TIP! Have your home always look occupied. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times.
Every homeowner needs to keep their home and family secure. Home invasions can be quite common, and other thing like flood and fire can damage your home. Read the tips in this article to make sure that you family is safe from nearly any threat.
TIP! Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door.
Your dog can actually safeguard an extra key. This really only works if your dog door or an outdoor dog. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.
TIP! Do you allow your dog to stay in your yard while you are away? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view.
Home security plans have other features along with an alarm in case of a break in. Most systems can be set to sound an alert you to anyone entering your home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their kids open or closed a door.
Buy a small home safe that you can conceal your valuables in. Keep it hidden in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.
TIP! Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc.
Turn the ringers off on your telephone if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A constantly ringing phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.
TIP! If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. This can indicate that your home will be free and vulnerable during the time.
Never allow a stranger to enter your house. No matter how innocent a person may seem or how interesting the product he or she may be offering, keep them from entering your home. This is the joint to see if there is home security equipment.
TIP! Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. 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.
Never open the door to a stranger. People try many ways to trick others to open up their doors so they can steal from them. Make it a house rule forbidding anyone to open your door for an unexpected visitor.
TIP! Have lights that sense motion. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home.
It is important that you check your home security system periodically, you should have an annual test. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a look. You may not know there’s an issue if they aren’t easily sighted.
TIP! Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall.
Don’t forget about the skylights when doing a security sweep for your home.Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Be certain that the skylights for your home are durable and reliable.
TIP! Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home.
Walls are great hiding things. You should think about hiding certain small valuables inside the walls. You can use the opening provided by an electrical switch plate or electric outlets as hiding spots. You put in a fake plate if there aren’t any unused plates.
TIP! While choosing your alarm system, ask about protection for windows and motion detection as well as doors. Intruders can enter through your windows too.
Don’t put your spare keys inside plant boxes or plants. These are the first places criminals will look when you misplace your home. Thieves are aware of all these hiding spots.
Flashlights are important for letting you move around in the dark. Make sure everyone in your family knows where to find them and how to operate them.
TIP! Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. They might not be who you think they are.
If your home isn’t new, change the locks right away. The previous owners or tenants might have a key.You might even purchase and install locks so that you are assured of having the only one who has a key.
TIP! Don’t let any service people into your home without checking their references completely. Be sure to perform a background check and look for any criminal history that might be in evidence.
Be sure to read the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company.There could be fees if you break a contract or need additional equipment down the road. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, so make yourself aware.
TIP! Take advantage of the Internet while comparing your home security options. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages.
Landscape your home with an eye to safety. If these things can be seen by the naked eye, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. This should be planned in advance for your home additional safety.
Get your needs by having the security system custom built for your home.
TIP! If you plan to go away and have asked someone to get the mail, see if they will also remove fliers that may have been left at the door. Burglars sometimes tack these up and watch to see whether or not they are removed.
The outside of your house should be kept well lit. Burglars prefer the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Install lights in any area a potential intruder can use to enter your home. This includes doorways, in the doorways, and your garage.
TIP! Do not store your car registration documents in your glove compartment. These documents contain a lot of sensitive personal data, like your home address.
Never enter your house if you arrive and find the door open.This can be very dangerous because the thief could still be in your home. Your best bet is to contact the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.
Think about having a wireless security system for the home. While wired systems may seem cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages.
TIP! If your door has a numeric keypad, don’t use your birthday as the password. Your birthday is readily available for burglars to find.
Your dog is a great tool for protecting your home security weapons. Dogs are very protective of turf and generally make noise when something is amiss. It doesn’t need to be a big tough dog.Even tiny dogs that make a ton of noise when committing crimes.
TIP! Replace your doors with some that are solid wood or metal. Those materials will hold.
Ask about the various contract durations that a security company can offer you. Each probably has its benefits and drawbacks. Long contracts may cost less each month, but can outlast your stay in the home. Shorter contracts mean more freedom along with higher cost.
TIP! Ask the security company you hire whether they have lights with motion sensors. These lights go on when something moves outside.
Keep curtains closed when you are away from home. Intruders can look into your house if they are left up. You should also have them drawn while you are asleep.
This helps the lights stay on and off when you’re away from your home.
TIP! Burglars hate video security systems. We seldom see burglars wearing nylon stockings on their heads or ski masks in real life.
You do not want to avoid having people peeking in through the window. If the crooks can see what you own, you would not want him to see your belongings and target your house. Make sure and minimize what is visible to the public so you can keep your chances of being robbed at a target.
TIP! Always switch out the locks on a home you purchase. Anyone might have access to your home if the locks have not been changed.
There have been several incidents when a person knocks on a door claiming they need assistance, and then when the door is answered, the person busts in and starts wreaking havoc. If a person ever knocks on your door screaming for help, make the call for them without opening the door.
Because of all the threats to a home, every homeowner should take steps in protecting it as much as possible. After reading this article, you should know what steps to take to secure your home. Use these ideas to boost your home’s safety.