You have to be as knowledgeable about home security as you can if you want to make the best choices for your family. This should not be a decision made in haste. Take the time to educate yourself and learn what you need to do in order to keep your family safe.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. If your phone is ringing while you are out, burglars will realize that no one is home, making your home very vulnerable to an attack during your time away.

Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

Keep your car in the garage. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

People who live rurally often don’t think about home security. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Do not open your door for strangers. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. There are many locales that are already around your home. Why not take the guts out of an electrical socket you’re not using? You can convert it into a convenient and covert little wall safe.

Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

When moving into a previously owned home, change the locks. The previous tenants may have returned the keys, but they could have a copy. You can do your own installation to make sure that no one else has a key.

Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. This does not mean that you should make alterations to your walls. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. Once you do this, make appointments with the three best companies you find so that you can compare pricing and other important details.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Windows are a way for thieves to enter your home as well. Be sure your home alarm covers all entry points into your home. You want the best security possible for your family.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t for everyone. In some particular neighborhoods, classes for self defense or acquiring a dog may be the best option. However, the newest home security technology may be the best protection in other regions. Be aware of your risks to make an intelligent purchasing decisions.

When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. Although you may trust the previous homeowner, you cannot be 100% sure of their character. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. This can be very dangerous because the thief could still be inside. Your best bet is to contact the authorities and wait outside for them to get there.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Therefore, ensure you hide your wires so that burglars cannot see them, or make the wires extremely hard for the burglars to get to.

If you are going to be out of town for more than a day or so, have someone check your mailbox and door for mail and fliers. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes them down. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.

Motion sensing lights are a good way to increase home security. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. If you position motion detectors properly, it is very hard for someone to sneak onto the property.

Put up video surveillance. Installing hidden and visible video cameras are great for securing your house. Visible cameras deter the majority of intruders, and if they try to disarm them, a camera that is hidden will keep capturing footage. A lot of surveillance systems may be accessed through a cell phone, letting you check on your house when you’re away.

Always go over the small print on contracts offered by your home security company. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. Avoid nasty charges or fees regarding early termination, contract expiration and additional features or equipment.

If you have roommates or kids who you do not want in certain areas of the house, you do not have to lock the doors and carry around a ton of keys. You can have key-less locks which require a code. Either you can install them or home security companies can.

Ideally, you’ve got a few new ideas to consider about making your home safer after reading this article. You don’t want to walk into your decisions blindly. You need to be comfortable that you have taken your family’s security seriously. Remember these tips as you formulate your home security plan.

Don’t use spring-latch locks. These type of lock is the easiest lock to pick, it could even be opened by a credit card. Wedging the card into the door crack can cause the lock to release. If you already have spring latch locks, install a deadbolt for added security.