There is good reason to be concerned about home invasions. There is no telling when an intruder may get into your house and steal your valuables or hurt your loved ones. Read this guide to make your house more secure and safer.

If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. This will give the appearance that someone is at your house at all times. It is also another way to secure your home.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. You should make sure you only open the door to your home for people that you know and are expecting.

Spare Key

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to check it annually. Get a professional in to check it out. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

Your dog could carry a spare key for you. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Burglars always know just where to look. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

Buy a safe. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. If you’ve got street facing windows, be sure and keep them covered.

Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Be certain to obtain multiple quotes prior to making your choice.

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. People may have lived in the home before those owners, too.

Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. The person who used to live there may still have a key. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. To make sure your home is safer, clear your yard periodically.

Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. You need to be very careful with the contractors, repairmen or maids you trust with being alone in your home.

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. That said, stranger things have happened.

You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. Research the possibilities, check out package options and pricing and analyze customer feedback. After that, choose your top three for consultations.

Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. These locks are very easy to pick with something as common as a credit card. They can put the credit card in between the latch and door to open the lock. If you already have spring latch locks, install a deadbolt for added security.

Hide the wires of your home security system. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This will help to deter intruders that are looking to quickly disable your alarm system.

If you must hide your key outside, do not put it someplace obvious. It is easy to spot a rock that is fake. Doormats and rocks in front of the house are too obvious. The best strategy is to have a neighbor or good friend hold a spare key in case you need it. If you can’t do that, you must think creatively to find a good place to keep a spare key.

Rotted Wood

If you’re worried about how you’re going to be able to maintain a wireless system, you may want to opt for a wired one instead. Wireless systems, while convenient, will require much more maintenance. Neglecting this maintenance can cause faults in your security system and leave you improperly protected. Also, frequent battery replacements can be costly.

Replace rotted wood around any door frames. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

If the living room window in your home has direct line of sight to the street, you’ll want to draw those curtains at night. It’s best to discourage peeping toms. If possible burglars get a look at what you own, they might target you next. Be careful about what you expose to the public so that your likelihood of a burglary will decrease.

Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. Burglars don’t want to be visible. Good lighting in your home means that crooks have no hiding places. So keep those lights on at night for a secure home.

Captive keylock deadbolts are your best bet. These locks have a thumb latch that will keep intruders from opening it by using a broken window pane to reach in. When you are at home, leave the key in the lock so that you can get out in case of a fire.

Talk to any companies you’re considering hiring to install a security system about how long the company has been around. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

It is important that you do not leave any wiring exposed outside of your house. Your wiring contains copper, which is worth a considerable amount of money. Conceal it to make sure thieves don’t get their hands on it, and you can save a lot of money.

Light up your home’s exterior. A burglar prefers to sneak around in the dark, and a well lit house is always a deterrent. Be sure all vulnerable exterior areas of your home are equipped with good lighting. Don’t forget that this includes ground-level windows as well as doors, garages, and porches.

Regardless of how much you trust your new home’s previous occupants, your first order of business after moving in is to get the locks replaced or re-keyed. Whether you are renting or buying, this is a matter of concern. If renting, ask the landlord to change the locks. You might need to do this yourself or hire a professional to do it.

Wireless home security systems are becoming more popular. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless options are easy to install, need less maintenance and are not dependent on the home’s power source.

Keep carbon monoxide and smoke detectors clean. Lint and dust can accumulate, making them ineffective. Your detectors will be much less effective at protecting the home from carbon monoxide and smoke.

Rather than hoping nothing bad ever happens to your family or you, have a more realistic view of the world. Anything could happen at any time, and you should be prepared. The tips here will help you create a safe place for your family.

Crooks hate camera surveillance. No burglar really wears a mask. Quite a few home burglars won’t wear a face covering because their plan is to avoid contact with others. When they spot surveillance equipment, they tend to leave.