To make a better home security decision, you need to take the time to familiarize yourself with the various options. You must plan carefully before making this decision. Take the time to educate yourself and learn what you need to do in order to keep your family safe.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

Make your home look occupied at all times. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

Do not give the key to your home to your cleaning person unless you are certain they are worthy of your trust. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Make sure you check references. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. The safe should be situated in an inconspicuous area of your home.

It is important to invest in building supplies that are as fire resistant as possible. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. Home security also includes taking steps to prevent a fire from completely destroying your home.

Good home security systems sound a loud alarm when breached, and that’s not all. The majority of systems are able to be set to put out an alert when any individual enters the home. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. They have likely had interactions with home security providers that they can tell you about, saving you time and stress. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. Try hiding the key in your outside dog’s collar.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. It’s quite possible for there to be a fault in your system even if you can’t see it.

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. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

When choosing a home security firm, trust your instincts. You should be very picky when it comes to letting people inspect your home. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.

Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or beneath the welcome mat. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. 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 always know just where to look. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.

Rotted Wood

Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. If your windows are facing the street, make sure you cover them and protect your valuables.

Buy flashlights with strong batteries and make sure there is one in each room in case of power outages. It is extremely important that you have flashlights because they allow you to move around easier in the dark, which is especially useful in an emergency. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. They don’t want visibility. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. Keep the lights on if you want your home to be secure.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. It won’t take long for thieves to steal lots of expensive valuables.

When seeking out home security firms, the Internet is an indispensable tool. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. You can then make three solid selections and make appointments with them.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. Rotten wood can be removed in order to get inside your home. Replace the rotting door frame with a new one and keep your home much safer.

This article provides a starting point for your research. You should not purchase the first system you find. You must place your family’s safety as a top priority. Keep these tips to consider as you go on.