Are you interested in getting a home security system? Continue learning to find answers to any and all questions you may have about home security. You should keep reading to learn how you can keep your family safe.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This works very well if you have a pet that is not very fond of strangers. You will get the access you need without having to worry about your safety.

It is important for your home to always look lived in. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.

Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. As it gets hotter, the chances of these igniting and putting your house at risk increase. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

You should regularly check your home security system, regardless of how reliable you believe it is. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. 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 the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. You can hide small valuables in your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

There is a lot of value in copper wiring. This is something few homeowners realize until they become victims of wiring theft. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. While you may feel that you are keeping yourself safe by allowing a way in for yourself, you are also allowing everyone else to visit whenever they want. Thieves are aware of the best hiding spots. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.

Unless you’re moving into a brand-new apartment or home, changing the locks should be one of your top priorities. Previous tenants may have given the keys back to the landlord, but it is always possible to make copies of keys. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. Although you may trust the previous homeowner, you cannot be 100% sure of their character. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. These lights will keep your property well lit and give you a good idea of who approaches your home. With good positioning and properly set motion detectors, intruders will not be able to sneak up on your home unnoticed.

Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

Criminals are much less likely to target your home if it’s well lit. Most burglars rely on concealment to approach a home. If you have your home lit up, then you have made it hard for burglars to hide and rob your home. Thus, you should always keep lights on at nighttime.

Talk to any companies you’re considering hiring to install a security system about how long the company has been around. Find a home security company that has a good reputation and many years of experience to get excellent service. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.

An important part of vetting any security company before you sign a contract with them is finding out how long they’ve been providing security services in your community. Any business with multiple years of history has a proven record in being reliable. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.

Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. So it’s smart to put a light in typically darker corners around your home. All doors, porches, garages and windows should be well lit.

Wireless Systems

If you live with children or others whom who don’t want entering some parts of the house, keys and lock sets aren’t the only option. There are key-less locks that open with a push-button security code. You could install these locks yourself. Or, you may have a security company to do it for you.

Wireless alarm systems are a great investment. While wireless systems are often cheap, the cost of installation can be sky high. Wireless systems tend to be easier for installation and maintenance, and they will not go out if your power does.

Keep your curtains pulled tight when you are away from home. If the blinds are up, then the intruders can see directly through your home. If burglars see items in your home that appear valuable, they’ll likely break in to steal them. Close your drapes or blinds while you are asleep, too.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Frost your windows so people cannot look inside your home. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

If you possess a numeric keypad as a lock on your door, be sure not to make your birthday as your password. Anyone could get your date of birth from Facebook and could have access into your house. Think of a number which is the answer to a mathematical question so you can just remember the answer to the question.

Make sure that your house number are visible from the street. If an emergency occurs, the police will not be able to find your home as quickly if these numbers are too small or are obscured in some way. Luckily, this is an issue that can be fixed quickly.

Keep valuables that are irreplaceable secure. Irreplaceable valuables, including financial records, family photos, legal documents, passports, etc., should be secured at all times. A floor safe could be a good place for you to keep these things inside your house. If you can, a safety deposit box that is outside your home is even better.

Ask the company if they offer systems for lease and sale. Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. The initial cost of leasing may seem low, but you may be required to sign a long term contract and it may carry a higher monthly fee. Compare both avenues to see which one is better suited for your needs.

It’s very important to close your curtains in the evening, especially where your home faces the street. There’s no reason to extend strangers an open invitation to inspect your rooms. If burglars spot the expensive items in your house, they may want to hit you next. Minimize your chances of burglary by minimizing what in your home is visible to the public.

A timer can help you regulate when you turn the lights off or on in the evening. This makes your life a bit easier, and it means that your lights will still be lit even if you are away from long periods of time.

Does your security firm offer lights with motion sensors? Some do, and installing these lights means your property will be illuminated if anyone walks nearby. This provides additional protection for you when you come home after dark, and can also prevent a burglary.

Make sure your valuables, or things that can’t be replaced, are safe. Items like family photos, pricy jewelry, legal documents, financial records, and passports need to be kept in a safe location. Floor safes are excellent locations for keeping these particular items safe inside your home. Safety deposit boxes are another great idea.

Home alarms are a good investment, but only when someone who hears it calls the cops. The best bet is to invest in an alarm which is centrally monitored so you can be sure that any time it goes off, the police will show up. It is not safe to assume the neighbors will call the police.

Make sure you have the curtains drawn if your windows are faced toward the street. You want to avoid having people peek through the window. Someone who can peer into your home may decide that your valuables are ripe for the taking. Reduce the risk of being burglarized by being careful about what people can see.

The best locks to choose are deadbolts which have captive keylocks. They have a thumb latch, making it impossible for someone to break the window, reach in and turn them. When at home you should keep the key securely in the lock. In this way you will be able to exit quickly in case of emergency.

Do you feel better since you know more about security systems for your home? Learning all you can is key to home security. Keep this article handy so you can refer to this information as you shop.

Women living alone or with just children are targeted more often than others. Put big boots on the front porch to give the appearance of a man residing inside the house. This will make criminals think twice before breaking into your home.