If you want to know a lot when it comes to home security, then you are at the right place. You need not settle on such an important issue. It is important that you are in control of your home’s safety. To do this, you must be knowledgeable on the matter. Keep reading to find out more about this subject.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Be sure your home appears to always be occupied. Buy timers so that lights, radios, TVs and all other electronics turn on and off at various times. This makes people think you’re home. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

If your social networking accounts are filled with folks you do not really know, do not announce vacations on the sites. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. Some folks will enter to scout for security systems, and upon seeing you lack one, will resolve to return at a later time.

Spare Key

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. Criminals find ways to get people to open doors so they can commit crimes. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Your garage needs to be secure. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. Using a C-clamp on the garage door will prevent it from opening by staying on the door’s track.

You should never give details about your vacations and other plans on social networks. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

See if your area police department has any home security programs. Several in various jurisdictions have programs which entail providing a home inspection, what protective measures will help your home and even how to engrave valuable items to make them easier to recover. Discuss the possibility of this sort of program with your police department.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. It is essential you do not do this, even if the stranger gives you a convincing story or states they need your assistance. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

Security starts with new locks. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.

Don’t let any service people into your home without checking their references completely. A background check is also a good idea, so that you know what their criminal history looks like. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

Don’t allow your landscaping make it easier for burglars to break into your home. Make sure that the doors and windows to your home are not covered by trees, fences, shrubs or any other type of thing. If they can be seen, there will be no place to hide. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. Burglars like committing crimes in the darkness. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. Don’t forget that this includes ground-level windows as well as doors, garages, and porches.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.

Never enter your home if you arrive and find the door open. This can be quite dangerous because the burglar may still be on your property. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. The previous owner may be perfectly respectable, but you can’t know that for sure. Keep in mind that other families might have lived with them, too.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is 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. Also, don’t leave your door open for long periods of time when you work there.

Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? Many people do not realize this until a crook steals it off of their home. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Be sure to keep your wiring hidden or difficult to reach.

Never make the password to your keypad your birthday. A thief can easily find this information out. Rather, use a number that can be determined through an equation that you can remember instead.

Have your home security company inspect your home and suggest safety improvements. Different people require different plans. When you choose a company that pays close attention to detail in creating your home security plan, you will feel very secure.

Even if you don’t like gossip, make a point to become friends with someone in your neighborhood who is always “in the know.” If there are unfamiliar people hanging around, the busybodies in your neighborhood will notice. When you’re on good terms with them, you are more likely to receive word of any unusual activity.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. A burglar prefers to sneak around in the dark, and a well lit house is always a deterrent. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. Don’t forget that this includes ground-level windows as well as doors, garages, and porches.

You must always keep second-floor windows locked. Many homeowners neglect this step because they believe burglars won’t bother climbing your home. They do use this method of entry though. This is the weak point of home security and criminal generally know this.

You need to use this information in order to use it in the realm of home security. It is important that you possess the proper knowledge when it comes to a home security system. Take what you have read, and use it well in order to keep your family safe.

Look for captive keylocks when picking out a new deadbolt. This type of deadbolt is secured with an inside latch. Even if a thief reaches in, he cannot turn the lock. As a safety measure, keep the key inserted on the inside, so if there is a fire you will be able to open the door quickly.