It is important to learn more about home security systems before investing in one. This isn’t something you want to take lightly. Pay close attention to the elements that will provide your family and yourself with the greatest amount of security.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Timers can be used to turn lights and televisions on and off when required. This way, your house will always look occupied. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. Prices vary quite a bit. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies before you decide on which one you think is the best option.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? You could let your dog carry a spare key. Put it on their collar. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Buy fire resistant flooring, roofing and ceiling. This give your home an extra protection layer. Investing in fire-resistant materials will help you save a lot since a fire can cause extensive damage.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

Never allow a stranger to enter your home. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

In the summer, remove all the dead trees from your yard. This sort of thing is a fire hazard in the heat of summer. Clear up your yard so it looks good and is safe.

Find a home security company you can trust. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs to ensure they continue to work properly.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. You should have them equipped with strong, sturdy hardware.

Skylights should be secure. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You don’t need to cut out segments of your walls by the way. There are many locales that are already around your home. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.

Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

Be certain your wires are hidden, if you have installed a security system in your home. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This will make you much safer.

Don’t just consider alarming your doors when you’re considering an alarm system. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. This is the pinnacle of safety.

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. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. 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.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

The most useful tool for finding home security is the Internet. The sites of the companies themselves will provide you with details about their services, testimonials from their customers, and pricing information. Then you can schedule an appointment for a home visit to discuss which package is best for you and what it will cost.

Motion sensitive lights are an inexpensive way to increase your home’s security. These lights will keep your property well lit and give you a good idea of who approaches your home. Properly-situated motion detectors will give your home a complete field of protection and make it impossible for a miscreant to approach undetected.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Keep your doors and windows clear of any shrubbery. If these things can be seen by the naked eye, they won’t offer hiding places to potential criminals. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.

When you hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. You’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.

Keeping your home well lit at night can help keep the burglars away. That’s because they want to remain hidden. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. That’s why it’s a good idea to light your home well for optimum safety.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. A thief might still be in there, which could put you in danger. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.

A reputable security company will send a representative to your home to design a custom system. All homeowners and homes differ. If there is a company that can come up with a customized plan, you will get what you really need.

Do not put electronic boxes in the front of your house. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. You should cut up the boxes once you empty them.

Do not use spring latch locks. Defeating a spring latch lock is a trivial endeavor; experienced burglars can get through one using nothing more than a credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.

Are you able to see the numbers on your house from the street? 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. If you notice a problem, you should be able to fix it fairly cheaply, though.

If the cost of maintenance is a concern, a hard-wired system may be your best choice. Systems that are wireless are convenient, but the batteries required can be cumbersome. If you neglect to switch out the batteries regularly, your security system won’t function properly. Additionally, it can be expensive to replace a lot of batteries.

Dogs make a great security system. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. A big, vicious guard dog isn’t necessary. Small dogs are noisy and unpredictable and very good at deterring burglars.

Keep valuables that are irreplaceable secure. Some of these items can include legal documents, jewelry, passports, and priceless family photos. Floor safes are great for keeping these items inside the home. To be even more cautious, you can get a safety deposit box at your local bank.

Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. There are going to be ups and downs for each one. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, but you you could maintain those monthly expenses if you discontinue service or sell the home. Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom at a higher cost.

All doors leading into your home should be made from solid wood or metal. Durability is key. If the burglar tries to kick their way in, they have a hard time doing so. It’s a good idea to replace all your exterior doors with more secure ones. It really doesn’t cost a lot.

Never make the password to your keypad your birthday. Your birthday can be found on mail or social media sites, so this means anyone can access your home. Instead, come up with a trickier password that only you will know the answer to.

A home alarm investment is well worth the money, provided someone contacts 911 when it is set off. The wiser investment is in centrally monitored security systems. These alarm services ensure that the police will be called whether anyone is home or not. You cannot depend on your neighbors to call them.

A sliding glass door can make your home less secure. They are easily unlocked just by lifting and shaking. Place a pipe in the door crevice to keep the door secure. This will keep the door closed tight and harder to force open.

A good video surveillance system will keep most intruders away. We seldom see burglars wearing nylon stockings on their heads or ski masks in real life. Many home burglars will not wear anything to cover their face because they do not want to come into contact with people. They are likely to avoid a place where there are surveillance cameras.

You should now know more about home security systems. You don’t have to approach home security with your eyes closed. Keep in mind that your decisions will affect the safety of your home and family. Keep this advice in mind for the future.

Instead of just including outdoor lighting, why not install lighting that uses infrared detection? These lights illuminate whenever someone approaches your home. This is a great deterrent for burglars and thieves. They will be spotted, and they’ll surely run out of there.