If you want to make a great decision in terms of home security, knowing the right information is very important. This should not be a decision made in haste. It is better to concentrate on providing the best level of safety possible for your family and home.

If you’ve got lots of people you don’t know on your social networks, don’t let them know that you’re going to be on vacation. Although it’s fun to talk about, posting it online makes it more possible for criminals to find out when you’re gone.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.

Keep your car in your garage. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

Motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home is a great idea. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

Check around for prices, reputation, and reliability when choosing a home security provider. Every company offers different pricing. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.

The first thing to do is get your locks changed out. This could be an ex-spouse or roommate you got into a fight with. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.

A wall is a great hiding place. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. Target any unused phone jacks or electrical outlets for an easy hiding spot. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.

If you purchase big-ticket items, don’t throw their boxes in the trash before trash day. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

If you have a stranger at your door, do not open it. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. As nice as the previous person may seem, you don’t really know them. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. Even though the previous tenant may have turned in their key, you never know if they have a copy. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

Make sure to clear your yard of brush and dead wood in the summertime. They pose a fire risk. Keeping your plants and bushes trimmed will benefit your family’s safety as well as the appearance of your home.

Motion Detectors

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, the lights will keep things bright round the house, but they are also efficient and cost-effective ways to help your security. If you position motion detectors properly, it is very hard for someone to sneak onto the property.

Do not be shy. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. Pay attention to 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 hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. There could be fees for terminating the contract early or acquiring additional equipment down the road. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.

Before signing up for a particular home-security company, find out how long they’ve been around. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.

Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. Flashlights are very important, as they will give you the ability to move around in the event of an emergency. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Add lights to any areas you believe are potential entry points for burglars. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

This article has shown you the light. You don’t want to walk into your decisions blindly. Knowing that your family is safe is key. Be sure and remember what you have learned here.

If the home you are moving into is not brand new, you should change the locks on all the doors. The previous owners or tenants might have made some copies of the key. You can change the locks yourself if you’re feeling really industrious.