Lots of people realize the importance of home security, but not everyone possesses lots of knowledge of it. It’s possible to protect your home if you know what information to study. Read this article to learn excellent tips on ensuring your home’s safety.
When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.
TIP! You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. You cannot be sure of the number of key copies that the former owner gave out.
If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. Be sure any home cleaner you give your key to is trustworthy and reputable. Carefully check their references. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.
If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key. 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.
TIP! Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty.
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 your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.
Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.
TIP! A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened.
It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Get a professional in to check it out. A number of factors can cause problems with your security system, including wild animals and mother nature. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.
Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.
TIP! Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat.
Install lights that have motion sensors. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. You will be alerted when there is activity outside, and any potential burglars will be deterred because they do not want to be seen. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.
You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.
TIP! Don’t open your door for strangers. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse.
Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. If the men who come to your home to do the installation seem untrustworthy, you can change your mind. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.
Is your garage used for storage? Consider removing those items and keeping your car there instead. It will be far more secure against thieves. Keep the car within the garage will make sure no one harms or steals it. Keeping your car out of sight is also a good way to prevent intruders from determining whether or not you are home.
TIP! If you own a garage, be sure to use it to place your car, as opposed to using it as a storage. This will keep thieves from stealing it or harming it.
Whenever you move to a new dwelling, make certain to get each lock replaced. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.
Get to know your neighbors. Speak to your neighbors. Watch their homes and ask them if they’ll watch yours as well. Never neglect gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.
TIP! Avoid being shy. Meet your neighbors.
The wires that are on your house are very valuable. A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. Be sure to keep your wiring hidden or difficult to reach.
You have a choice on who installs your security system, don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.
TIP! Go with your gut when choosing a home security company to install a system. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable.
If someone from the security company comes to your home, ask to see their ID before allowing them in. They might not be who you think they are. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Be careful to avoid any potential dangers.
Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. An intruder can easily disable your security system by cutting the wires. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. This can make you safer.
TIP! Make sure the wires of your home security system are completely hidden. Intruders can get around security systems and into a home by cutting the wires.
It’s smart to use the Internet when you are looking for a good security company for your home. Go through different websites and investigate testimonials about different companies and packages. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.
Are you aware that the wires located on the exterior of your house have value? Often homeowners are unaware of this fact until they find that their wiring has been stolen. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.
TIP! Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and may be stripped off the exterior of the house in a short time span.
Security Company
Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Be very careful with who you let into your home.
TIP! If someone from the security company comes to your home, ask to see their ID before allowing them in. Having the name of the technician coming to your house ahead of time can help to ensure you are allowing someone who really works for the company into your home.
Ask your home security company how long they have been in business before you sign up for service. 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.
Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. Intruders should have nowhere to hide near your home. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.
TIP! Don’t limit security to the inside of your home; the outside needs attention too. Make sure that the doors and windows to your home are not covered by trees, fences, shrubs or any other type of thing.
Consider installing a surveillance system for your home. Both hidden and visible security cameras are effective in protecting your home. 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. Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, allowing you to check up on your home when you are away.
Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. While systems with wires are cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages. Also, you will have a very easy time installing them.
TIP! There are wireless systems available for home security, as another option. These systems are much more efficient and can save you time and hassle.
Make sure that your garage is not visible from the outside in. Cover your windows in frosting, which can be bought at big box hardware stores, so people can’t peek inside. If you use your garage for working on projects, don’t forget to lock it when you’re through working for the day.
Put up video surveillance. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home safe. A visible video camera acts as a warning to an intruder. If the intruder disables the visible camera, the hidden camera will document it! You can often view these feeds over the Internet, too.
TIP! Make sure a surveillance system is part of your home security system. Installing hidden and visible video cameras is great for securing a home.
If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. Some locks will allow you to punch in a code to gain access to the room. You can even install it yourself.
Keeping people out of various areas of your home does not have to involve using multiple locks and keys. It is possible to have locks that require just codes, not keys. These may be installed by yourself or a security company.
TIP! If there are certain rooms you want to keep unoccupied, then you don’t want to keep track of all the keys and locks. You can instead get key-less locks that work using a code.
Inquire about various contract lengths which your security company might offer. There are of course pros and cons for each contract. Longer contracts can lower your monthly bill; however, you may have to continue paying the bill even if you move or discontinue with their services. Shorter contracts allow your greater freedom, however they usually cost more each month.
Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. They probably each have their pluses and negatives. Your bill may be lower with a long-term contract, but you could wind up paying for a service you’re not using if you decide to move. While the monthly rates may be higher for a short-term contract, this option is more flexible.
TIP! Find out more about the different contracts your security company offers. There are going to be ups and downs for each one.
Spring Latch Locks
Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. These locks are very easy to pick with something as common as a credit card. Intruders simply wedge a credit card between the door and latch, triggering the lock to open. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.
TIP! Don’t use spring-latch locks. Just one credit card can get a burglar access to your home.
Do not use spring latch locks on your doors. These locks are easy to pick, and it can be done with an ordinary credit card. An intruder has only to press the card into the doorjamb between latch and the door and the lock will pop open. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.
Don’t put the registration to your car in your glove box. This isn’t smart because that information contains your home address. Keep them on you or hide them somewhere else in your vehicle. If a cop pulls you over, you will need them anyway.
TIP! Keep your car registration papers on you at all times. These documents contain a lot of sensitive personal data, like your home address.
Home security is vital to protect you and your family from robbery. Many don’t know how to go about protecting their homes. Hopefully, there is some information in the article that will keep your home safe around the clock.
A timer can help you regulate when you turn the lights off or on in the evening. This helps the lights stay on and continue to switch even when you’re away from your home.
TIP! A timer can help you regulate when you turn the lights off or on in the evening. The automatic timer will keep the lights going on and off on schedule, so a thief will not be able to tell when you are away.