Something tragic or bad can and will occur when you’re not expecting it. Make sure you look at your home security. Don’t put your family in unnecessary danger. Read on for great tips to make your home safer and to keep criminals from targeting you.

Get a safe to protect your valuable items. This is very important, as you do not want your gold, diamonds and personal items exposed if someone were to break into your house. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.

You should mute your land line phone if you are going on a vacation. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

Compare various home security systems when shopping. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Look at a number of different companies and get at least three quotes before selecting what you feel is the ideal plan for your home.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. 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.

Rural Areas

Secure your attached garage. 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. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened by strangers.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Due to the distance between neighbors, some think rural areas are more likely to have intruders. Not everyone believes this, though.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. Keeping a spare key is convenient but intruders will have access to your home if your key is too easy to find. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. What about un-wiring an electrical socket which isn’t used to utilize as a cover to hide your jewelry?

If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, make sure you get the locks changed. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

Don’t ever put your spare key under your doormat or in a 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 familiar with these hiding spots. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. There are early termination fees, and there may be fees for extra equipment procured in the future. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Rotted Wood

Having a well-lit home that’s bight in the evening can really deter crooks. They don’t want visibility. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. If you want to stay secure, keep your house brightly lit.

If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. Anyone can gain access to our home by prying away the rotted wood. Replace rotting wood with new wood to stay safe.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Many websites offer reviews, recommendations, and detailed pricing information. With that information, you can make your appointments with the top three companies you’ve chosen so that you can compare pricing and look at specific monitoring and plans.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. Check if they have any history of criminal activity. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and this could be a very bad mistake.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Your doors and windows should not be obstructed by shrubs or fences. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Have your landscape several feet away from your house for better safety.

One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. In the evening, lights will help keep your home safe, and will add little in the way of extra expense. Positioned correctly, these lights can make it impossible for intruders to get on your property undetected.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. It also ensures they’re not a fly-by-night firm.

Your landscaping should be designed based on what will be safest for your home. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.

Get a custom-designed plan that fits your needs by having the security company do a site visit in your home. Each customer wants certain things as far as home security goes. When you choose a company that pays close attention to detail in creating your home security plan, you will feel very secure.

Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. You need some features which other families may wish to do without. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.

Prior to purchasing a security system, think about what you need it for. While these systems are great and can help protect your family, they are not necessary for everyone. It may be better for you to take a self-defense class or buy a dog. The neighborhood you live in makes a difference. Know what you want and make your decisions based on that.

Make sure you have weighed the costs and risks when you are considering your security needs. Although these systems can protect you and your family, not everybody needs them. It may be better for you to take a self-defense class or buy a dog. The neighborhood you live in makes a difference. You need to assess risks and choose a system adapted to the kind of situations you are likely to run into.

Invest in a good paper shredder. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. Rip your important papers up before throwing them away if you can’t get a shredder.

If you see that the door is open, do not enter the house. This is dangerous since the thief may still be on your property. It is best to call the police right away and go to a safe place until the police check your home.

Discourage burglars by making your garage windows opaque. Frosted windows prevent thieves from looking into your home and are inexpensive. Also, don’t leave your door open for long periods of time when you work there.

Use a wireless security system. While a wired system is more affordable, it also requires more extreme modifications of your home’s existing wiring. This could be a potential problem in the event that your power goes out. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.

Are you able to see the numbers on your house from the street? In the event of an emergency, police officers may have trouble finding your house if they cannot read your address numbers. Thankfully if you notice a problem it’s an easy and cheap thing to fix.

The criminal element is quite unpredictable and every home is a potential target. Instead of just hoping it will not happen to you, take the steps to secure your home. Remember what you have learned, and do some research on your own so as to protect your family.

If you have a living room window that faces the street, draw your curtains at night. You do not want to invite people peeking in through your window. If the crooks can see what you own, then they are going to target you next. Keep your valuables out of sight and you’ll make yourself less of a target for crime.