When you keep valuable items, such as money, expensive jewelry or original objects of art in your home, you cannot make the assumption that no one is aware of this fact. Upgrading your home security gives you protection from burglars. Read these tips for ideas on how to make your house a safe place.

Be sure that your home is always occupied. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. This will give your home the appearance of someone being there. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

After you purchase a new home, change the locks. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This will give your home added security. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Never open the door for a stranger. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Never open the door to anyone you do not know.

In summer, take care to trim back branches and plants near the house. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

It will not benefit you to be shy. Talk to your neighbors. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

Don’t be shy. Meet your neighbors. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. Pay attention to gossip. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. Ask the company to send a different installer or simply change companies. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. While they are there to let light in, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. Break-ins are often the result of unlocked windows and doors. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

If you’ve bought large or pricy items, avoid throwing out boxes until the day the trash is scheduled for pick-up. You are alerting thieves that there is something worth stealing inside your home.

Replace any wood surrounding your door frame that is rotting. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. The rotten wood will be simple to remove, allowing a thief access to your home. Replace it as soon as possible.

It is important to always have fresh batteries and flashlights handy around the house. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. Teach everyone in your home to use the flashlights so all family members can see and help each other.

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. Flashlights are important for letting you navigate your home in the dark. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.

Home security installation technicians should always be in uniform and wearing identification. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Be cautious to stay safe.

Security Company

One of the best things you can do to protect your home at night is to deter intruders with plenty of exterior lighting. Burglars don’t want to be visible. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. Keep your lights turned on during the night.

When allowing a representative from any security company to enter your home, look for someone in uniform and ask to see an identification. It is simple for a thief to pose as a representative of your home security company as a means of gaining access to your house. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. Take care to steer clear of danger.

The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

Keeping your home well lit at night can help keep the burglars away. They don’t wish to be seen. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. Keep your lights turned on during the night.

Landscape your home with safety in mind. You should have a clear view out of all your windows and an unobstructed path to any doors. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.

Ask your security provider about their history in the business. It doesn’t take long for a quality company to prove itself in the security business, and you should look for a track record of satisfied customers and successful work. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.

Think about getting a wireless security system for the home. Wired systems might be a bit less expensive, but they often involve intrusive rewiring of your home, and can become faulty during a power outage. Systems that operate in a wireless environment can be easier to manage and are not as likely to cause extensive rewiring issues.

Have your home security company inspect your home and suggest safety improvements. You need some features which other families may wish to do without. If there is a company that can come up with a customized plan, you will get what you really need.

Keeping thieves from the contents of your garage can be as simple as making sure they can’t easily look inside. If your garage door has windows, make sure they have a frosted coating. This is easy to find at any major hardware store, and installation is a breeze. Never leave the front door open for very long.

Inquire as to the different lengths of contracts offered by your security company. Compare the pros and cons of different options. A long contract may lock you in even if you choose to sell the house or want to stop the services, but it can result in a lower bill every month. If you want more freedom, it is best to purchase a more expensive but shorter contract.

Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. There are going to be ups and downs for each one. The longer the contract, the lower your monthly bill, but if you move or become dissatisfied, you are stuck with the monthly fee. Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom at a higher cost.

Spring Latch

You should always keep your blinds and curtains closed. Leaving your windows unguarded exposes the interior of your home to everyone, including criminals looking for tempting targets. If something desirable is visible, you can expect a break in. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.

You do not want to use spring latch locks. This type of lock is extremely easy to break. Anyone with a credit card can do it. A card can be placed between the latch and the door, and this will open it. A deadbolt can be retrofitted to a door with a spring latch lock if you want to make it more secure.

Find out if the company you choose will give you the option of buying or leasing home security systems. Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. Although leasing is usually cheaper, you may have to fill out contracts and you will have higher monthly costs. You must review both options carefully to determine which will best suit your needs.

See if your security company only sells equipment, or if they will lease it to you instead. Buying equipment can be pricey upfront, but it’s a single cost versus a monthly cost. On the other hand, while leasing is more expensive overall, it can get you a better system if you don’t have funds available immediately. Compare these two options before making your decision.

Think about a security system that is hard-wired if you really have concerns about maintenance costs. Although wireless systems are easier, they usually require a lot of batteries that require changing regularly. If you do not stay on top of your wireless security system, you run the possibility of it failing when you need it most. It can be expensive to replace a ton of batteries.

If your door isn’t either metal or solid wood, replace it with one that is. These doors hold really good. If the burglar tries to kick their way in, they have a hard time doing so. Replace outside doors as quickly as possible.

Homes that have sliding glass doors can be more of a security risk. You can easily unlock them by shaking and lifting them. If you do not have a security system hooked up to them, cut a length of pipe to fit in the door channel. This holds the door firmly in position. Even if the lock is broken, the door will still be held closed.

Err on the side of caution when you are dealing with home security. Take steps so that you won’t have to be afraid. These tips can put your family in the safest position possible.

Clean out all carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Lint and dust can build up and this can affect the sensors. Your detectors will be much less effective at protecting the home from carbon monoxide and smoke.