Security is an important aspect of owning and maintaining your home. It can be overwhelming, however, to wade through reams of information on the topic. By reading this article, you’ll get a good overview of the basics of home security.

Do you have an outside dog? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Attach your spare key inside the collar of your dog. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

If there are people you don’t know that have access to your social media sites, then you don’t want to let all of them know you’re on vacation. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.

Don’t talk about your vacations on social media. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. They have likely had interactions with home security providers that they can tell you about, saving you time and stress. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.

In summer, take care to trim back branches and plants near the house. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

There’s no security system so durable that it can go without regular maintenance and inspections. Have yours checked out once a year. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. A number of factors can cause problems with your security system, including wild animals and mother nature. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Make certain the security company you choose provides for regular inspections. 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.

End your shyness. Be friendly with people that live in the neighborhood. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You might find out valuable information related to security, like if there have been any strangers hanging around.

Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. There are many different people who might have keys from your past, and removing the potential of them accessing your home can be a very good idea. It doesn’t cost much and they can usually show up within a day.

Skylights should be secure. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Use heavy-duty hardware to secure your skylights to the roof.

Walls are the perfect place to hide. If you have valuables that are small in size, you may want to hide them within your walls. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.

Do not hide your spare key under your doormat or in a nearby planter. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.

Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or beneath the welcome mat. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. Remember that different families might have dwelt there before this person.

Before allowing any security company reps to come into your home, make sure they have on a uniform and they have valid ID. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This represents a danger to your possessions and your family. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.

Are you aware of the value present in the wiring in your home? People don’t realize this until it is stolen. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Keep your doors and windows clear of any shrubbery. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

Before allowing any security company reps to come into your home, make sure they have on a uniform and they have valid ID. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Make sure you are as cautious as you can be.

If you get home and notice an open door, do not go in to see what has happened. The thief might still be inside, and you don’t have any idea whether or not they are armed. Instead, wait outside until the police come, after calling them on your cell phone.

Keeping your house bright and lit at night will deter many crooks. They don’t wish to be seen. Making your home’s exterior nice and bright will make it impossible for crooks to go undetected. Keep your home lit up all night long.

If you’re planning to be out of your home for a period of time, have a neighbor remove any fliers placed on your door. 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.

If you get home and see the door is slightly open, don’t go inside by yourself to investigate. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Call the police, then wait until they get there to do anything else.

Can you read your house numbers while in the street? If your numbers cannot be plainly seen, then the police will struggle to locate your home very quickly in case of emergency. Luckily, this is a quick and inexpensive fix if you notice that there is a problem.

Inquire about different choices for contract lengths available from the home security provider. They probably each have their pluses and negatives. Longer agreements may cost less per month, but you may not be able to get out of the contract if you need to. There’s more freedom with a contract that’s shorter, but the monthly payments may be higher.

Spring Latch Locks

Do not use locks with spring latches. They give intruders and easy time breaking in, since they can be unlocked with a credit card. Intruders just have to slide a card in between the latch and door for the lock to pop open. If your doors have locks that are spring latch, add a deadbolt for extra security.

Do not purchase spring latch locks. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. They can put the credit card in between the latch and door to open the lock. If you have already installed spring latch locks, consider adding a deadbolt for even more security.

If you have an established routine for turning your lights on and off, consider investing in a timer. This can simplify your life, but it also makes your home appear lived in if you are away.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. Buying equipment may be initially more expensive, but cheaper in the longer term. Sometimes it’s more affordable to begin with a lease, even though a continued lease may be costly in terms of ongoing higher monthly fees. Explore both options to see which works best for you.

Replace flimsy doors with doors made of solid wood or metal. These doors are strong. A burglar trying to kick in such a door is going to be in for some pain. The cost of replacing your doors is worth it in the end.

Spare Key

Ask the security company you hire whether they have lights with motion sensors. This system will cause the lights to flicker on when someone walks up to your home. This will ward off thieves and make you feel safe when you come home.

If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. A very obvious location is underneath fake rocks. Hiding a key under the doormat is even worse; this cliched tactic will fool no one. It is probably best to find someone you trust to hold a key for you. If you have no choice but to hide a spare key, apply some inventive, out-of-the-box thinking when you do it.

Lock all of your windows that on the second floor of your home. Most people don’t think about someone entering the home from the second floor. Yes, burglars will go up there. Criminals are aware of this vulnerable area.

It will be well worth your time to learn about ways to make your home safer. You need to sift through the mounds of information available to find the reliable tips you can use. Just review the tips given here to help you make your home secure.

If you are a woman, you are much more at risk for a burglary. A pair of recently worn workmen’s boots on the front porch can give an impression of a strong man living at home. This is sure to scare criminals off from your house.