It is the job of every homeowner to do everything possible to keep their home properly secured. If you think an alarm system is the only option for securing your home, you are wrong; there are many other choices. Read on to find out all you can.

It is important for your home to always look lived in. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This makes it look as though people are home no matter what. This will keep people from breaking in.

It is important for your home to always look lived in. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This way, your house will always look occupied. This is an excellent technique that helps avoid robberies while keeping the property safe.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. When giving your house cleaner the key to your home, you need to be sure that they are reputable and honest. All references should be checked. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Your dog could carry a spare key for you. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. If the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Try to find somewhere less obvious.

Valuable Items

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Make certain the security company you choose provides for regular inspections. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. Keep the safe hidden in a hard-to-find location like an attic or a basement closet.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. Though it is nice to have big windows to get a great view of the outdoors, it is also easier for burglars to look into your home. If your house has street-facing windows, make sure they are always covered and your make sure your valuables are hidden away.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. Thieves can make off with large amounts of valuable merchandise very quickly.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. Knowledge of first-hand experiences can be very helpful to you when it comes to making this important decision. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Don’t just consider alarming your doors when you’re considering an alarm system. It should protect the windows too. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This will help to keep your family safe.

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. You will be much safer.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. You don’t want to refrain from choosing a different company or technician. After all, you’re investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Having these boxes outside of your house will give robbers the temptation of robbing your house.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. You can hide small valuables in your walls. Place them in switch plates, phone jacks or an electric outlet. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Having your home lit up and bright at night is a great deterrent to crooks. This will deter crooks from trying your home. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. That’s why it’s a good idea to light your home well for optimum safety.

Entry Points

Have your home security company inspect your home and suggest safety improvements. Everyone has specific needs and wants when dealing with the security of their house, belongings and family. If you’ve found a company that can tailor a system to you, you can receive the greatest amount of security to make you feel much more comfortable.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Windows are all potential entry points for burglars. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. This is vital to keeping your family safe.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. Cover your windows in frosting, which can be bought at big box hardware stores, so people can’t peek inside. Also, do not leave doors open.

Always check references before letting anyone work on your home. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. Anyone you bring into your home to work could be your worst enemy.

If you buy a new, expensive electronic, such as a television or computer, do not leave the empty boxes on your curb. These boxes are a signal to burglars that you have something worth stealing. Break up the boxes into smaller pieces before you put them near the curb.

You should no longer live in an unsafe home. Although all this may seem complicated and tedious, it’s totally necessary in order to keep your whole family safe. The tips you’ve just read can help make this a reality.

The number on your house should be easy to find. If there’s an emergency, it will take longer for the police to locate your home if the numbers are concealed in any way or too small. Luckily, this is an issue that can be fixed quickly.