If you want to make the right choices with regards to home security, you’ll need to have a solid grasp of the market. You do not want to take this decision lightly. Think long and hard about creating a safe home for your family.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.

You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. By asking around, you will gain information about the pros and cons of a variety of options.

Spare Key

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Is your dog outside when you are away? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. This is the perfect place to store a spare key, especially if your dog doesn’t care for strangers.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Having the car in the garage will prevent it from getting broken into or stolen. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.

Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in it. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

Switch your locks. Maybe you’ve had a roommate leave or a bitter ex-lover, so changing the locks can keep you safer. Changing the locks can typically be done very cheaply and quickly.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. You’ll find a wide range of prices from different companies. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. There are differences between large cities and homes located in the countryside. Some people think burglaries are less prevalent in rural parts.

Shut off the ringer for all of the telephones in your home if you are planning to go on vacation for a long time. A loud ring that goes unanswered can alert people to the fact that you aren’t home. This makes you more likely to be the victim of a burglary.

Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. If you need to protect expensive items in your home, put them inside the walls. Any phone jack or electrical outlet that isn’t being used is a great place to hide valuables. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. Make sure everyone in your house knows not to open the door unless they know the person standing outside.

Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.

Use motion sensor lights. These lights will come on if someone walks near your home. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.

Hide your security system’s wiring. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. This will help to deter intruders that are looking to quickly disable your alarm system.

Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. It is impossible to know if the newly hired maid or one time repairman might be a crook unless you check them out. Providing them with your key might be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.

Copper Wiring

If you hire a security company, read any fine print. 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. Be aware of these particular fees so you can steer clear of them.

There is a lot of value in copper wiring. Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Hide your wiring for optimum security.

Ask your security provider about their history in the business. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers. Realizing you at involved with a stable firm will give you a sense of calm that is important.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. Sometimes just taking a class in self defense or adopting a loud dog is enough, while at other times a full fledged security system might be the way to go. Think about your risk factor when making a decision.

When about to sign a contract with any home security firm, read all the small print. There may be hidden costs involved that you were not aware of. You should avoid such expenses if you can, so make yourself aware.

If you are going on a vacation, ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and check your home for flyers. Burglars sometimes place fliers as a means to see if anyone is home to remove them. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.

Keep lights on at all times if you want to prevent break-ins from happening. They don’t want visibility. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. Keep lights on in the evening for a safer home.

Is your street number on your house visible from the street? If an emergency happens, the police can’t get to the home as quick if your numbers are obscured in any way or are too small. Just replace them if you need to.

Always use online resources to identify the very best home security firm. Research the possibilities, check out package options and pricing and analyze customer feedback. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs are very protective of their turf and usually make noises when something is amiss. There is no need for a mean, big dog either. Even tiny dogs that make a ton of noise will deter a potential crime.

Find out more about the different contracts your security company offers. You will probably find there are many pros and cons associated with each different contract. A longer contract might give you a lower monthly bill, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom at a higher cost.

When you are out of the house, your drapes and blinds should be fully closed. If the blinds are up, then the intruders can see directly through your home. If they see something they like, they will then break in. You ought to keep them drawn while you are asleep.

Spring Latch

Ask the company if they offer systems for lease and sale. Buying will save you a ton of money over time. Leasing is a good way to avoid the initial expense, but you will have to pay monthly fees. Look at what you can afford, as well as what is offered and make an informed choice.

Do not use locks with spring latches. Spring latch locks are the easiest locks to gain entry with, as they can be opened with a simple credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. A deadbolt can be retrofitted to a door with a spring latch lock if you want to make it more secure.

If the living room window in your home has direct line of sight to the street, you’ll want to draw those curtains at night. You shouldn’t be inviting people to look at your stuff through the window. Someone who can peer into your home may decide that your valuables are ripe for the taking. Use some discretion and make sure to block your valuables from view with curtains or shades.

Don’t make an obvious or easy password for your numeric keypad lock. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. Choose a math equation and make the answer your code, and make sure to keep the equation in mind.

Replace flimsy doors with doors made of solid wood or metal. These doors hold. A burglar could not kick a solid wood or a metal door. Make sure to replace exterior doors for the cheapest amount possible.

Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you know a lot more about home security. It is your job to learn all you can. It is important that the safety of your home and your family is your priority. Use these tips to help you move on in your home security journey.

Make sure you lock your second floor’s windows. Many people think burglars can’t gain access to these windows; however, this is not true. This may not be what happens. A burglar will attempt to get in any way they can.