Lots of people realize the importance of home security, but not everyone possesses lots of knowledge of it. A good way to guarantee a safe home is to review the topic in a thorough manner. The tips you’ll find below can help you go a long way towards living a safer life.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This makes it appear that someone is home. This can be a terrific method of securing your home and keeping burglars at bay.

Make your house look like it’s always occupied. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This will help to deter burglars.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? They can help you with your spare key. Attach the key to the dog’s collar so that it is hidden from view. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. You’ll find a wide range of prices from different companies. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

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. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

If you have a stranger at your door, do not open it. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

Don’t let strangers enter your house. While their story may seem legit, that doesn’t mean it is true. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Keeping your plants and bushes trimmed will benefit your family’s safety as well as the appearance of your home.

You should never open your door to someone you do not know. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Create a rule where you only allow those you’ve invited to your home inside.

Your home security system ought to be checked each year. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

Security System

Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. You may believe you are making life easier for yourself, but you may just be giving thieves simple access to your house. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.

There’s no security system so durable that it can go without regular maintenance and inspections. Have yours checked out once a year. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.

When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.

Don’t be shy. Talk to your neighbors and those on your block. Keep your eye on their houses, and ask for help to keep yours safe too. You never want to ignore gossip. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

Check someone’s references carefully before letting them come into your home. You should do a background check as well to find out their criminal history. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. The lights will be triggered when someone gets too close to the house. They will notify you of any movement and can deter any possible burglars since they like remaining inconspicuous. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

Keep burglars on the outside of your garage by making sure nobody can actually see inside the garage. Go to a hardware store and buy some frosting so you can cover your windows. Don’t let your door hang open for lengthy periods of time.

The walls of your home make for great hiding spots. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

If you want to keep certain rooms in your home private, you don’t need to lock every door with a key. Instead, use a numeric keypad. They are fairly simple to install, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing so yourself, you can ask your home security company about it.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. It’s not necessary to cut out parts of your wall to do this. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. How about unwiring an electricity socket and using it as cover for a place to stash valuable jewelry?

Don’t use spring-latch locks. These locks are very easy to pick with something as common as a 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. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. This way, you will be safer.

You should always keep your blinds and curtains closed. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. If they see something they like, they will then break in. You should also have them down when you are sleeping.

You might think that your home is secure. But, some people do not understand how to secure their homes and personal property. With any luck, the piece found above has served as a terrific resource on the key topic of keeping your home secure day and night.

Don’t put the registration to your car in your glove box. The reason is that anyone who sees them will immediately have your home address. Instead, carry them with you or find a more secure location in your car. They have to be available if the cops pull you over.