Every homeowner should learn about sound home security measures. However, there is a lot of information out there on this topic, so it may seem overwhelming at first. The article below is intended to help distill the most important concepts and assist you in developing a home security strategy that really works.

Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Be sure to make sure their references check out. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. Having these type of boxes hanging around will give robbers a good idea of what type of merchandise you have inside of your home.

Purchase flashlights that have good batteries, and keep them in every room in your home in case the power goes out. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. This will help to keep your jewelry and other valuables secured in the event of a break in. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

Alter the locks and the keys when you change homes. Even if the tenants turned their keys in, they may have made copies. For maximum security, buy your own locks and install them yourself. This way you can be certain nobody else has a key.

When a security company wants in your home ask for an ID and see if they’re in uniform. They might not be who you think they are. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Be cautious to stay safe.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This can provide additional safety to the home, particularly in dry regions. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. You should do a background check as well to find out their criminal history. You do not know if the people you hire are trustworthy, so do not give them a key to your home.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. They sometimes have hidden costs if you let go of them prior to the contract expiring. Try avoiding these fees when you can so that you know about them.

You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. Every homeowner has specific needs for their home and their family. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

Your home’s exterior needs to be well lit. Criminals love darkness to help mask their crimes. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Think about a wireless security system for your home. While wired systems may seem cheaper, they need your home to be rewired and they can fail due to a power outage. Systems that operate in a wireless environment can be easier to manage and are not as likely to cause extensive rewiring issues.

Arrange for someone to pick up your mail and remove any fliers from your door if you are out of town. This is a way people who are casing out your house can tell whether you are home or not. Fliers that are left behind signal to the burglar that there is no one at home.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

Visible Cameras

You need to get a good home surveillance system. A wonderful way to make your home safer is by putting in hidden or visible cameras. Most intruders are discouraged by visible cameras. But, if they attempt to disable the camera, you will still be able to see them if you have a hidden camera. A lot of surveillance cameras could be accessed through your phone, giving you the chance to check it even when you’re away.

If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. While they are an excellent source of natural light, they are also an easy way for thieves to enter your home. Your skylights should have strong components that can withstand tampering.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Use frosted, adhesive backed plastic to cover the windows. You can purchase this at a home improvement store. Also keep your garage door closed whenever possible, especially if you will be stepping away from it for an extended period of time.

All homeowners ought to spend substantial effort learning all they can about home security. You need to sift through the mounds of information available to find the reliable tips you can use. It is wise to educate yourself about home security and then put that knowledge to good use.

The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. This will help safeguard that there is no one else with your key.