Lots of people realize the importance of home security, but not everyone possesses lots of knowledge of it. You have to know all you can to really be secure. The tips you’ll find below can help you go a long way towards living a safer life.

Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Make sure you verify all references. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

Spare Key

Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Get in touch today.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. As nice as they look, they’re a prime target for thieves. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. Other people are sure to have opinions and experiences to share. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.

Use your walls as hiding spaces. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. Why not take the guts out of an electrical socket you’re not using? You can convert it into a convenient and covert little wall safe.

Consult with your police department to find out about good programs for home protection. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

If you buy expensive electronics or appliances, throw the packages away the day that your trash pickup occurs. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

Keep your car in your garage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. People may have lived in the home before those owners, too.

Ensure that valuables are stored in a hidden area that isn’t visible from outside your home. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but it can make it easier for criminals to see inside. Always keep your windows covered and do not tempt others by displaying your possessions.

Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.

If you bought any expensive or large items, don’t throw the boxes out until the day trash is scheduled to be removed. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.

Keeping your home well lit at night can help keep the burglars away. They do not desire to be seen. When you have a well-lit home, crooks won’t be able to hide and it will be hard for them to break in undetected. Keep lights on in the evening for a safer home.

When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. Every person has specific needs and wants when dealing with securing your family, home, and items. 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.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a new home security company. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. Once you do this, make appointments with the three best companies you find so that you can compare pricing and other important details.

If you come home and see your door ajar, never investigate it alone. The burglar may be on the premises. Just contact the police and sit tight until they arrive.

Ask the home security companies to visit your home and design a system tailored to your needs. Everyone has different needs, and your security system should be designed to protect your home and family. You’ll get the best protection by using a company that can tailor a plan to your requirements.

Consider a wireless home security system. While wired systems may seem cheaper, they need your home to be rewired and they can fail due to a power outage. Wireless systems don’t need your home’s power in order to properly work. In addition, they can be usually be installed and maintained easier.

Wireless Security System

Blinds, shades and curtains are best closed when no one is home. If they remain up, criminals will have no problem seeing right into the house. They may break in if they spot something that they like. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

Think about having a wireless security system for the home installed. Systems that are wired are cheaper, but they need unattractive wiring inside your home and may malfunction when you have a power outage. A wireless security system is easy to install and take care of. Additionally, this type of system is not dependent upon the electrical system of the home.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. Purchasing equipment outright will cost more initially, but may offer savings over the long term. While leasing might be less expensive, it also comes with high monthly fees and contracts. Check out both options and determine which is best for you.

Invest in a high quality paper shredder. A thief looking through your discarded papers can find a lot of information you do not want them to have. They may even learn your schedule, so they can burgle your home while you are away. If you can’t afford to buy a paper shredder, tear your papers up into tiny bits before throwing them away.

If you have a numeric keypad on your door as your lock, don’t make the password your birthday. People can easily access your birth date in order to gain entry to your home. Make it a random number that you and your family can commit to memory.

Make sure that whoever is getting your mail while you are on vacation also retrieves any fliers left on the door. Often burglars will place these at homes and wait to see if people take 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.

If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. Wireless systems, while convenient, will require much more maintenance. Neglecting this maintenance can cause faults in your security system and leave you improperly protected. Furthermore, it can be costly to replace multiple batteries.

Empty Boxes

You should invest in a timer to turn lights on and off at regular times. This makes your life a bit easier, and it means that your lights will still be lit even if you are away from long periods of time.

If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. When burglars see these boxes, they will know you have them inside your home, making it more likely for them to break in. Break down the empty boxes whenever possible.

If your living room window faces the street, keep your curtains drawn at night. You wouldn’t want strangers leering into your home. If thieves can see your things, they might think about paying you a visit. Keep your valuables out of sight and you’ll make yourself less of a target for crime.

Do not buy spring latch locks. These are the easiest for criminals to open with a credit card. An intruder has only to press the card into the doorjamb between latch and the door and the lock will pop open. A deadbolt should be added for security purposes if you have locks that are spring latch.

Locks from the inside can be helpful, but it’s not real useful if you are unable to lock your door from the outside. A deadbolt meets this requirement and is a good burglar deterrent as well.

You need to know your options with companies concerning either leasing or purchasing equipment. Buying will cost you more initially for the equipment, but will save you a monthly bill. Leasing is cheaper, but there may be hidden fees and contracts. Think about both options before making a decision.

Criminals really don’t like surveillance cameras. Mostly, only the criminals in movies wear masks. A lot of home burglars do not wear masks due to the fact that they don’t intend to allow anyone to see them. That means that they will avoid cameras at all costs.

Do not store your car registration documents in your glove compartment. It is not smart, because anyone can know your address. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place like your trunk. They must still be easily accessible should you be stopped by police.

Rather than simply having outdoor lights, consider using infrared detection lights. They turn on when there is motion nearby. This is a great deterrent for burglars and thieves. A burglar will instantly turn away if lights come on.

Think about getting a hard-wired home security system if maintenance costs are an issue for you. Wireless set-ups need battery changes all the time. Forgetting to add new batteries can cause your system to not work as it should. Batteries can be very expensive to change.

If you have a home alarm system, make sure that intruders know too. A sticker in your window or sign in your yard are the best bet. By making them aware before they enter your home, you’ll save yourself both time and headaches.

Set up a timer to turn your lights off and on at regular intervals. This is quite convenient because you won’t need to turn the lights off and on, and you won’t need to worry if you go away for a spell.

Do not keep the code on a electronic garage door opener. The original code is standard, which means an opener can be used for many different garages. Many thieves drive up and down alleys with one opener until a garage door will respond to its generic code.

Always keep your irreplaceable valuables secure. This can include items like important photos, passports, pricey jewelry, and legal documents. A floor safe is a great place to keep these items within the home. For ultimate security, of course, such items can be kept in an off-site location like a bank’s safe deposit boxes.

Make use of interconnected smoke detectors. These are simply alarms that all talk to each other. This means that they will all go off the second one does. You can rest assured that you’ll be aware of a fire in your home. The quicker you are alerted to a possible fire, the more quickly you can either douse the fire or get your family to safety.

You might think that your home is secure. However, not everyone knows how to achieve real protection for their own residence and belongings. Hopefully, the article you’ve just read has given you some ideas with regards to home security.

Lock the door to your tool shed, especially if there is a ladder inside. A ladder is virtually an invitation for burglars to climb up into your home’s second floor. Keep devices they they can climb on, like trash cans, building supplies, and your shed, locked.