A safe home is the only place worth living in. That includes when they’re not at home. Begin protecting your home by reading the excellent information presented here.

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Above doors or under doormats are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This will give the appearance that someone is at your house at all times. This will help safeguard your house to the best of your ability.

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This can provide additional safety to the home, particularly in dry regions. It’s best to prevent a fire before it starts.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Fire is such a destructive force that it makes excellent sense to reduce fire hazards in your home whenever possible.

Don’t talk about your vacations on social media. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

Don’t announce your vacation agenda on your social networks. This is especially true if you have lots of unfamiliar “friends”. Although your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.

During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.

Never place a spare key in a plant box or under your welcome mat. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. A better solution is to give your key to a neighbor you trust.

People in rural areas are not usually as worried about burglaries as people in cities. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Some people, though, believe that you will not be at risk for a burglary.

While choosing your alarm system, ask about protection for windows and motion detection as well as doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. With this method, your family will be safer.

Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Thieves are aware of all these spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Ask for ID before letting anyone into your home. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This can lead to harm befalling your family and possessions. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.

Be cognizant of what others can see when they look in your windows. Large windows allow you to keep an eye on who is approaching your home, but keep in mind that potential intruders will be tempted if they can see your valuables. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

Check references before giving anyone access to your home. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Motion Detectors

When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. The safety of your family will be ensured.

A great way to achieve extra security is to install exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. Properly-situated motion detectors will give your home a complete field of protection and make it impossible for a miscreant to approach undetected.

If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, make sure you get the locks changed. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. You can install locks yourself to make sure you’re the only one who has a key.

When you hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. There could be fees for terminating the contract early or acquiring additional equipment down the road. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

Before letting someone from a security company into a house, get some sort of official identification. Thieves may say they are from a certain company to get into your home. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. Proceed with caution.

Having a bright and lit-up home at night deters crooks. Intruders will avoid being noticed. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. This makes it a good idea to keep the lights on.

Whenever you are landscaping your home, you should consider safety. Don’t obstruct windows or doors with shrubs, plants, fences or trees. If these things can be seen by the naked eye, they won’t offer hiding places to potential criminals. Plan these features for further away from your home.

Consider your security risk and safety needs before purchasing home security systems. While these systems are great and can help protect your family, they are not necessary for everyone. It may be better for you to take a self-defense class or buy a dog. The neighborhood you live in makes a difference. Be sure to understand the sorts of risks you face before deciding what sort of security is best for you.

Be sure and keep the outside of your house well lit. Burglars seek darkness so that they can stay hidden. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. You will be astonished at how burglars find important information from loose paper that they could use to break into your house. You can tear your documents up by hand before disposing of them if a shredder is out of your price range.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Frosted windows prevent thieves from looking into your home and are inexpensive. Never leave the front door open for very long.

Whenever you purchase some expensive item, don’t place the empty boxes right outside your home. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put it out.

Inquire whether a security company offers variable contract lengths. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. While your monthly rates may be lower with a lengthy contract, you have no recourse should you list your home for sale or terminate your contract. Shorter contracts allow your greater freedom, however they usually cost more each month.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. That is not to say that a big, scary dog is required. Even small dogs can deter criminals just by making noise when something is afoot.

Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. These locks are the simplest ones to breach, since they are able to be opened by using just a credit card. Intruders can just wedge the credit card in between the latch and the door, causing it to open. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.

Spring Latches

Do not store your car registration in your glove box. These documents contain a lot of sensitive personal data, like your home address. Ideally, you should carry your registration in your wallet or bag. If you must leave them in the car, pick a less obvious hiding place. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.

Steer clear of locks with spring latches. They give intruders and easy time breaking in, since they can be unlocked with a credit card. All they have to do is wedge the card between the latch and door, then wiggle it. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.

Never place a key in an obvious spot. Fake rocks are easy to spot. A doormat is obvious, and a burglar is sure to look there. Just leave your key with someone you trust. If you must keep it elsewhere, be creative with your hiding spot.

Program your lights to turn on and off at random intervals with a timer. This helps the lights stay on and continue to switch even when you’re away from your home.

Having a big, scary dog around does has its benefits. Burglars generally prefer to avoid confronting a dog. A good big dog will protect your home and provide companionship for your family.

Make sure you lock your second floor’s windows. Many people don’t think about burglars checking these windows. This isn’t true. Never underestimate the ability of an intruder to get into your home if they are really determined.

See about purchasing security systems directly from the firm instead of a reseller. A re-seller might not offer the same kind of services you can get from a home security company, and they will sell the same products for more. If you deal directly with the security company, you will not incur added fees and you can be assured that your equipment will be serviced by the company.

When you can’t lock your door from the outside, your home isn’t secure. Therefore, a deadbolt is a great selection; it will make things very difficult for a burglar.

Make sure your children bring in all of their toys from the yard when they are done playing. Intruders will guess that women are living in this home. Homes with women are more attractive targets because they probably have pricy jewelry inside.

Look at home security companies that have more than just security systems. A good company will be sure to visit the house and give recommendations about what you can do to further keep your family out of harm’s way. They could suggest better locks, trimming hedges back, or even replacing entire doors and windows. A company that truly has your family’s security at heart will take the time to consult with you.

Do not allow rooms in your home to be visible while looking from outside. Letting anyone on the street get a look at your possessions will allow would-be thieves to do some literal window shopping. Be sure to put up good blinds and/or drapes to obstruct the view from outside. If you don’t want to do that, try moving a few things around instead.

Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you know quite a bit about home security. Now you have only to decide which steps you wish to take for your own home protection. Implement the ideas discussed here and continue learning all you can about home security, so you can always feel secure that your home and loved ones are protected.

Seek out home security companies that offer security systems along with other things. Great companies are willing to come assess the house and make specific recommendations. You might need to modify your landscaping, install deadbolts or upgrade your windows. Look for a company that has your safety in mind, and they will give you advice on these safety issues.