Many consider home security an important subject, but it is also one that is not sufficiently understood by people. Making a thorough study of the topic is a good idea if you want to maximize the security of your home, your family and your possessions. Keep reading to get some useful advice on making your home safe.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? Your pet might just be the perfect place to stash a spare key to your home. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Prices vary quite a bit. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.

Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This will make your home more safe, especially if you are in a dry climate that has many power lines. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Compare different systems when looking into home security. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.

You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.

It is important to invest in building supplies that are as fire resistant as possible. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Preventing a fire is important since it can cause a lot of damage.

You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.

Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. Be sure that everyone in your home knows not to open the door to strangers and unexpected visitors.

Always have your security system checked each year. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

When summer comes around, eliminate all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. Remove the wires from an electric socket you do not use so you can hide your valuable jewelry.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Just remember that you must change the bulbs often in order to keep the lights working in order.

A good home security system monitors all entry points to your home. The best systems are those that cover windows as well. Be sure your alarm is secured to them all and that monitoring is in place for every point of entry. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Go with your gut when choosing a home security company to install a system. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. You need to feel secure with the entire process.

Security System

Don’t give outside people the ability to see into your home. It is wise to invest in coverings for large windows that can give criminals a large view of your home. You should cover any windows that are facing the street so your valuables will be safe.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. Intruders can easily disable your home security system by cutting or unplugging the wires. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. This helps keep you and your family safe.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Having these boxes outside of your house will give robbers the temptation of robbing your house.

If you are new into a house, replace all the locks. Regardless of how you feel about the sellers, you never know someone’s true intentions. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.

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. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

Find out how long a company has been in operation before signing a home security contract. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. It’s good to know that the company won’t disappear overnight and leave your home unprotected.

Always use online resources to identify the very best home security firm. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

One effective home security trick you can use is by installing outdoor motion sensor lights. Burglars like using darkness to hide. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. Consider all your doors, porches, patios, decks, garages and all ground-level windows.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. You can feel confident when you choose a well established, reputable home security company.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, get one. Thieves can get lots of information simply by looking through your trash. If you don’t have a paper shredder, tear the papers up.

If someone looks after your house when you’re gone, have them remove fliers from the door. Thieves have put them up in order to see if people are home to take them down. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.

Consider installing a surveillance system for your home. Video cameras are a great deterrent. Intruders can be deterred to visible cameras, but hidden cameras are better if criminals damage the other cameras. A lot of surveillance cameras could be accessed through your phone, giving you the chance to check it even when you’re away.

When standing in the street, can you see your house numbers? If the numbers aren’t legible, police may drive right by. Luckily, this is a quick and inexpensive fix if you notice that there is a problem.

If you aren’t at the house, keep the windows and curtains closed. You don’t want potential thieves knowing you are gone. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. If burglars see items in your home that appear valuable, they’ll likely break in to steal them. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.

You want your blinds and curtains closed if you’re away from your home. By failing to do so, you are granting a prime view of your house and your belongings. They’re going to want to get in your house if they can see items they want. It’s good to have them down at night, too.

Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. Your birthday can be found on mail or social media sites, so this means anyone can access your home. Choose a math equation and make the answer your code, and make sure to keep the equation in mind.

Never hide keys in obvious locations. Fake rocks are particularly simple to spot. Doormats, too. It is best to simply ask a neighbor or trusted friend to hold on to an extra key for you. If you have no choice but to hide a spare key, apply some inventive, out-of-the-box thinking when you do it.

Using a timer on lights is a great idea. This makes it easier for you as you won’t have to flip the switch, but it also ensures the lights continue to go on and off, even if you’re not at home for a long period of time.

The concept of home security is important to most people. They don’t understand how to protect their homes, though. Hopefully, this article has given you some useful hints about securing your home.

Deadbolts featuring captive keylocks are usually your wisest choice. These devices include a thumb latch so that no one can reach around and open the lock through a broken window nearby. Leave a key inside the lock in case there’s an emergency.