If you are curious about home security, this article is for you. There is no reason to settle when it comes to such an important decision. You need to get the right information that will make it easier to make a decision. The following article will give you some great ideas regarding the safety of your home.
Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Store the spare key with them. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. This is especially useful if the dog does not take kindly to strangers.
TIP! Does your dog like to play in your yard? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. Fasten the key to your dog’s collar to hide it from view.
Change the locks after buying a new house. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. When you lose your keys, have your locks rekeyed.
Home security systems are able to do more than just sounding the alarm whenever you have an intruder. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. This can be useful if you’ve got small children that are able to open doors.
TIP! There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened.
It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.
Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. If a burglar enters your home, he or she will have a hard time making off with your possessions. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.
TIP! Use a safe to protect your valuables. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc.
Don’t announce your vacation agenda on your social networks. This is especially true if you have lots of unfamiliar “friends”. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.
You should not let anyone inside your home. No matter how innocent a person may seem or how interesting the product he or she may be offering, you must not allow access. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.
TIP! Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. This includes a salesperson or people looking for help.
Don’t open up your door for someone who is a stranger. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Be sure that everyone in your home knows not to open the door to strangers and unexpected visitors.
Remove old plants and debris from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.
TIP! In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months.
Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.
The police department in your area may offer a home protection program. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. Speak with the police in your area to see if they have these things.
TIP! Take advantage of any and all security resources your local police force makes available to homeowners. Several in various jurisdictions have programs which entail providing a home inspection, what protective measures will help your home and even how to engrave valuable items to make them easier to recover.
Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and do the same thing for them. Never neglect gossip. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.
Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Ask the security company to send a technician out to give your system a thorough inspection. Many different things can make problems for your security system. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.
TIP! Always have your security system checked each year. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check.
Put motion sensor lights around your house. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. They will signal movement to you but will also serve as deterrents to the thieves. Replace bulbs regularly and check the sensors once a month.
Alter the combination of the locks in your home. Perhaps your roommate left town or you have gone through a messy divorce, and you need to feel that the home is safe. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.
TIP! The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get new locks. This could be an ex-spouse or roommate you got into a fight with.
Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. Changing the locks will ensure that you are the only one who knows the combination. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.
A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Although a skylight can bring light into one’s home and look good, it’s also a common entrance way for burglars. Any skylights in your home should be secured with strong hardware.
TIP! Be sure to secure the skylights to your home. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home.
Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.
Don’t put your spare keys under floor mats or plants. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.
TIP! Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home.
It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. This will make you much safer.
When you consider a security company, be certain you read the details and fine print of the contract you’re about to sign. You may find fees appear unexpectedly, including excessive costs for ending your contract early. Try avoiding these fees when you can so that you know about them.
TIP! When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. There could be fees for terminating the contract early or acquiring additional equipment down the road.
Armed with this information, it should be easier for you to secure your home with the best possible outcome. It is important for you to have the correct system installed as well as the best service. Protect your home and your family by applying what you’ve learned from this article.
Keep lights on at all times if you want to prevent break-ins from happening. Thieves don’t want to be visible. Making your home’s exterior nice and bright will make it impossible for crooks to go undetected. Keep those lights shining brightly at night.
TIP! Having a bright and lit-up home at night deters crooks. Most intruders avoid anything that could reveal their identity.