Understanding the various facets of home security is an important focus for every homeowner. It is necessary, though, to sort through the large volumes of information that exist on the subject. The following tips will help you figure out what you need to be doing so that you and your family are safe.

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 helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. The majority of systems will give an audible alert when someone enters the house. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Use a safe to protect your valuables. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.

Never open the door for a stranger. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. Other people are sure to have opinions and experiences to share. Make sure to ask neighbors for advice too.

If you have an attached garage, make sure it is secure. There is a way to prevent burglars from entering your home through the garage. If your garage lifts up on a track, try using a C-clamp. This will prevent your door from opening up if the clamp is close to its roller.

Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. Burglars have many clever ways to convince householders to open the door. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

If you reside in a small town or rural area, then you might not be as worried about someone breaking into your home as city dwellers may be. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is secure. It is possible for an intruder to get in the garage and then gain access to the house; however, you can do something about it. If your garage lifts up on a track, try using a C-clamp. This will prevent your door from opening up if the clamp is close to its roller.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

Do not be shy. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

Conceal valuable spaces within your walls. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

Equipping each room in your house with a reliable flashlight (charged with good batteries, of course!) is an excellent safety investment. Flashlights are important for letting you navigate your home in the dark. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Are you aware of the fact that your home wiring is worth money? Many people do not realize this until a crook steals it off of their home. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and may be stripped off the exterior of the house in a short time span. This is why the wiring should be hidden or difficult to get to.

The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. Even if the tenants turned their keys in, they may have made copies. You can also put the locks on yourself so you can be sure no one else has a key.

If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. It is simple for a robber to pry away rotting wood and enter your home. Replace it as soon as possible.

The outside of your house should be well lit. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. Make sure to have lights anywhere an intruder might enter. This means by the garage, in the doorways, around windows and much more.

If the home you are moving into is not brand new, you should change the locks on all the doors. Even though the previous tenant may have turned in their key, you never know if they have a copy. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. This is dangerous since the thief may still be on your property. Instead, you should call 911 and wait in a safe location for the police to arrive.

Having your home lit up and bright at night is a great deterrent to crooks. They do not desire to be seen. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. Keep your lights turned on during the night.

Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. You can have great home security with both hidden and visible video cameras. Intruders can be deterred to visible cameras, but hidden cameras are better if criminals damage the other cameras. A lot of surveillance systems may be accessed through a cell phone, letting you check on your house when you’re away.

A wireless security system could be a good option. Systems that are wired can be a little cheaper, but may need significant reworking of your home’s electrical wiring and can fail in a power outage. Wireless systems are easier to install and maintain, and they do not rely on the power in your home to work correctly.

Don’t neglect your garage when it comes to home security. Go to a hardware store and buy some frosting so you can cover your windows. Also keep your garage door closed whenever possible, especially if you will be stepping away from it for an extended period of time.

Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed when you’re not home. You don’t want potential intruders to be able to look inside. If burglars see items in your home that appear valuable, they’ll likely break in to steal them. Do not forget to close your shades before going to bed.

Ask the company if they offer systems for lease and sale. 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. Leasing is usually cheaper, but monthly fees can be high and you will need a contract. Compare these two options before making your decision.

Every homeowner should spend lots of time learning everything about securing his home. Sifting through the astonishing amount of information available, however, can be daunting! That is why you should look at the above information when you need to so that you can keep a safer home.

If the cost of maintenance is a concern, a hard-wired system may be your best choice. While wireless systems are great, they do require batteries on a consistent basis. If you do forget to have them changed, the system will not work right. Buying new batteries to replace the old ones can get expensive.