Home security is vital to many, but too many people don’t understand it well enough. There are a lot of different purchases that you can make to keep your home secure. Keep reading for some great tips.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This will come in handy if your dog is outdoors most of the time or if it can go outside through a pet door. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. When you lose your keys, have your locks rekeyed.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key. Check references thoroughly. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. They pose a fire risk. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

Never let a stranger inside. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Some folks will enter to scout for security systems, and upon seeing you lack one, will resolve to return at a later time.

Keep your car in your garage. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. Keeping your car out of sight is also a good way to prevent intruders from determining whether or not you are home.

It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. Sometimes, you may need a professional to locate the problem.

Even if you have a great security system, it must be checked annually. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

Replace all locks in a new house. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

Do not be shy. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

If you are seeking home safety ideas that are simple and inexpensive, you should buy outdoor lights with motion sensors. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

Install lights that use a motion-sensor. These kinds of lights will pop right on when they detect motion near your home. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

Security System

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

Be sure to get a home security service that will inspect your home and tailor a home security system just for you. Everyone has different needs, and your security system should be designed to protect your home and family. A good company will tailor your security plan to the needs of you and your family.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

If you haven’t gotten a paper shredder, it may be time to purchase one. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. If you can not afford to purchase a paper shredder, just rip the paper into smaller pieces.

When you landscape your house, make it safe. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Keeping the areas around your windows free of plants can help to deter criminals from lurking too close to your home, without you noticing.

If a friend picks up your mail while you’re away, have them check for fliers on your door. Thieves sometimes place fliers on front doors and then wait to see if anyone removes them. If the flier is not moved, they know that the occupant is not around or on vacation.

In the event you find your door open upon arriving home, you should never enter and investigate yourself. You have no way of knowing whether the thieves are still inside. Instead, call 911 and report a possible break-in.

Do not use locks with spring latches. These locks can be opened easily with a credit card. The card is slid into the crevice between the latch and the door, pushing the latch back and springing the lock open. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, it would be a good idea for you to buy one. Thieves might go through your trash bags to find bills for valuables or personal information. If you can not afford to purchase a paper shredder, just rip the paper into smaller pieces.

When you will be away from home, keep the curtains and blinds shut. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. If they notice this, they may break in. It’s good to have them down at night, too.

If you purchase an expensive item, get rid of the box rather than allowing it to sit outside your home. A burglar may see the box and decide to target you as a result. Break them down and put them in a bag or take them to a recycling center.

When you don’t want to spend a lot on maintenance, go for a hard-wired system. Wireless security systems are great, but need frequent battery changes. The system will cease to work properly if the batteries are not fresh. In addition, replacing multiple batteries can be expensive.

A dog is a great alarm system. Dogs protect their territory diligently, and tend to make noise if something goes awry. A dog with a vicious attitude and large size isn’t necessary. Small dogs are noisy and unpredictable and very good at deterring burglars.

Any priceless items need to be secured. Items such as family photos, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. Floor safes are great for keeping these items inside the home. For added safety, place them in a safety deposit box at your bank.

If you have roommates or kids who you do not want in certain areas of the house, you do not have to lock the doors and carry around a ton of keys. Each entrance can be fitted with a keyless lock that requires a code to enter. These may be installed by yourself or a security company.

If your door is not solid wood or metal, replace it! Those materials will hold. Burglars would have a hard time kicking such doors down. Replace outside doors as quickly as possible.

Inquire with your company if they allow both leases and purchases of equipment. You’ll spend less money in the long-run if you buy the equipment outright. Leasing usually proves cheaper at first, but it comes with strings attached through contracts or continuing fees and charges. Check out both options and determine which is best for you.

It is not enough to buy an alarm for your home. It needs to connect with the police if a burglar sets it off. Get an alarm that automatically notifies the police. You cannot depend on your neighbors to call them.

Don’t put the registration to your car in your glove box. If someone finds them, they’ll know your address. You should keep them on your person, or find another place in your vehicle to hide them. They have to be accessible in the event you are in an accident or receive a speeding ticket.

Sliding Glass

Sliding doors are a huge security issue. They can easily be unlocked by lifting them and then shaking them. If you don’t have an alarm set up for them, use pipe cut to fit at the door channel. This jams the door so it just can’t open.

Sliding glass doors pose large security issues in homes. They can easily be unlocked by lifting them and then shaking them. You can install a security channel to protect your sliding glass door and/or cut a piece of pipe or a dowel that fits into the door channel. This will ensure the door stays tightly shut and it is difficult to force open.

Women have more chances of being the target of a home invasion if they live alone. Set out oversized muddy boots on the front step to make it look like a large and active man lives there. This will give criminals second thoughts and make your home a less tempting target.

While gossip and scandals aren’t the most wholesome neighborhood topics, it’s best to stay in the loop. The nosy neighbor may not make for good company, but he or she is likely to notice suspicious individuals near your house. By befriending this person, you will always have updates on the latest neighborhood news and threats.

It’s good to have interior locks, but they really aren’t effective without exterior locks. Therefore, the best lock is the deadbolt. The ones with inside and outside keys will ensure that a burglar cannot open them.

Though inside locks are great, they do little if they cannot also be locked externally. The best lock is a deadbolt and those that have keys for the inside and outside can prevent burglars from opening them.

Your external wiring can be an easy target for thieves and burglars. Cooper, commonly found in electric wiring and components, has the potential to be sold for lots of money. Hiding wiring is a good way to prevent copper thieves from hitting your property.

Most people know that home security is an important part of life. Many feel lost when it comes to choosing a home security system. Hopefully, the article you’ve just read has given you some ideas with regards to home security.

No matter how lovely the people were who lived in your home before you, rekey the lock or replace it. This is definitely true when it comes to rentals and new home purchase, so make sure you hire someone to help, or change the locks on your own.