A safe home is the only place worth living in. It should be safe when they come home. You can begin home protection with the advice in this article.

Do not give the key to your home to your cleaning person unless you are certain they are worthy of your trust. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

Security systems are more than just an alarm. Some give offer the option to monitor all entries into the house. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

Spare Key

Check with the police department in your town for home security tips and advice. 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. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. There are many things that can reduce the quality of your system. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

Avoid being shy. Speak with your neighbors. Watch their homes for suspicious activity and get their word that they will do the same thing for you. You never want to ignore gossip. You might find out valuable information related to security, like if there have been any strangers hanging around.

Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. They pose a fire risk. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. After all, you’re investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.

It’s a good idea to have motion sensor lights installed. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. You will be alerted when there is activity outside, and any potential burglars will be deterred because they do not want to be seen. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs to ensure they continue to work properly.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. While they are there to let light in, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Your skylights need durable and reliable hardware for true protection.

When it comes to securing your home, start by changing your locks. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. It is generally cheap and may be done in a little under a day.

Keep your most valuable possessions inside your walls. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. There are many places in your home that are pre-cut and available. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

Go with your gut when choosing a home security company to install a system. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. You can feel confident when you choose a well established, reputable home security company.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t need to cut out segments of your walls by the way. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Ask the home security companies to visit your home and design a system tailored to your needs. The needs and wants of each family and the configuration of each home are quite individual. If you find a company that will tailor the plan you choose to your needs, you can get the highest level of security that makes you feel comfortable.

If you have any boxes to discard from large, expensive items, wait until the evening before the trash is scheduled for collection. They show the world you have money and lots of valuables inside.

Don’t neglect your garage when it comes to home security. Have your windows frosted so they aren’t as easy to see through. It’s also a good idea to avoid leaving your garage door open for any longer than absolutely necessary, even if you’re at home.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Can you read your house numbers clearly from the street? The police will find it difficult to locate your home quickly if your address numbers are difficult to see. Luckily, this is a quick and inexpensive fix if you notice that there is a problem.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. Although other tenants might not have a key anymore, they could have copied it. This will help safeguard that there is no one else with your key.

Ask about the various contract lengths offered by a home security company. These lengths can be both good and bad. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, but you you could maintain those monthly expenses if you discontinue service or sell the home. A short contract will avoid this, but may be more costly.

Check references before giving anyone access to your home. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. You can’t know for sure about the integrity of people you hire, and blindly giving them access to your home can be a huge mistake.

Talk to your home-security company to see if they provide buy and lease options for your equipment. You can avoid interest rates by buying the security system right away. Leasing is cheaper, but there may be hidden fees and contracts. It is worthwhile checking out both possibilities before you decide on which is best.

Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

Be sure not to use your birthday as the password on your door lock’s numeric key pad. Your date of birth can be obtained through Facebook or your mail. Try making the number one that can be remembered by doing a match equation in order to remember that equation instead.

Now after reading the above article, you have a myriad of good quality ideas to help you secure your home. The question is, what will you do with what you learned here? Keep researching the ever changing topic of home protection so that you can always stay on top of security issues in and around your home.

Secure any valuables which can’t be replaced. Some of these items can include legal documents, jewelry, passports, and priceless family photos. Floor safes may come in handy for this purpose. It is even better to rent a safe deposit container for absolute security.