If you have wanted to know more about home security, now is your chance. There’s no reason for you to settle when making a very important decision. Understanding what is available to you is key. Go over the following article to find out more about home security products and the habits you can adopt to protect your home.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Make sure you check references. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

After you purchase a new home, change the locks. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Check out their references thoroughly. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.

If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. Try hiding the key in your outside dog’s collar.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This can help your home be safer. Fire is such a destructive force that it makes excellent sense to reduce fire hazards in your home whenever possible.

Your garage should be as secure as your home. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

Remove old plants and debris from your yard. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

Get to know your neighbors. Speak to your neighbors. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. You never want to ignore gossip. You might hear helpful information, for instance if strangers have been hanging around.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

The first thing to do is get your locks changed out. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. Changing locks is not very expensive and should be done within a few hours.

Go with your gut when you invite a home security company representative into your house. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. 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.

Trust your instincts when it comes to hiring a home security company. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. You don’t want to refrain from choosing a different company or technician. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. This is a great way to hide jewelry, for example. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. It does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.

Lock up your house every time you leave. Most real-world burglars aren’t master lock-breakers; they simply stroll in through a door left carelessly unlocked. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Don’t just consider alarming your doors when you’re considering an alarm system. Windows are a way for thieves to enter your home as well. Be sure your alarm is secured to them all and that monitoring is in place for every point of entry. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Make sure the wires are installed inside the walls of your home. You’ll be safer.

Screen the references of anyone who would have access to your house. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

When you consider a security company, be certain you read the details and fine print of the contract you’re about to sign. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. You should avoid such expenses if you can, so make yourself aware.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and this could be a very bad mistake.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Have your landscape several feet away from your house for better safety.

A great way to deter criminals from getting into the garage is to make sure nobody sees inside it. Add some frosted glass panes to your windows to keep strangers from looking inside. Also, don’t leave your door open for long periods of time when you work there.

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. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

A dog is a great home security alarm. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. The dog doesn’t have to be huge or even vicious. A terrier will make enough of a fuss to stop someone from breaking in.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. Some neighborhoods feel more safe than others, but a good security system definitely makes you feel more safe. See to it that you understand the risks involved in making these purchasing decisions.

Keeping people out of various areas of your home does not have to involve using multiple locks and keys. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. They are fairly simple to install, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing so yourself, you can ask your home security company about it.

Follow the advice presented here to move forward in choosing a home security system. Now that you know what you’re doing, you can choose a good system. Consider what has been presented here, and use the information to keep your family safe and secure.

Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. Spring latch locks are the easiest locks to gain entry with, as they can be opened with a simple credit card. Intruders simply wedge a credit card between the door and latch, triggering the lock to open. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.