If you have a house, then you know the importance of being safe. There aren’t many feelings worse than your home being severely damaged or destroyed. Your house is your biggest investment, but it also represents your sense of security. Keep reading to learn how to protect your number one asset.

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. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. Also, if you lose your keys, change the locks.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. You simply do not know how many keys to the old locks are floating around. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest. All references should be checked. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Check around for prices, reputation, and reliability when choosing a home security provider. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.

Home protection program details may be available at your police station. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.

Consider the advice of your friends when selecting your home security company. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

Security System

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Many different things can make problems for your security system. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. Use heavy-duty hardware to secure your skylights to the roof.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

A wall is a great hiding place. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. Just take advantage of the phone jack, electrical outlet or unused switch plate. You can easily install fake unused plates.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. If your house has street-facing windows, make sure they are always covered and your make sure your valuables are hidden away.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. They give you and your family the opportunity to move around should the electricity go out. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

Lock up your house every time you leave. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. They might not be who you think they are. This could be quite dangerous. Be careful to avoid any potential dangers.

When choosing an alarm system, consider one that offers protection for more than just your doors. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. 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 the pinnacle of safety.

One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. Cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing, these lights really add value to your home. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? A lot of people don’t realize this fact until a robber steals it from 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! Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access to keep this valuable property safe.

Landscape your home with safety in mind. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. Plan these features for further away from your home.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

You should not enter your home if you find the door ajar. This can be a dangerous scenario, as the criminal might still be present. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.

When you hire a type of home security company, read the contract’s fine print before signing. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.

Consider a surveillance system for your home and property. Having visible or hidden cameras can help immensely. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. You can often view these feeds over the Internet, too.

If you have kids or roommates that you don’t want in certain household areas, it’s not necessary to lock multiple doors and tote around tons of keys. Get key-less locks that need a code. You can install them yourself or you can hire a home security firm.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. Use a frosted film to cover the windows. This can be purchased at many hardware stores. Also, do not leave doors open.

Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. They probably each have their pluses and negatives. 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 allow your greater freedom, however they usually cost more each month.

Can you see the number of your house from the street? It is important for the authorities to find your address in the event of an emergency. This is easy and inexpensive to fix if you believe there could be a problem.

Keep curtains closed when you aren’t at home. When they are open, potential burglars get a free look in. You may have things inside that will tempt them to break into your house. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.

Talk to your security company about the contract; in particular, inquire about the various contract lengths that are available to you. Each probably has its own set of positives and negatives. Longer contracts may offer more affordable monthly payments; however, it may be hard to cancel that contract should you decide to change services or sell your house. With a shorter contract, you will have a greater level of flexibility. The downside is you will also have larger monthly bills.

Be sure not to use your birthday as the password on your door lock’s numeric key pad. Your birth date is easy information to obtain. Use a number you can remember through some trick of memory known only to you, making it difficult for someone else to figure it out.

If you aren’t at the house, keep the windows and curtains closed. You don’t want potential thieves knowing you are gone. Keeping them up can let intruders see directly inside your home. You may have things inside that will tempt them to break into your house. You ought to keep them drawn while you are asleep.

Always keep your valuables secure. Items such as family photos, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. Floor safes make for great places to hide such items. You could also look into getting a bank safe deposit box.

Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. Your date of birth can be obtained through Facebook or your mail. Think of a number which is the answer to a mathematical question so you can just remember the answer to the question.

Second floor windows have to be locked tight, too. These are easy to overlook because no one expects a criminal to make the effort to break in through an upstairs window. This simply isn’t the case. Never underestimate the ability of an intruder to get into your home if they are really determined.

Keep your drapes closed at night. You don’t want all the peeping Toms of the world looking in. If potential thieves see valuable items inside your house, they may target your house. Make sure and minimize what is visible to the public so as to reduce the likelihood of becoming a target.

It’s sadly true that women who live on their own or with children are especially tempting targets for burglars and home invaders. Put muddy boots on the doorstep so that it appears there is a big man that lives in your home. This visual can deter burglars from targeting your home.

Sliding glass doors can create a security issue in a home. It’s easy to break into a sliding glass door by just lifting it up and shaking it. If you don’t have an alarm set up for them, use pipe cut to fit at the door channel. Doing this will help keep your door closed tighter, making it more difficult for burglars to break in.

Now that you’ve reviewed some solid home security advice, you hopefully understand that improving your home’s safety isn’t all that hard. All you need are some good ideas in home security. Put the ideas mentioned here into practice for a safer future. Each one is important in creating maximum safety, so don’t pass over them.

It is better to buy equipment from a security company directly, instead of from someone re-selling it. Resellers are usually all about making a profit, and they do not stand behind everything they sell. When dealing directly with the company, you can rest assured that you are not paying additional fees, and also that the company will be there to continuously service your equipment.