Your home must be the safest possible place to have your family all the time. That includes when they’re not at home. You can find some great advice concerning the safety of your home in this article.

If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. You simply do not know how many keys to the old locks are floating around. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. The doormat is too obvious of a place to hide it, as robbers will look there first. An example would be to attach a key to your dog’s collar, if he stays outdoors.

Compare different systems when looking into home security. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.

Secure your attached garage. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. Others have likely had both good and bad experiences that they can share with you that can then save you a lot of stress and time. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.

Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

Security System

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Some people think burglaries are less prevalent in rural parts.

It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. Many different things can make problems for your security system. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

Walls are a good place to hide things. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. You could use a phone jack, electrical outlet or a switch plate. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Don’t be shy. Engage your neighbors in conversation. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Pay attention to gossip as well. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

You can hide your valuable items inside your walls. This doesn’t necessarily involve chopping up your walls, either. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. Has a roommate or ex-lover moved out recently? If so, then you need to change out the locks in order to keep you and your home safe. Changing the locks can typically be done very cheaply and quickly.

Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from the outside. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. There are some who believe country folk are more at risk because neighbors are not nearby. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.

Lock the house, even if just going away for a short time. A lot of times, burglaries happen due to carelessness. Thieves can make off with large amounts of valuable merchandise very quickly.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. If the wires are exposed, an intruder can bypass the system by cutting its wires. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This can make you safer.

If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, make sure you get the locks changed. 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.

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

Screen the references of anyone who would have access to your house. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

Your first priority when you move to an apartment or house where others have lived in before is to replace all the locks. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. You can also put the locks on yourself so you can be sure no one else has a key.

Motion Detectors

Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

When searching for methods of improving your home’s security, a great, inexpensive method of doing this is purchasing exterior lights with installed motion detectors. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. Properly-situated motion detectors will give your home a complete field of protection and make it impossible for a miscreant to approach undetected.

Your landscaping should be designed based on what will be safest for your home. All of your windows and doors should be unobstructed by plants, shrubs, trees or fences. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Keep this in mind as you design.

Keep safety at the forefront as you landscape. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. If windows and doors can be easily seen from all areas, then burglars cannot hide as well, which will hinder their plans. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Thieves can use this information to figure out your schedule and determine the best time to break in. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.

If you are going to be out of town for more than a day or so, have someone check your mailbox and door for mail and fliers. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed. If the flier is not moved, they know that the occupant is not around or on vacation.

If you lose your house keys often, you might want to install a keyless entry system. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. You could install these locks yourself. Or, you may have a security company to do it for you.

Keeping a dog provides a great way to boost your home’s defense. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. There is no need for a guard dog. A terrier will make enough of a fuss to stop someone from breaking in.

Spring Latch

Always lock second story windows. These are easy to overlook because no one expects a criminal to make the effort to break in through an upstairs window. However, this is simply not true. This represents a flaw in any home’s security scheme, and criminals know they can take advantage.

Don’t have spring latch locks installed. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes. A card can be placed between the latch and the door, and this will open it. If your locks are spring latch, either replace them or put in a deadbolt to protect yourself.

Women who live alone or along with children are the most likely targets for burglary. Place big muddy boots near the front door so it looks like a male lives there. This will definitely deter criminals from entering your home.

Do not store your vehicle registration documents in your car’s glove compartment. These documents contain a lot of sensitive personal data, like your home address. You ought to keep them with you or store them in an alternate spot in the car. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.

As a matter of course, you should install new locks any time you move into a house or apartment. This should be done for rented and bought homes. Do your own lock replacement, or see if a locksmith or landlord will do it.

Install a hard-wired system if you want to minimize maintenance costs. Wireless systems are of course convenient, but unfortunately you have to change numerous sets of batteries regularly. If you neglect battery changes, your system won’t work. Buying new batteries to replace the old ones can get expensive.

When searching for home security companies, find one that provides more than simply security systems. For example, the best home security companies offer a home inspection to design your system and give you and your family excellent safety suggestions. Some suggestions could include adding deadbolts to doors, trimming shrubbery or adding new window locks. Be certain that the company you choose has your safety in mind.

Here you have been given an abundance of good advice. The question is, what will you do with what you learned here? Learning all you can about home security will enable you to protect both your possessions and your family.

Screw your window air conditioners into the wall tightly or put bars around it. A burglar could easily slide them out and get inside if you don’t have them secured. Remove your window air conditioners in the wintertime for better security.