You have to be as knowledgeable about home security as you can if you want to make the best choices for your family. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. Think long and hard about creating a safe home for your family.

Valuable Items

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, they should not be given access. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. It’s exciting going to new places and enjoying your time, but you could alert thieves to an empty home that they can easily break into.

Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. Try putting a C-clamp on your garage door track. This will stop the door from rising if you want to keep it closed.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. These are lights that turn on whenever any living thing gets too close to your home. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Remember to keep working bulbs in them at all times.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

Skylights need to be secure, too. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Be certain that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. Large windows let in a lot of light, but they also allow outsiders to see inside your living space. Be sure to put curtains on your front-facing windows so people can’t see your valuable belongings.

Walls are great for hiding things. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. All you need is a wall opening you’re not using (something like a phone jack, electrical box, or switch plate). A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. If the wires are exposed, an intruder can bypass the system by cutting its wires. This is why it is so important to make sure all your wires are well hidden. That will make you safer.

Are you aware of the value contained in your home’s wiring? A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. The copper in the wiring is valuable and can be stripped off of the outside of the home in a relevantly short period of time. That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

Hide your security system’s wiring. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. This is why it is so important to make sure all your wires are well hidden. You will be much more safe.

If you are seeking home safety ideas that are simple and inexpensive, you should buy outdoor lights with motion sensors. In the dark hours, these lights will provide the illumination necessary to protect your home and also save money by staying off when they’re not needed. When they are positioned correctly, they make it pretty much impossible for intruders to get to your house unnoticed.

Talk to any companies you’re considering hiring to install a security system about how long the company has been around. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. It also ensures they’re not a fly-by-night firm.

If you’ve bought large or pricy items, avoid throwing out boxes until the day the trash is scheduled for pick-up. You are alerting thieves that there is something worth stealing inside your home.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. Burglars like committing crimes in the darkness. Put a light anywhere where an intruder can enter your home. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.

There are wireless systems available for home security, as another option. While systems with wires are cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

Whenever you move to a new dwelling, make certain to get each lock replaced. Even if the previous owner or tenant seems trustworthy, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the key they made and distributed. Bear in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous owner.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, it would be a good idea for you to buy one. 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.

Break down the boxes from your new TV or computer rather than leaving them on the side of the road. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. When you have emptied the boxes, make sure you cut them up.

Rotted wood in your door framing should be replaced. Rotting wood is easy to remove and take apart if someone is trying to get in. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

Ask if your company offers options to both buy and lease your security equipment. Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. Although leasing is usually cheaper, you may have to fill out contracts and you will have higher monthly costs. Compare both avenues to see which one is better suited for your needs.

Ideally, you’ve got a few new ideas to consider about making your home safer after reading this article. There is no point in going blindly into home security. It is important that the safety of your home and your family is your priority. Keep these tips in your mind as you think about home security.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This proves rather dangerous for both your family and also your valuables. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.