Are you in need of a good security system? Often people make this important purchase without thinking about whether or not it is necessary. Make sure that you are not careless and there is a good chance that you will be safe.

Make your house look occupied all the time. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is just one of the many precautions you can take to secure your home.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Change all of your locks when you move in. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Do you have an outdoor dog? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Be sure you seek out advice by asking those people.

Keep your jewelry, vital documents and other expensive items in a safe. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

If your house has a garage, keep the car there, not just your junk. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

Be sure your roof, floors, and ceiling are fire resistant. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Do not hide your spare key under your doormat or in a nearby planter. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.

In summer, take care to trim back branches and plants near the house. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

Always lock your home, even if you plan on coming back within a few minutes. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Take advantage of any and all security resources your local police force makes available to homeowners. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you. Ask your police department to see if these types of programs are available.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. This is a delicate situation as the burglar might still be in your home. Instead, wait outside until the police come, after calling them on your cell phone.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

Purchase a paper shredder to prevent your discarded papers from providing burglars with valuable information. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. If you cannot afford a paper shredder, rip papers up into small pieces.

Skylights need to be secure, too. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.

If you are out of town for awhile, ask a friend to take a look at your door for any fliers. Thieves will drop off flyers to see if home owners are away. A flier that hangs around for days on end lets burglars know that there’s no one in the home.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. Small valuables fit nicely inside walls. You can use the opening provided by an electrical switch plate or other device that is not being used. Installing a false unused plate is very easy to do if your home doesn’t have one.

It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. Setting up hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, allowing you to check up on your home when you are away.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. There are many locales that are already around your home. Perhaps you could deactivate a few unused electrical sockets to use as a place to store stuff.

A great way to deter criminals from getting into the garage is to make sure nobody sees inside it. Frost your windows with film bought at a hardware store. If you use your garage for working on projects, don’t forget to lock it when you’re through working for the day.

Don’t give outside people the ability to see into your home. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. Always keep your windows covered and do not tempt others by displaying your possessions.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. They generally bark when someone comes close to their property. A dog with a vicious attitude and large size isn’t necessary. Any dog who barks, small or large, can scare off a burglar.

If you are moving in your new home, ensure all the old locks are replaced. Regardless of how you feel about the sellers, you never know someone’s true intentions. Bear in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous owner.

Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed when you’re not home. If you keep them up, intruders will be able to see right into your home. They may break in if they spot something that they like. Also lower them while you are sleeping.

Rotten Wood

Do not make a number-code password your birthday or other obvious number. Your birth date is easy information to obtain. Make it something that is unique and that you can remember.

Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door. Replace this old wood if you want to keep your house safe.

Think about getting a hard-wired home security system if maintenance costs are an issue for you. A wireless system is handy, but the frequent battery changes can really amount to a large expense. If you forget to change the batteries, your system will not work correctly. It can also be pretty expensive to replace batteries.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. There are early termination fees, and there may be fees for extra equipment procured in the future. Be aware of these particular fees so you can steer clear of them.

Keep valuables that are irreplaceable secure. Items such as family photos, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. Keeping such valuables under lock and key (in a floor safe, for example) is a good way to provide the extra protection they need. Safety deposit boxes are another great idea.

Buy a paper shredder. Thieves often look through garbage, trying to find credit card information or other important documents. If paper shredders don’t fit into your budget, you can manually rip up important documents yourself.

Don’t avoid your neighborhood gossip. Instead, get to know him or her. They will let you know if they see someone suspicious near your home. As a friend, they will be sure to notify you.

If you’ve got a keypad to lock your door, do not make a password which is obvious. People can easily access your birth date in order to gain entry to your home. Make it a random number that you and your family can commit to memory.

Women have a greater likelihood of being the targets of home invasion, particularly if they live alone or with children. A pair of big muddy boots placed outside your door gives the impression that a man lives there. This will make criminals think twice before breaking into your home.

Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. You will not have to expend as much energy taking care of the lights, but you will still be able to make sure your house is illuminated when you want it to be.

Indoor locks are nice, but outdoor locks are better. Deadbolts are the best locks. The ones that are key operated on the interior and the exterior are burglar proof.

A home alarm might be a good investment. Get an alarm that automatically notifies the police. It is not safe to assume the neighbors will call the police.

Buy security systems from a company over someone reselling it. This is because a re-seller might not give you the same level of service that the company will. You can avoid these additional fees and have access to quality service by going through a reliable company.

The sliding doors made of glass that you see on many modern homes are actually a big security concern. They can be unlocked very easily if you shake and lift them. If you haven’t hooked them up to your security system, you can install some pipe to fit within your door channel. This will help keep the door tightly closed and make it hard to open.

No matter how lovely the people were who lived in your home before you, rekey the lock or replace it. If you’re renting, ask the landlord to re-key the lock for you.

Home security systems could be the best thing you could do for your family. But, perhaps all you need to do is make some changes in your home. Research all options thoroughly to make an informed choice.

Avoid letting people outside see inside your home. If you’re able to see your computer or television, burglars can as well. Using curtains or blinds at your windows can help prevent people from seeing inside your house. If you cannot do this, place your valuables in another room.