If you’re a homeowner, you know how important home safety is. A damaged home can leave your family devastated. Besides being a valuable possession in its own right, your home is also the stage upon which you live your life. Review this article to learn how you can protect your most valuable asset.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. Be sure any home cleaner you give your key to is trustworthy and reputable. Check references thoroughly. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Be sure your home always looks occupied. You can purchase inexpensive timers that will control different electronics and lights in your home. This way, it will appear that you are at home. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

It can be a good idea to only leave one ringer on in your home when you are away. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Be sure you seek out advice by asking those people.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, they should not be given access. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Remember that intruders have a lot of experience with tricking people. 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.

Walls are the perfect place to hide. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

Attached Garage

Do that put spare keys above door frames or under door mats. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Intruders know about the usual hiding spots. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. Place a C-Clamp on the door track near the roller. This will prevent the door from lifting.

No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. Blinds are a great way to allow the light in, without allowing people to see in at the same time.

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Call the local police department and inquire as to what programs they offer.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. Intruders can easily disable your home security system by cutting or unplugging the wires. Never make things easy for them. Ask the person installing it to bury the wires or hide them inside the walls. That will make you safer.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to check it annually. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

Believe it or not, the wires on your house are worth stealing. People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Be sure that you keep all your wiring hidden and make it hard to access.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

If you hire a security company, read any fine print. 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. Try avoiding these fees when you can so that you know about them.

Prior to purchasing a security system, think about what you need it for. You might find that an alarm isn’t necessary at all. Some neighborhoods feel more safe than others, but a good security system definitely makes you feel more safe. Understand completely the risks and rewards in order to make an informed purchase decision.

Perform landscaping for your home which enhances your home’s safety. Windows should be free from obstructions like trees, shrubs and fencing. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. Plan features like these further from your home to have a safe, beautiful design.

If you arrive home and you see that your door is ajar, never enter to investigate on your own. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.

Wireless home security systems are becoming more popular. 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. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. Be sure and shade your windows with window frosting, something that you can purchase at any hardware store, so as to keep people from looking in your house. Don’t leave the door unlocked for a long time, either.

Purchase a paper shredder to prevent your discarded papers from providing burglars with valuable information. You will be astonished at how burglars find important information from loose paper that they could use to break into your house. You could also simply take care to tear up your discarded papers.

Don’t leave the boxes of any high priced electronics on the curb of your house. If a burglar sees your empty box, he or she will know that valuable item is inside your house. That’s good motivation for a break-in. Cut the boxes up when they are empty.

If you have roommates or kids who you do not want in certain areas of the house, you do not have to lock the doors and carry around a ton of keys. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. You can even install it yourself.

Can you locate your house number if you are standing on the street? Make sure they are large in case emergency personnel need to find your house. Luckily, this is a quick and inexpensive fix if you notice that there is a problem.

Inquire about different choices for contract lengths available from the home security provider. There are going to be ups and downs for each one. Longer agreements may cost less per month, but you may not be able to get out of the contract if you need to. Shorter contracts mean more freedom along with higher costs.

Find out more about the different contracts your security company offers. Each will have its own pros and some cons, too. Longer contracts may offer more affordable monthly payments; however, it may be hard to cancel that contract should you decide to change services or sell your house. A shorter contract gives you more freedom, but it may cost you more per month.

It doesn’t have to be the most difficult thing to keep your home protected. You need to have some knowledge about home security. Put the ideas mentioned here into practice for a safer future. Don’t neglect these tips because you could use them to ensure your house’s safety.

Ask whether or not your home security company gives you the option to lease and/or buy your equipment. Although purchasing the equipment will likely cost you more money initially, this cost will only occur one time. It won’t be a cost you have to pay for every month. On the other hand, while leasing is more expensive overall, it can get you a better system if you don’t have funds available immediately. You must review both options carefully to determine which will best suit your needs.