ordinary credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. If you have spring latches already installed, consider adding deadbolts too.

Keeping thieves from the contents of your garage can be as simple as making sure they can’t easily look inside. Add some frosted glass panes to your windows to keep strangers from looking inside. If you use your garage for working on projects, don’t forget to lock it when you’re through working for the day.

Keep your window coverings drawn in the evenings. You don’t want all the peeping Toms of the world looking in. If burglars spot the expensive items in your house, they may want to hit you next. Minimize your chances of burglary by minimizing what in your home is visible to the public.

Your precious pooch is one of your best home security weapons. Dogs can be extremely protective of their space and are great at barking when something is afoot. There is no need for a mean, big dog either. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.

A lot of people try avoiding the neighborhood gossip. Try to listen to them when you need to. The nosy neighbor may not make for good company, but he or she is likely to notice suspicious individuals near your house. By befriending this person, you will always have updates on the latest neighborhood news and threats.

If you have understood this information, then you’re ready. It is vital that you understand your situation because it is vital in keeping you and your family safe inside your house. Use this information to make safety a reality in your life.

Always lock second story windows. Many homeowners neglect this step because they believe burglars won’t bother climbing your home. This isn’t so. Criminals are aware of this vulnerable area.