Home security is often misunderstood. It’s possible to protect your home if you know what information to study. Keep reading for some invaluable home security tips.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This adds more protection to a house, especially if you’re in a dry area with some power lines. It’s best to prevent a fire before it starts.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Turn the ringer off on your telephone if you are going to be away. A loud ring that goes unanswered can alert people to the fact that you aren’t home. This makes you more likely to be the victim of a burglary.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Do not tell anyone that you are going on vacation out of your friend circle. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. Your home should have a few pre-cut areas that can be used. How about unwiring an electricity socket and using it as cover for a place to stash valuable jewelry?

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. It is probable that you will hear some great stories about some companies as well as some not so great stories about others. This can save you the hassle of having to research everything on your own. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.

Garage Doors

Even if you’re not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. Most real-world burglars aren’t master lock-breakers; they simply stroll in through a door left carelessly unlocked. Thieves can make off with large amounts of valuable merchandise very quickly.

Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You may stumble across valuable security information, like if someone has noticed a stranger lurking around the neighborhood.

Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. You will be much more safe.

Hide valuables in spaces in your walls. You don’t have to cut pieces out of the walls. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.

Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. A burglar can easily strip away wood that has rotted. As a result, this will assist them in breaking into your home. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from the outside. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. Cover all street-facing windows.

When allowing a representative from any security company to enter your home, look for someone in uniform and ask to see an identification. Intruders could disguise themselves to inspect your home. This means peril for what you own as well as your loved ones. You want to use caution to prevent danger.

Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Many other people could have keys to the property, and you probably don’t want them to all have access to your home.

Before allowing anyone into your home, check their references carefully. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. 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 you sign a contract for a security company, read all the fine print first. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. You’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. All of your windows and doors should be unobstructed by plants, shrubs, trees or fences. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Plan your home with safety in mind.

Having light on in your home at night will scare crooks away. Intruders will avoid being noticed. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. Keep lights on in the evening for a safer home.

Install a home surveillance system. Placing hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. Intruders will stay away from your home if they notice cameras and hidden cameras can help identify intruders if they disable the most visible cameras. Many surveillance systems will allow you to access them through your cell phone; therefore, you can ensure your home is safe even when you’re gone.

Do your landscaping keeping safety in mind. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. If you want to have a garden around your home, keep trees and shrubs away from your house.

There’s an easy way to secure interior doors (if there are areas you want to keep housemates and children out of) without obliging you to carry a key-ring around at all times. Some locks will allow you to punch in a code to gain access to the room. You could install these locks yourself. Or, you may have a security company to do it for you.

Make an appointment with a home security company to evaluate the security needs of your home specifically. Different people require different plans. If you have found a company that could cater to your needs, then it is easy to get the security that will make you and your loved ones comfortable.

Inquire about various contract lengths which your security company might offer. There are likely pros and cons to each. The longer the contract, the lower your monthly bill, but if you move or become dissatisfied, you are stuck with the monthly fee. Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom at a higher cost.

You no doubt have a good idea of how important home security is. However, most homeowners don’t know what steps to take with regards to home security. Hopefully, this article can be a great resource on how to secure your home 24 hours a day.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. It may be more expensive to buy equipment at the outset; however, you may save money in the long run if you are free from monthly payments. On the other hand, while leasing is more expensive overall, it can get you a better system if you don’t have funds available immediately. Check out both options to discover the best one for you. The option that’s best for one person may not be best for another.