As a homeowner, your know how crucial it is to keep your home secure. There aren’t many feelings worse than your home being severely damaged or destroyed. Your house represents your biggest investment and the place you call home. This article will show you how to protect it.

The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. 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. All references should be checked. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. You should also have your locks changed if you lose your keys.

Is your dog outside when you are away? This is where you can put your spare key. Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. Especially if pets don’t like strangers, this can be a useful way for having easy access to your house.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.

Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Rather, think about putting a key on your outside dog’s collar.

Local Police Department

Do not tell anyone that you are going on vacation out of your friend circle. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Call the local police department and inquire as to what programs they offer.

Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. There are many reason why a home security system can have problems, and it might be the weather or wild animals that cause it to malfunction. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.

Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.

A wall is a great hiding place. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. If it’s not visible, you might not even know there’s a problem.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. Always keep your windows covered and do not tempt others by displaying your possessions.

Avoid being shy. Talk to your neighbors and those on your block. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. Don’t disregard gossip either. It is often a good way to find out about security issues, such as strangers in the neighborhood.

Be certain your wires are hidden, if you have installed a security system in your home. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. That will make you safer.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

Just moved in? Time for new locks! Regardless of how you feel about the sellers, you never know someone’s true intentions. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. You’ll be safer.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

If you scheduled an appointment for a member of the security company to come to your house, ask them to show you some identification first. Thieves may say they are from a certain company to get into your home. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Proceed with caution.

Checking out security firms online is a great idea. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. After reading about these services, you can narrow down the results and use appointments for price comparisons.

Be sure to make good use of the Internet when you’re trying to select your home security company. The sites of the companies themselves will provide you with details about their services, testimonials from their customers, and pricing information. After narrowing down your top five choices, you can then take the next step by contacting each one.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.

Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. Each homeowner has different priorities in terms of home security. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

If someone looks after your house when you’re gone, have them remove fliers from the door. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes them down. A flier that hangs around for days on end lets burglars know that there’s no one in the home.

As this article has demonstrated, keeping your home safe does not have to be difficult. You need to know more about home security. Use these great tips to maximize your home’s security. Apply the tips in this article and feel safe at home.

Consider a surveillance system for your home and property. Installing video cameras, both visible and hidden, are a great way to secure your home. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. Find a security system that gives you the option to view the video feed from your phone so you can check on your home at anytime.