Your home is the most important place in the world for your family. When they leave, it should be just as safe when they get back. A good way to secure the home and your belongings is to keep reading the piece that follows.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Make sure you verify all references. If the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.

It is a good idea to replace all the locks on the new home you buy. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Prices vary quite a bit. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! Rather, think about putting a key on your outside dog’s collar.

Spare Key

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. Ask for someone else to come out or switch companies. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

If you are new into a house, replace all the locks. Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you really have no clue as to who they really are. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

If you hire a security company, read any fine print. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Put up motion activated lighting. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs to ensure they continue to work properly.

Having your home lit up and bright at night is a great deterrent to crooks. They don’t want visibility. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. If you want to stay secure, keep your house brightly lit.

Switch your locks. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. Changing the locks can typically be done very cheaply and quickly.

Ask the home security companies to visit your home and design a system tailored to your needs. Each homeowner has different priorities in terms of home security. If there is a company that can come up with a customized plan, you will get what you really need.

Don’t forget about the skylights when securing your home. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Criminals love darkness to help mask their crimes. So it’s smart to put a light in typically darker corners around your home. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

Lock your home when you leave, even if you don’t think you will be away for long. A lot of times, burglaries happen due to carelessness. It does not take long for thieves to steal your expensive stuff.

Before looking at home security systems, consider your personal security risks and safety needs. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. Some neighborhoods feel more safe than others, but a good security system definitely makes you feel more safe. Make sure you understand your risks so you can make wise purchasing decisions.

There is plenty of information you can use to protect your home. How will you apply it? Continue investigating the many options open to you until you find the right system for your needs.

If you don’t have a paper shredder, you might want to buy one. Thieves often find the trash cans to be a gold mine of pertinent information about potential victims. Rip paper into tiny pieces if you can’t afford to purchase a paper shredder.