It is a good idea to have a home security system, especially if you have a lot of valuables in your home. Protect yourself and your valuables by educating yourself on home security. The tips below can help.
Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Carefully check their references. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.
Man’s best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Just hide a spare house key on the inside of your dog’s collar. Then when you need an extra key, you will be able to access this one.
Use a safe to protect your valuables. If an intruder breaks into your home, at least these valuables will be secure. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.
When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You’re not aware of any copies that have been made by the previous owners of the house. Have a locksmith install a brand new lock. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.
Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.
Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. 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. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.
You need to have your security system checked once a year. The security company should have a specialist come to look at it. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.
Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. Knowledge of first-hand experiences can be very helpful to you when it comes to making this important decision. Make sure to ask neighbors for advice too.
Don’t be shy. Build up a rapport with the people who own homes close to yours. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Do not ignore gossip either. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.
Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.
Hide valuables in spaces in your walls. This doesn’t necessarily involve chopping up your walls, either. Your home should have a few pre-cut areas that can be used. What about un-wiring an electrical socket which isn’t used to utilize as a cover to hide your jewelry?
Go with your gut when you invite a home security company representative into your house. This goes for the installer, too. Make sure that the installer has experience installing your type of security system. You want your new system to protect you, not be the way the thief gets into your home.
Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. If you have a neighbor you can trust, have them hold your extra key.
Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.
It is important that you do not put expensive valuables in plain sight. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.
Ensure that valuables are stored in a hidden area that isn’t visible from outside your home. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but it can make it easier for criminals to see inside. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.
You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. They can get a ton of stuff quickly and be long gone before you return.
Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. They want to avoid being seen. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. At night, keep your lights turned on to boost security.
When choosing an alarm system, consider one that offers protection for more than just your doors. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. Do this to keep you and your family safe.
Checking out security firms online is a great idea. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. Then you can schedule an appointment for a home visit to discuss which package is best for you and what it will cost.
Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. The old owners may seem nice, but you don’t know everything about them. Besides, other tenants or owners might have copies of the key if the previous owners did not change the locks.
Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. Whenever you know you aren’t doing business with a fly-by-night company, you will be more assured your home is protected.
If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. The previous tenants may have returned the keys, but they could have a copy. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.
Be sure your home is well lit on the outside. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. You should put a light on any area where a person could break in. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.
Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Nothing is as attractive to a burglar as a dark, deeply-shadowed house. Motion sensor lights can work great because they can also alert you when someone does come onto the property. All doors, porches, garages and windows should be well lit.
If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. If you can’t afford to buy a paper shredder, tear your papers up into tiny bits before throwing them away.
A wireless security system could be a good option. Systems that are wired are cheaper, but they need unattractive wiring inside your home and may malfunction when you have a power outage. A wireless system is easy to install and to maintain. Besides, you will still be able to count on your wireless system in case of a power outage.
You must prepare for all possibilities. You do not need to live in fear, but you must be cautious. Follow the excellent tips presented here to provide your home, your family and yourself with great security.
If you want to keep certain rooms in your home private, you don’t need to lock every door with a key. There are key-less locks that open with a push-button security code. Any good security company can provide and install these locks, or you can even put them in yourself.
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