Do you not understand what to do with security systems? Do you even know where you should start? You need to explore all your different options before purchasing a security system. Keep going into this article to learn more.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.

Have your dog protect the spare key. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Rather, think about putting a key on your outside dog’s collar.

Never allow any strangers into your home. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Therefore, ask everyone you can in order to obtain the most advice. With thorough advice, the best decision can be made.

In the summer, remove vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.

Secure your garage. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. You can use a C-clamp to stop the door from being opened.

The first thing to do is get your locks changed out. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. Most locksmiths can accomplish the job within 24 hours.

If your house has a garage, keep the car there, not just your junk. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. You should be very picky when it comes to letting people inspect your home. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

Don’t be shy. Build up a rapport with the people who own homes close to yours. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

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. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Rather, give your key to a neighbor you find trustworthy.

Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. Changing the locks can typically be done very cheaply and quickly.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. It is wise to invest in coverings for large windows that can give criminals a large view of your home. Always keep your windows covered and do not tempt others by displaying your possessions.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. Instead of letting you into your home in the event you are locked out, you are providing criminals with easy access to your home. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This way, you will be safer.

Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. A lot of times, burglaries happen due to carelessness. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

Rotted Wood

If you are moving in your new home, ensure all the old locks are replaced. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

Replace any wood surrounding your door frame that is rotting. Anybody wanting to break into your house can just pry off rotted wood and get inside. Be sure and replace rotted wood with fresh wood in order to ensure home safety.

Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. Be sure to keep your wiring hidden or difficult to reach.

When you hire a type of home security company, read the contract’s fine print before signing. You may find fees appear unexpectedly, including excessive costs for ending your contract early. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.

Your first priority when you move to an apartment or house where others have lived in before is to replace all the locks. The previous owners or tenants might have made some copies of the key. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

Buy a paper shredder. Thieves can use this information to figure out your schedule and determine the best time to break in. You can tear your documents up by hand before disposing of them if a shredder is out of your price range.

Before letting someone from a security company into a house, get some sort of official identification. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.

Arrange for someone to pick up your mail and remove any fliers from your door if you are out of town. Robbers will place these on your door and may invade your home if they are not removed. A flier that hangs around for days on end lets burglars know that there’s no one in the home.

Don’t let any service people into your home without checking their references completely. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

Can you locate your house number if you are standing on the street? If an emergency occurs, the police will not be able to find your home as quickly if these numbers are too small or are obscured in some way. Fortunately, the solution to this is quick, easy and rather cheap once you are aware of the need.

Keeping your house bright and lit at night will deter many crooks. They wish to avoid detection. Good lighting in your home means that crooks have no hiding places. That’s why it’s a good idea to light your home well for optimum safety.

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. Code or fingerprint enabled keyless entry locks are a great solution. You could install these locks yourself. Or, you may have a security company to do it for you.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. It’s good to know that the company won’t disappear overnight and leave your home unprotected.

Inquire about different choices for contract lengths available from the home security provider. These lengths can be both good and bad. While your monthly rates may be lower with a lengthy contract, you have no recourse should you list your home for sale or terminate your contract. Short contracts leave you with freedom, but also a larger bill.

Can you see the number of your house from the street? If your numbers cannot be plainly seen, then the police will struggle to locate your home very quickly in case of emergency. Fortunately, this is something that can be corrected quickly and cheaply.

Put some extra thought into concealing your spare keys. Everybody knows about fake rocks. Hiding a key under the doormat is even worse; this cliched tactic will fool no one. Just leave your key with someone you trust. If you want to keep it at your house, find a spot that’s not obvious.

Do not use locks with spring latches. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes. Wedging the card into the door crack can cause the lock to release. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.

You should know more about home security after going over these tips. Use what you have learned in this article and apply it to your situation. You will never regret taking this important step.

When you aren’t home, be sure to close your blinds, curtains or shades. By failing to do so, you are granting a prime view of your house and your belongings. If a burglar sees something that is enticing, they are going to try and get it from your home. Curtains and blinds should be drawn shut while you are asleep.