Understanding the various facets of home security is an important focus for every homeowner. However, you will need to filter out the large amount of old and misinformation available on the web. The following tips will help you figure out what you need to be doing so that you and your family are safe.

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

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.

If you have a lot of unfamiliar people on you social networking accounts, avoid letting everyone know you will be going on vacation. While these platforms are there for sharing, this is announcing to the world that your home is an open target.

Try not to have a shy attitude. Converse with those living in your area. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You might hear helpful information, for instance if strangers have been hanging around.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. Others have likely had both good and bad experiences that they can share with you that can then save you a lot of stress and time. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Meet with representatives from the security company you are considering to determine if they are trustworthy. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. Sometimes, you may need a professional to locate the problem.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Thieves are aware of the best hiding spots. You should have a trusted neighbor keep a spare key.

Alter the combination of the locks in your home. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

Were you aware that your home’s wires are valuable? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. Copper wiring is very valuable and susceptible to being stripped from the outside of your home. In order to protect yourself from this risk, make sure wires on your house are difficult to find and hard to access.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. Do some background research on the company you select, and look for people who make you feel safe.

Home security installation technicians should always be in uniform and wearing identification. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. This could be quite dangerous. Be careful to avoid this sort of danger.

Don’t forget about the skylights when securing your home. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. You can’t always be sure that maids, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.

Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. You can find pre-cut areas in your walls that can be used. How about unwiring an electricity socket and using it as cover for a place to stash valuable jewelry?

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. Nighttime security lights are affordable and effective in terms of security and handy in terms of visibility and safety. When they are positioned correctly, they make it pretty much impossible for intruders to get to your house unnoticed.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. An intruder can cut the wires if he can find them. Make sure the wires are installed inside the walls of your home. This will help to deter intruders that are looking to quickly disable your alarm system.

The most useful tool for finding home security is the Internet. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. After that, choose your top three for consultations.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. Shrubs, trees, fences, etc. should not obstruct the view of your doors and windows. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. Put these features at a greater distance from your house; let beauty also complement safety.

A great way to achieve extra security is to install exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors. At night, the lights will keep things bright round the house, but they are also efficient and cost-effective ways to help your security. Positioned correctly, these lights can make it impossible for intruders to get on your property undetected.

Determine how much experience a home security company has before you decide to do business with them. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

Request that prospective security firms design a system specifically for your home. All homeowners and homes differ. You’ll get the best protection by using a company that can tailor a plan to your requirements.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. Nothing is as attractive to a burglar as a dark, deeply-shadowed house. Light up the dark spots around your home. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.

If you don’t have a paper shredder, you might want to buy one. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. If you cannot afford a paper shredder, rip papers up into small pieces.

Consider your own personal safety needs and security risks before exploring home security systems. You might find that an alarm isn’t necessary at all. In some neighborhoods, it may be better for you to have a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself. Be sure to understand the sorts of risks you face before deciding what sort of security is best for you.

Don’t hide your key somewhere obvious. If you place it under a rock, a good robber will find it. A doormat is obvious, and a burglar is sure to look there. Talk to a neighbor or someone that you know to hold your key. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. The thief might still be inside, and you don’t have any idea whether or not they are armed. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

If you use a door lock with a numeric keypad, do not use your birthday as the pass code. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. Make it a random number that you and your family can commit to memory.

When standing in the street, can you see your house numbers? Make sure they are large in case emergency personnel need to find your house. This is easy and inexpensive to fix if you believe there could be a problem.

Keep your drapes closed at night. You wouldn’t want strangers leering into your home. If possible burglars get a look at what you own, they might target you next. Use some discretion and make sure to block your valuables from view with curtains or shades.

Do not hide your key in obvious places. A very obvious location is underneath fake rocks. Anyone looking for your key will look under your doormat. It’s better to ask a trusted friend or neighbor to hold your extra key. If that option isn’t available to you, be creative with your hiding spots.

Any doors that aren’t solid wood or made of metal should be replaced. Doors made of these materials are sturdy. A would-be intruder will have much more trouble getting through one of these than a hollow door. It should be possible for you to find replacements for all of your doors for a good price, so do it right away.

Sliding Glass

Get a home alarm, but only if the police are called when it’s gone off. You want a system that is monitored from a central location that can call the police when the alarm goes off. Don’t count on neighbors to hear the alarm and call the police.

Common security problems in homes include sliding glass doors. They are easy to unlock, all they require is a bit of lifting and shaking. You should install a security system on your sliding glass door or place a pipe segment to fill the door channel. This will ensure the door stays tightly shut and it is difficult to force open.

Most people like to avoid their neighborhood gossip; however, you should consider having them on your side. If there are unfamiliar people hanging around, the busybodies in your neighborhood will notice. Being friendly will make them more likely to alert you right away.

Homeowners need to learn everything that they can when it comes to security. Unfortunately, separating the good information from the chaff can be quite a job. Thus, it is wise to review the above information anytime you need advice about how to protect your home.

Women are targeted for robbery more often, particularly if they have children or they live alone. Therefore, consider putting large boots on the front step of your home to make burglars believe a manly man lives in the room. This keeps those criminals away for sure.