Making your home safe and secure is a critical part of being a homeowner. If you want to be well-protected and responsible, you owe it to yourself to address home security as thoroughly as possible. However, knowing the right security steps to take is not easy. The following article should be very beneficial as you begin.

Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Make sure you check references. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. If your dog lives outside or is able to come and go through a dog door, this is a viable idea. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Your safe should be placed somewhere it is not readily noticeable.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

If your social networking accounts are filled with folks you do not really know, do not announce vacations on the sites. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

Don’t open your door if a stranger is on the other side. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Turn the ringer off on your telephone if you are going to be away. A loud ring that goes unanswered can alert people to the fact that you aren’t home. This makes you more likely to be the victim of a burglary.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. Some people are concerned about burglars entering through an attached garage. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened by strangers.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. Mother Nature and wild animals can also cause issues with your home security system. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.

If you own a garage, be sure to use it to place your car, as opposed to using it as a storage. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

Get to know your neighbors. Converse with those living in your area. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. Listen to gossip also. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Security System

Hide any valuables in wall spaces. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. You can find areas in your walls that are pre-cut and use those. What about un-wiring an electrical socket which isn’t used to utilize as a cover to hide your jewelry?

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. 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.

When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. Burglars can gain entry through your windows as well. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Alter the combination of the locks in your home. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Having these boxes outside of your house will give robbers the temptation of robbing your house.

Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. Though it is nice to have big windows to get a great view of the outdoors, it is also easier for burglars to look into your home. If you’ve got street facing windows, be sure and keep them covered.

Before letting someone from a security company into a house, get some sort of official identification. Many thieves use this tactic to enter a house. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Act cautiously to avoid potential dangers.

Always lock your house, even if you are only going to be away for a few minutes. It may shock you to know this, but a lot of intruders get inside homes through open doors. Thieves can steal thousands worth of your belongings very quickly.

Ask a home security company to come to your house and design a security system that is perfect for your needs. The needs and wants of each family and the configuration of each home are quite individual. When you choose a company that pays close attention to detail in creating your home security plan, you will feel very secure.

Don’t just consider alarming your doors when you’re considering an alarm system. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. You want a security system that monitors all your windows and doors. They are the most effective.

If you are planning to be away, and you have someone picking up your mail, ask them to also double-check your door for fliers. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes 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.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

Make sure a surveillance system is part of your home security system. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home safe. Most intruders are discouraged by visible cameras. But, if they attempt to disable the camera, you will still be able to see them if you have a hidden camera. Some security systems are accessible via mobile phone, which lets you look in on your house when away.

You need a home security system. Video cameras are a great deterrent. A visible video camera acts as a warning to an intruder. If the intruder disables the visible camera, the hidden camera will document it! As an added security bonus, most modern systems will allow you to monitor your cameras remotely (via cell phone) for round-the-clock protection.

The best way to keep a burglar out of your garage is to ensure no one can see inside. Use frosting to cover the garage window, so people cannot peer inside. Also, don’t leave your door open for long periods of time when you work there.

Empty Boxes

Ask about different contract lengths that your home security company may offer. These lengths can be both good and bad. You might pay less each month for longer contracts, but it has its deterrents as well. If you want more freedom, it is best to purchase a more expensive but shorter contract.

Never place empty boxes for expensive items out on the curb. If the burglars see the empty boxes, then they will realize you have the items in your home. As a result, they’ll be more likely to break in so they can steal it. Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.

You want your blinds and curtains closed if you’re away from your home. If they remain up, criminals will have no problem seeing right into the house. If they see something they like, they will then break in. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. Spring latch locks are the easiest locks to gain entry with, as they can be opened with a simple credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. IF spring latch locks are already in place, add a deadbolt for that extra layer of security.

Always keep your valuables secure. Passports, jewelry and expensive electronics must be secured at all times. A floor safe can keep these items safe. For ultimate security, of course, such items can be kept in an off-site location like a bank’s safe deposit boxes.

If you aren’t at the house, keep the windows and curtains closed. You don’t want potential thieves knowing you are gone. You don’t want potential intruders to be able to look inside. They’re going to want to get in your house if they can see items they want. Close your drapes or blinds while you are asleep, too.

A home alarm system is a terrific investment, but make sure someone is there to call the cops if it happens to go off. Your best option is an alarm system that is monitored centrally so the police will be dispatched when the alarm sounds. You can’t rely on your neighbors to call.

Never make the password to your keypad your birthday. It is easy for anybody to learn your birthday, which makes it easy for them to access the house. Rather, try and make your combination the answer to an equation so that you only need to remember an equation instead of an actual series of numbers.

Sliding doors are a huge security issue. Shaking the doors or even simply lifting them can unlock them. You should install a security system on your sliding glass door or place a pipe segment to fill the door channel. This will ensure the door stays tightly shut and it is difficult to force open.

Having a safe home helps you have a peaceful mind. There is no doubt about that. Sometimes it’s hard to know what steps must be taken. Fortunately, these tips have shed some light on the matter.

Though it is often good to avoid neighborhood gossips, make sure you are friendly with those in your area. If there are people lurking around your home that look suspicious, this busybody may be the first to notice. Being friendly will bring you great security.