If you want to know a lot when it comes to home security, then you are at the right place. This is not the time to just pick the cheapest or easiest option. Get good information and stay in control of the situation. Read on to learn about your options.

Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest. Check their references very carefully. If the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.

Is your dog kept outside when you are away? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Don’t let any person you don’t completely know into your house. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

If your garage is attached to your house, make it secure. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.

During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. As it gets hotter, the chances of these igniting and putting your house at risk increase. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. You might enjoy large windows so you can see out, but just remember that makes it easier for those burglars to see inside your home as well. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. Other people are sure to have opinions and experiences to share. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

Entry Points

Do not open your door for strangers. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Never open the door to anyone you do not know.

When in the process of selecting an alarm system, you should select a system that protects more than simply the doors of your home. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Therefore, ensure the windows have an attached alarm. All potential entry points should have an alarm. This will help to keep your family safe.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. This will make you much safer.

You should regularly check your home security system, regardless of how reliable you believe it is. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. Many different things can make problems for your security system. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.

Rotted wood in your door framing should be replaced. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. For maximum security, buy your own locks and install them yourself. This way you can be certain nobody else has a key.

Meet with representatives from the security company you are considering to determine if they are trustworthy. If the installers give you the heebie-jeebies, it’s not a good sign. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

When a security company wants in your home ask for an ID and see if they’re in uniform. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. This could be quite dangerous. Be cautious to stay safe.

Motion Detectors

Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

If you are searching for ways to make your home more secure, one inexpensive way to accomplish this is to purchase exterior lights that have motion detectors. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. With good positioning and properly set motion detectors, intruders will not be able to sneak up on your home unnoticed.

Landscape your home with safety in mind. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. An intruder can easily disable your security system by cutting the wires. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. You will be much more safe.

It is a good idea to get some history on any home security companies you are thinking about doing business with. Companies in business for many years engender great confidence and trust. When you know that you’re dealing with a company of some repute, you can feel more at ease making that decision.

Think about your specific needs and risks prior to investigating security systems. While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t for everyone. In some situations, having a good dog and/or learning some self defense may be all that you really need to feel safe. Make sure you understand your risks so you can make wise purchasing decisions.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

Wireless security systems are the next generation in protection. These systems are much more efficient and can save you time and hassle. Wireless systems tend to be easier for installation and maintenance, and they will not go out if your power does.

Get a paper shredder. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. Cutting the papers into small pieces with a pair of scissors is another option.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. This can come in handy if someone has cut your power and is attempting to break in.

You don’t have to have a giant key ring full of keys just because you want your home to be secure. Instead, key-less key code locks can work just as well. You can install these locks yourself or have them professionally installed.

You should now have a better understanding of the home security arena. The right security system and the right information is crucial. Absorb the things you have read, and put them to use so your family can be safe.

If the home you are moving into is not brand new, you should change the locks on all the doors. Although other tenants might not have a key anymore, they could have copied it. You can also put the locks on yourself so you can be sure no one else has a key.