Are you well informed in regards to security systems? If you discover that you don’t know much about the subject, read on. Home security is too important to ignore. You’ll find that a little self-education will prepare you to make much better security decisions. Check out the suggestions below and start improving your security savvy!

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

Make your home look occupied at all times. Invest in timers to automatically turn on and off any electronics at various times. This will make it look like someone is home. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. No matter how innocent a person may seem or how interesting the product he or she may be offering, you must not allow access. Some people may simply be trying to determine whether or not you have a home security installed; if you don’t, they may plan to return later if you are away from your home.

You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. Regularly clear away your yard to keep your home in good standing and safe for your family.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

Be brave! Speak with your neighbors. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. Don’t hesitate to request a different technician or to hire a new company altogether. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. If your phone is ringing while you are out, burglars will realize that no one is home, making your home very vulnerable to an attack during your time away.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Not everyone believes this, though.

Never allow str4angers to enter your house. Stay true to your safety, even if it appears the person has legitimate reasons for wanting entry. This is the first rule of keeping your home secure.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. Thieves can steal thousands worth of your belongings very quickly.

See if your area police department has any home security programs. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. Keep yourself safe.

Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders 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.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. Regardless of how you feel about the sellers, you never know someone’s true intentions. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Talk to your neighbors. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.

Are you aware of the value present in the wiring in your home? This is something few homeowners realize until they become victims of wiring theft. Experienced criminals can make a decent amount of money quickly by stripping copper wiring off of houses in order to sell it at a scrapyard. In order to protect yourself from this risk, make sure wires on your house are difficult to find and hard to access.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. 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.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.

Rotten Wood

Unless you’re moving into a brand-new apartment or home, changing the locks should be one of your top priorities. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. You can do your own installation to make sure that no one else has a key.

Replace rotten wood near door frames. Rotten wood is easily removed and can give an intruder a way into your home. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

It’s smart to use the Internet when you are looking for a good security company for your home. Research the possibilities, check out package options and pricing and analyze customer feedback. You’ll find it easy to narrow your choice down to three top contenders; your next step is to arrange to meet each of them to discuss your specific security needs.

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. They lights will light up your property at night and they are cost-effective and efficient. They also help to keep intruders away, because an intruder does not want to come close to your property if they know they might be spotted.

Make sure no one can look inside your garage. Use a frosted film to cover the windows. This can be purchased at many hardware stores. Also, do not leave doors open.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. You can easily avoid these fees if you do your research.

See if your security company only sells equipment, or if they will lease it to you instead. Buying outright costs a lot more in the beginning, but one time costs might lower or eliminate some monthly fees that add up over time. 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. Think about both options before making a decision.

Be sure to make good use of the Internet when you’re trying to select your home security company. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. With this information, you can contact the companies you feel comfortable with and compare the rates to each other.

Never hide keys in obvious locations. The classic fake rock is too common and too easy to detect. Doormats and rocks in front of the house are too obvious. A safer option is entrusting a neighbor or one of your most trusted friends to keep your spare key. If this is not possible, think on how you will hide it.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

Always store your irreplaceable valuables in a secure place. Passports, financial records, jewelry, photos or legal documents should be locked away. A great choice for keeping these items in your home is a floor safe. Or, a better idea, is to place them in a deposit box outside of your home.

Request that prospective security firms design a system specifically for your home. Each situation is different. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.

Figure out if motion sensitive lighting is an option for your home by talking to your home-security company. This system will cause the lights to flicker on when someone walks up to your home. This makes your home safer because it warns intruders away.

If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. Burglars pay attention to this, and it will make them want to break in and get the items. Cut the boxes up when they are empty.

Sliding glass doors are a big security problem in many homes. They can be unlocked with a bit if jiggling. If your security system is not connected to the doors, cut a board or pipe the exact length of the door channel, and drop it in the space to secure the doors. This will keep the door closed tight and harder to force open.

Spring Latch

Deadbolts are the best locks you can install, as they have captive keylocks. These locks has a thumb latch to prevent anybody from reaching through an opening close by in an attempt to open the lock. When you’re at home, you can leave your key in the keyhole so you’re able to leave in the event of an emergency.

Do not use spring latch locks. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. A thief only needs to skip the credit card in between the lock to make it open. If your locks are spring latch, either replace them or put in a deadbolt to protect yourself.

Women living alone or with just children are targeted more often than others. Put large, muddy boots on the porch to give the illusion of having a man at home. This will make criminals think twice before breaking into your home.

Are you more confident, given your new knowledge base about security systems for the home? The more you learn, the better off you’re going to be when it comes to making a decision like this. Keep the information above close as you consider the options.

It is always best to not put your expensive belongings on display in the windows where everyone can see. If people can see a computer or large TV outside your house, thieves can also see it. You need to seriously consider having both blinds and curtains so that things you have inside are not seen. If you don’t think this is possible in a certain room, put more valuable items in a different room.