If you are woman who is single or mother who needs peace of mind in your home, you may be very concerned about home security. You can take certain steps to help yourself feel better and less afraid. Review the advice in this piece on home security.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? Store the spare key with them. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. The majority of systems are able to be set to put out an alert when any individual enters the home. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. This adds more protection to a house, especially if you’re in a dry area with some power lines. Fire prevention is paramount.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. Prices vary quite a bit. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

If you have a lot of unfamiliar people on you social networking accounts, avoid letting everyone know you will be going on vacation. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.

Be sure your roof, floors, and ceiling are fire resistant. This can provide additional safety to the home, particularly in dry regions. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

It will not benefit you to be shy. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Pay attention to gossip. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. Many factors cause issues with security systems like nature and wild animals. If it’s not visible, you might not even know there’s a problem.

Switch your locks. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.

Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Rather, keep your spare keys with a neighbor you trust.

If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. Nonetheless, people in the country may be at greater risk due to being far away from neighbors. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. Empty boxes might draw the attention of robbers and let everyone know you own new and expensive goods.

Use your wall spaces to hide your valuables. This doesn’t necessarily involve chopping up your walls, either. You can find areas in your walls that are pre-cut and use those. Perhaps you could deactivate a few unused electrical sockets to use as a place to store stuff.

Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. Copper, found in many wires, can be removed in little time, and is worth quite a bit of money. That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

Change all of the locks in your new residence. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

When you consider a security company, be certain you read the details and fine print of the contract you’re about to sign. There are sometimes fees if you break a contract or need additional equipment. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Are you aware that your home’s wires are worth something? Many people never realize this value until wires are stolen right out of their home. The copper wiring can be stripped and be turned in for money. That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

You want the security company to actually come to your house and install the system according to your needs. You need some features which other families may wish to do without. 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.

Before signing up for a particular home-security company, find out how long they’ve been around. Companies in business for many years engender great confidence and trust. You may not feel as safe if you opt to go with a company that has not been in business for long or that does not have a stable history.

It might be time to get yourself a paper shredder if you haven’t already gotten one. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home. Rip your important papers up before throwing them away if you can’t get a shredder.

Have a home security company come to your house and come up with a system that best suits your needs. Every person has specific needs and wants when dealing with securing your family, home, and items. By locating the company that will create the best plan for you, you will be assured you are receiving the best possible home security.

Put a surveillance system in your home. Installing hidden and visible video cameras is great for securing a home. Cameras that can be clearly seen have a powerful deterrent effect, while concealed cameras are difficult or impossible for intruders to disable. You can sometimes access security systems using your cell phone, keeping you informed on the go.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. This can be quite dangerous because the burglar may still be on your property. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

You shouldn’t keep your car registration documents inside the glove box. These valuable documents provide criminals with information about your home location. Instead, keep them with you at all times, or hide them somewhere else inside your vehicle. They should be close, though, since you’ll need them if you get pulled over.

Consider installing a surveillance system for your home. This will allow you to see who is around your house. Visible cameras scare intruders while a hidden camera could capture footage. Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, allowing you to check up on your home when you are away.

If you’ve got a type of numeric keypad on the front door, don’t use your birthday as the password. Anyone can get personal information online which they can use to access your home. Choose a math equation and make the answer your code, and make sure to keep the equation in mind.

Spring Latch

Always store your irreplaceable valuables in a secure place. Passports, jewelry and expensive electronics must be secured at all times. Floor safes are excellent locations for keeping these particular items safe inside your home. To be even more cautious, you can get a safety deposit box at your local bank.

Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. These locks are very easy to pick with something as common as a credit card. A thief only needs to skip the credit card in between the lock to make it open. A deadbolt can be retrofitted to a door with a spring latch lock if you want to make it more secure.

See if your security firm offers lighting that is motion-sensitive. This is often an option from a good company. Motion sensitive lighting turns on when a person approaches your home in the dark. Therefore, if a burglar approaches, you will know.

Securing your home, along with creating a safe haven doesn’t need costly installation or having a stranger install your system. Luckily, there are many inexpensive ways that you can secure your home, without breaking the bank. Keep this information in mind if you want your home to feel safer.

A sliding glass door is not very safe. You can easily unlock them by shaking and lifting them. If you don’t have an alarm set up for them, use pipe cut to fit at the door channel. This keeps the door shut tightly and makes it difficult to force it open.