Home security solutions often conjure up visions of technicians roaming through your house installing a myriad of wires, cables and sensors. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Read this article to learn how to easily and quickly secure your home.

Don’t ever let it be apparent that there is no one at home. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. This way it will always look as if someone is home, even when you are away. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.

Security systems are more than just an alarm. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. The majority of systems will give an audible alert when someone enters the house. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

You should never give details about your vacations and other plans on social networks. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

Never open the door for a stranger. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. You should make sure you only open the door to your home for people that you know and are expecting.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. If you aren’t paying attention, you may not be aware of these problems.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Remember that intruders have a lot of experience with tricking people. Some criminals will use any reason to gain access to look for security systems and easy entryways into your house.

End your shyness. Speak with your neighbors. Watch their homes for suspicious activity and get their word that they will do the same thing for you. Pay attention to gossip as well. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

Check with the police department in your town for home security tips and advice. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.

Have lights that sense motion. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

You should regularly check your home security system, regardless of how reliable you believe it is. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. The weather and animals are two things that may cause havoc on your home’s security system. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.

Hide your valuables in the walls. Jewelry and other small items can be protected very well when placed in hiding places in your walls. Place them in switch plates, phone jacks or an electric outlet. If there are no unused plates, you can easily install fake ones.

A wall is a great hiding place. Small valuables fit nicely inside walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. You can also just put in a false plate to cover a hiding place.

If you’ve bought large or pricy items, avoid throwing out boxes until the day the trash is scheduled for pick-up. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.

Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or beneath the welcome mat. While you may feel that you are keeping yourself safe by allowing a way in for yourself, you are also allowing everyone else to visit whenever they want. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.

The wires that are on your house are very valuable. A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. The copper component of wiring is very valuable and may be stripped from the outside of your home in a fairly short amount of time. In order to protect yourself from this risk, make sure wires on your house are difficult to find and hard to access.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. A thief can take plenty of valuables in minutes.

Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.

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Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. At night, not only will these lights be handy to light up areas around your home,they are also a cost-effective and efficient security addition. They also help to keep intruders away, because an intruder does not want to come close to your property if they know they might be spotted.

If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. Thieves don’t want to be visible. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. Secure your property by creating a well-lit area.

If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a new home security company. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.

Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

Keep burglars on the outside of your garage by making sure nobody can actually see inside the garage. Cover your windows with frosting; this could be purchased at hardware stores. They prevent people from peeking inside. Don’t leave the door unlocked for a long time, either.

Rather than getting a personal home security system, think about alternatives for protecting your family. There are many options available to you including owning a gun and adding more locks to your home’s doors. Keep these tips in mind and improve your home’s security.

You want your blinds and curtains closed if you’re away from your home. When they are open, potential burglars get a free look in. If their eyes fall on something they like, they are going to think about breaking in. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.