Maybe you’ve been considering installing a security system for your home. Make sure you have thought this decision through before making a potentially expensive purchase! Locking your doors could make a huge difference and could provide the security that you need.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Get a locksmith in right away. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

Does your dog remain outside while you’re gone? This is where you can put your spare key. Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Does your canine stay in the yard while you go out? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.

Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in it. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.

When looking for a system to secure your home, do comparison shopping. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Be sure and get a minimum of three quotes from different companies prior to choosing one.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Don’t allow anyone you don’t know to look into your house. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. These people might want to actually do you harm or could be casing out your house for a future break-in.

Never let a stranger inside. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. Some people may simply be trying to determine whether or not you have a home security installed; if you don’t, they may plan to return later if you are away from your home.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Criminals find ways to get people to open doors so they can commit crimes. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

If your garage is attached to your house, make it secure. Often people are concerned that burglars can enter the home via the attached garage . Happily, there is a solution to this problem. If the garage door lifts via a track, you can use a C-clamp to stop your door from opening at the hands of intruders.

Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. There are plenty of things that can be done, from a safety walk to cataloging expensive items to help protect your investment and your family. Call and see what is available.

Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. Additionally, if your car is put away, burglars will not be able to tell whether or not you are home.

Use your garage for your car, not just storage. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Get to know other people who live next door and others in your neighborhood. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. Never neglect gossip. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.

Security System

Hide any valuables in wall spaces. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

Always have your security system checked each year. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. There are many reason why a home security system can have problems, and it might be the weather or wild animals that cause it to malfunction. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. It should protect the windows too. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Get to know your neighbors. Talk to the people who live in your neighborhood. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You will learn a lot from your neighbors, including details about recent break ins in the area and the shady individuals they noticed.

Are you aware of the value present in the wiring in your home? Some intruders could strip your home of every bit of copper. Experienced criminals can make a decent amount of money quickly by stripping copper wiring off of houses in order to sell it at a scrapyard. Hide your wiring to secure it.

The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get new locks. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.

If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. Some maintain that rural dwellers have greater risk since their neighbors live farther away. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. A background check is also a good idea, so that you know what their criminal history looks like. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. Instead, give your extra key to a neighbor whom you trust.

If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. You could also simply take care to tear up your discarded papers.

The wires that are on your house are very valuable. Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Be sure that your wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep your wires safe.

Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. A contract that is longer might offer lower monthly payments, but you may have to continue with these if you decide to sell the house or discontinue services. Shorter contracts mean more freedom along with higher costs.

When about to sign a contract with any home security firm, read all the small print. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

Don’t put the registration to your car in your glove box. It is not smart, because anyone can know your address. Ideally, you should carry your registration in your wallet or bag. If you must leave them in the car, pick a less obvious hiding place. Remember, you do need to be able to access them quickly if you get pulled over by a policeman.

Consider installing a surveillance system. Video cameras are a great deterrent. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. Many surveillance systems will allow you to access them through your cell phone; therefore, you can ensure your home is safe even when you’re gone.

Don’t hide keys in obvious areas. It’s easy to see fake rocks. The thief will check under the mat before anything else. Instead, you should keep your spare keys with a trusted neighbor. If this is not possible, think on how you will hide it.

Credit Card

Figure out if motion sensitive lighting is an option for your home by talking to your home-security company. Many providers can supply this, and it switches exterior lights on whenever anyone comes near a point of entry. This makes your home safer because it warns intruders away.

Don’t have spring latch locks installed. Defeating a spring latch lock is a trivial endeavor; experienced burglars can get through one using nothing more than a credit card. Intruders simply use a credit card inside the latch, making the lock open. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.

The windows on the second floor of your house should always be locked. Many people overlook this since they don’t think criminals will check them. Burglars watch for open second story windows. This is a common weak spot in most people’s home security, and thieves are very aware of this.

Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. This is simpler for you to avoid flipping the switch and can make the lights turn off and on even if you’re gone a long time.

The best locks to choose are deadbolts which have captive keylocks. They have a thumb latch, making it impossible for someone to break the window, reach in and turn them. Always leave your key in the door when you are home so you can leave quickly if you have to.

Maybe you do need an alarm system. You might just have to adjust your routine. Research all of your options to choose the best one.

Don’t purchase your home security system from a re-seller. Resellers are usually all about making a profit, and they do not stand behind everything they sell. Dealing with the company means there will be no extra fees, and they will service your equipment whenever you need.