You should take the security of your home and family very seriously and make finding a good home security system a priority. Nonetheless, it is difficult to know what steps to take first. This article will be your guide, so read on.

The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This will keep your stash of diamonds, gold and other valuable items out of view and inaccessible to burglars. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? This is where you can put your spare key. Find a place to securely fasten the key to your pet’s collar where it’s not visible. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Don’t allow anyone you don’t know to look into your house. It is essential you do not do this, even if the stranger gives you a convincing story or states they need your assistance. This is the first rule of keeping your home secure.

Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. Prices vary quite a bit. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. 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 sure everyone in your house knows not to open the door unless they know the person standing outside.

Shut off the ringer for all of the telephones in your home if you are planning to go on vacation for a long time. If your phone is ringing while you are out, burglars will realize that no one is home, making your home very vulnerable to an attack during your time away.

Secure your garage. Some people are concerned about burglars entering through an attached garage. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

Make sure your attached garage is secure. You can prevent this from happening easily. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Install motion-sensor lights. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.

You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. This goes for the installer, too. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Any skylights in your home should be secured with strong hardware.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. There are some who believe country folk are more at risk because neighbors are not nearby. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Security System

Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Don’t let this happen; bury or hide the wires. This will add security.

Lock the house, even if just going away for a short time. It may shock you to know this, but a lot of intruders get inside homes through open doors. It does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.

If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Choose an alarm which monitors other areas outside your doors. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. This is great for keeping the family secure.

Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? A lot of people don’t realize this fact until a robber steals it from their home. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access to keep this valuable property safe.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. This is why it is so important to make sure all your wires are well hidden. You’ll be safer.

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. These items will help you remain safe when there is no electricity. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.

Flashlights in your home should always have newer batteries if your power goes out. Flashlights are very important, as they will give you the ability to move around in the event of an emergency. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Always ask for references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. Do not hesitate to hire someone to run a background check if you have doubts. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. The person who used to live there may still have a key. You might even purchase and install your own locks so that you are assured of having the only keys.

Always go over the small print on contracts offered by your home security company. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

When you purchase an expensive item such as a computer or TV, be sure to take the cardboard box to the recycling center rather than leaving it on your curb for all the world to see. Burglars will see those boxes and realize that there are valuable things in your home for them to get. After removing the contents from these boxes, tear or cut them up.

One of the best things you can do to protect your home at night is to deter intruders with plenty of exterior lighting. Thieves don’t want to be visible. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. So keep those lights on at night for a secure home.

Keeping a dog provides a great way to boost your home’s defense. They are protective about their territory, plus they make noises that keep burglars at bay. You don’t even need a huge, vicious dog. Even tiny dogs that make a ton of noise will deter a potential crime.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. If you have them visible, people can’t hide in those areas while they try to break in. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

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. Code or fingerprint enabled keyless entry locks are a great solution. You can either install these locks by yourself, or have them professionally installed if you are not that handy yourself.

Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. When you know that you’re dealing with a company of some repute, you can feel more at ease making that decision.

Make sure that your key is in a hidden place. It is easy to spot a fake rock. Under your doormat is also a common place burglars will look. The most secure thing you can do is to entrust your key to a reliable neighbor or a friend you can count on. If you can’t do that, you must think creatively to find a good place to keep a spare key.

If you want to keep certain rooms in your home private, you don’t need to lock every door with a key. Keyless locks require a code to unlock the door. You can even install it yourself.

If your door has a numeric keypad lock, never make its password your birth date. A thief can easily find this information out. You should choose a number no one else will be able to guess and change it regularly.

Don’t hide your keys in obvious places. A very obvious location is underneath fake rocks. A doormat is obvious, and a burglar is sure to look there. Just leave your key with someone you trust. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

Secure any valuables which can’t be replaced. Items such as family photos, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. A floor safe can keep these items safe. For added safety, place them in a safety deposit box at your bank.

Sliding doors are a huge security issue. They can easily be unlocked by lifting them and then shaking them. If you don’t have your security system connected to them, try cutting some pipe to fit into your door channel. This will make the door a lot harder to force open.

It is not enough to buy an alarm for your home. It needs to connect with the police if a burglar sets it off. An alarm system with full-time monitoring by a security company is the safest option. You can rest assured that the police will be called by the company. You really cannot depend on your neighbor to contact the police.

Make friends with a talkative neighbor who is home a lot. Busybodies are most likely to notice suspicious people lurking about. If your friends with them, they can alert you immediately.

Make friends with your neighbors. You never know who might be watching when someone is sneaking around your home. As a friend, they will be sure to notify you.

It is impossible to feel safe in your home without certain security measures in place. Your home is your castle, and you should always feel at ease there. Sometimes it’s hard to know what steps must be taken. Fortunately, these tips have shed some light on the matter.

Women are targets for thieves, especially those with kids. Place large, muddy boots at your doorstep so it looks like a big, burly fellow lives there. This will make criminals think twice before breaking into your home.