If you are a single mom or a female living alone that does not feel comfortable defending yourself physically, home security can be a huge concern for you. There are measures you can take that will give you peace of mind. Read the article below to learn about home security.

Make sure your home appears occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. It’ll make it seem like someone is home. That means burglars will pass right by.

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.

It is crucial that you change the locks as soon as you move into a new residence. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. You should also have your locks changed if you lose your keys.

Hiding Places

Hiding places for spare keys must be chosen with extreme care and caution. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Compare various home security systems when shopping. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Be sure and get a minimum of three quotes from different companies prior to choosing one.

Never allow str4angers to enter your house. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. 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.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Call and see what is available.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. Wild animals, domestic pets, and weather are all factors that can affect the reliability of your home security system. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital. Not everyone believes this, though.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. It is generally cheap and may be done in a little under a day.

Don’t just consider alarming your doors when you’re considering an alarm system. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. They are the most effective.

Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. It is simple for a robber to pry away rotting wood and enter your home. Replace wood that is starting to rot with fresh new wood to keep your home as safe as possible.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

Use the Internet to find a reliable home security company. Review the websites of several companies and play close attention to the types of services offered and the customer reviews. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. Burglars tend to commit crimes at night. Install some outside lights so you can see everything outside. This extends to doorways, porches, garages and lower windows.

There is a lot of value in copper wiring. Many people never realize this value until wires are stolen right out of their home. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. They aren’t the right fit for everyone. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Ensure that you have considered all your options before making a final decision.

If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Thieves have put them up in order to see if people are home to take them down. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.

Rotten wood on door and window frames needs to be repaired. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. Replace rotting wood with new wood to stay safe.

Install a home surveillance system. You can make a huge difference in your home’s security by putting in cameras whether they’re concealed or out in the open. Intruders will stay away from your home if they notice cameras and hidden cameras can help identify intruders if they disable the most visible cameras. Many surveillance systems may be easily accessed through a cell phone so that you can check on your house while you’re away.

See if your security firm offers a variety of contract lengths. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. A long term contract should have a lower monthly rate but it also requires you to commit for a long period of time. Shorter contracts offer greater freedom, but may be more expensive each month.

Unless you’re moving into a brand-new apartment or home, changing the locks should be one of your top priorities. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

Blinds, shades and curtains are best closed when no one is home. When they’re open, it would be easy to see no one is there. They may break in if they see things they like. You should keep them closed while you are asleep.

Avoid keeping auto registration in your glove compartment. These valuable documents provide criminals with information about your home location. Keep them with you or hide them elsewhere. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.

Before you give a security company employee access to your home, make sure they’re in uniform and that they present acceptable identification. Potential burglars can easily claim they are security company representatives so that they can enter your home. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. Proceed with caution.

Sliding glass doors pose large security issues in homes. A quick heave is usually enough to open these doors, even if they’re locked. Without a security system to protect your home, you should shove a pipe or rod behind the sliding door–between the sliding half of the door and the door frame–to brace it against the frame. Doing this will help keep your door closed tighter, making it more difficult for burglars to break in.

It is possible to protect your home without the need of installing expensive alarms or waiting for home-security companies to install them for you. There are many things you can do on the cheap that will scare criminals off. Be sure and use these tips in order to adequately protect your home.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Don’t obstruct windows or doors with shrubs, plants, fences or trees. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. This will give your home additional safety.