Read on to learn more about the interesting and important topic of home security. Keeping your home safe and secure is one of the most important thing you can do. Get good information and stay in control of the situation. Go over the following article to find out more about home security products and the habits you can adopt to protect your home.
You can hide your spare key on your dog. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!
You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. You simply do not know how many keys to the old locks are floating around. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.
If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Carefully check their references. 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.
Home security systems have different kinds of features that can sound an alarm when someone breaks into your house. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.
Compare different systems when looking into home security. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.
Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.
A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. Try to find somewhere less obvious.
Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.
If you have a lot of unfamiliar people on you social networking accounts, avoid letting everyone know you will be going on vacation. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.
Make sure to clear your yard of brush and dead wood in the summertime. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.
Even if you have a great security system, it must be checked annually. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. There are many things that can reduce the quality of your system. You might not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.
Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.
The first step in making your home more secure is to change out your locks. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.
Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.
If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.
Even if you’re not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.
Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. Conduct background checks if necessary. It is not a good idea to give anyone a key to your home, even contractors or repairmen.
If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.
Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.
Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Replace this old wood if you want to keep your house safe.
If you haven’t bought a paper shredder yet, make it a point to do so. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home. Cutting the papers into small pieces with a pair of scissors is another option.
Change the locks on any new place you move into. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. You might even purchase and install your own locks so that you are assured of having the only keys.
Can someone standing in the middle of the street see clearly your house numbers? If the numbers aren’t legible, police may drive right by. Thankfully, you can right this wrong cheaply and quickly.
Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.
A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs naturally protect their homes and they make lots of noise when things go wrong. You do not need a large, vicious guard dog. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.
The Internet is great for searching for home security companies, so use it to your advantage. The sites of the companies themselves will provide you with details about their services, testimonials from their customers, and pricing information. 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.
Do not store your vehicle registration documents in your car’s glove compartment. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. Hold these documents in person so you know where they are at all times. They must still be easily accessible should you be stopped by police.
As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. Shrubs, trees, fences, etc. should not obstruct the view of your doors and windows. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.
You should never use your birthday as the password for your numeric keypad. Your birthday can be found on mail or social media sites, so this means anyone can access your home. Make it a random number that you and your family can commit to memory.
Think about a wireless security system for your home. While the wired systems are less expensive, they usually mean rather intrusive wiring for your house, which can also go out during power outages. Systems that operate in a wireless environment can be easier to manage and are not as likely to cause extensive rewiring issues.
If you have windows into your living room that open to the street, always draw your curtains in the evening. You want to avoid having people peek through the window. If the crooks can see what you own, then they are going to target you next. Use some discretion and make sure to block your valuables from view with curtains or shades.
A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. Keeping a huge and ferocious canine is not necessary. Even small dogs can deter criminals just by making noise when something is afoot.
Most people try to avoid the neighborhood gossip, but you should try to get them in your good graces. If suspicious people are lurking around your place, the busybody may notice it right away. Maintaining cordial relations can put you in the loop and give you access to potentially critical security info.
You should now have a better understanding of how to keep your home safe. Installing a good home security system and service is extremely important. Take what you have read, and use it well in order to keep your family safe.
You should lock all your windows, even on the second floor. These are easy to overlook because no one expects a criminal to make the effort to break in through an upstairs window. Do not underestimate intruders. This represents a flaw in any home’s security scheme, and criminals know they can take advantage.
It goes without saying that you should learn all you can about a topic before you do anything further. You should now have enough information to get you started. This information can be a great platform for success.
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