Learning the basics of home security is something that all homeowners need to do. It can be overwhelming, however, to wade through reams of information on the topic. The following tips will help you figure out what you need to be doing so that you and your family are safe.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This adds more protection to a house, especially if you’re in a dry area with some power lines. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.

If you have an attached garage, make sure it is secure. You can prevent this from happening easily. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

You should never open your door to someone you do not know. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

It will not benefit you to be shy. Speak to your neighbors. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You will learn a lot from your neighbors, including details about recent break ins in the area and the shady individuals they noticed.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t need to cut out segments of your walls by the way. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

When it comes to securing your home, start by changing your locks. Maybe you’ve had a roommate leave or a bitter ex-lover, so changing the locks can keep you safer. Changing locks is not very expensive and should be done within a few hours.

It is important that you do not put expensive valuables in plain sight. It is wise to invest in coverings for large windows that can give criminals a large view of your home. Cover all street-facing windows.

Alarm System

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.

Hide your security system’s wiring. 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. Don’t let this happen; bury or hide the wires. This will help to deter intruders that are looking to quickly disable your alarm system.

Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. Check if they have any history of criminal activity. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

Don’t think you’re not at risk just because you don’t live in a big city. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. These lights will keep your property well lit and give you a good idea of who approaches your home. Properly-situated motion detectors will give your home a complete field of protection and make it impossible for a miscreant to approach undetected.

Always enlist the powers of online research to help you make a smart choice when it comes to home security companies. Read through official websites for different companies and look for reviews written by customers. Once you do this, make appointments with the three best companies you find so that you can compare pricing and other important details.

Don’t forget about the skylights when securing 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. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. Find a home security company that has a good reputation and many years of experience to get excellent service. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

Your home’s exterior needs to be well lit. Thieves like to commit crimes when no one can see. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. All doors, porches, garages and windows should be well lit.

When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. This makes it much less likely that your system will be compromised.

It might be time to get yourself a paper shredder if you haven’t already gotten one. Thieves often look through garbage, trying to find credit card information or other important documents. You can tear your documents up by hand before disposing of them if a shredder is out of your price range.

If you buy a new, expensive electronic, such as a television or computer, do not leave the empty boxes on your curb. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target. Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put it out.

When you purchase big, expensive items be sure to break down the boxes and take them to the recycling center yourself. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed when you’re not home. When they’re open, it would be easy to see no one is there. They may break in if they see things they like. These should also be kept down while you’re sleeping.

Install a hard-wired system if you want to minimize maintenance costs. Wireless security systems are great, but need frequent battery changes. Your home security system will not function properly if you do not change the batteries. Furthermore, it can be costly to replace multiple batteries.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. The old owners may seem nice, but you don’t know everything about them. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

Secure any valuables which can’t be replaced. Irreplaceable valuables, including financial records, family photos, legal documents, passports, etc., should be secured at all times. A great choice for keeping these items in your home is a floor safe. A better idea is storing them inside a type of safe deposit box that’s outside your home.

Every homeowner should learn all they can to protect their home. But, it can be hard to figure out what is true and what is false. It is wise to educate yourself about home security and then put that knowledge to good use.

If your door is set in a rotted frame, you must replace the frame. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.