Keep Your Home Safe With These Security Tips

What plans do you have for the home security system in your home? You don't want to enter a decision like this not really knowing what you're doing. This decision involves a substantial investment, and you want to put the safety of your family as a top priority. Keep reading to find out what to do. When you move into a new home change all the locks. Even though the previous homeowner may have given you keys to the house, there might be a key out there that someone has.

To be sure you are as safe as possible, get all new locks for your new house. Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. 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 the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company's reputation. To avoid being accidentally locked out of their own home, some people like to hide a key to their house in various outside places, such as under a flower pot, under the welcome mat or inside a fake rock in their landscaping.

If you are guilty of this behavior, stop immediately! Numerous home invasions occur because the intruder searched for a hidden key and found it. It will be less costly to call a locksmith than it is to replace your stolen valuables. If you use a social media site such as Facebook it can be tempting to tell everyone that you are planning to go away or are already away. Try your best not to post about being away until you are back, especially if your site is not private.

You never know who could be watching and see it as an opportunity to break in. Consider hiding a spare key on your dog. If you have dogs who have free access to the outdoors, try taping a key securely to the inside of one of their collars. This will make your key accessible should you lock yourself out, while keeping your home safe. If you have multiple dogs, choose the dog who is least friendly with strangers. While home security systems are effective in most cases, many robberies are committed during daylight hours when the home is not vacant.

In this case, the security system may not be activated so no warning would be sounded. Most burglars enter the home at some other point than the front door. When summer comes around, eliminate all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting. When it comes to making your home more secure, one obvious place to start is moved here at your front door.

If you do not currently have a high-quality lockset on your door, get one installed now. If your lockset does not include a deadbolt, they are inexpensive and a effective way to add security to your exterior doors. People in rural areas are not usually as worried about burglaries as people in cities. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Some think rural areas see less burglary.

If your front door does not have a peephole, it is wise to have one installed. Peepholes allow you to see who's at your front door before you open it. Some home owners choose to have two peepholes installed to allow for difference in height of those that live in the home. Make sure that your windows are thick and secure to reduce the chance of a break in. If you want to have extra protection, install a system that reads when a window is broken, signifying an intrusion. Try to upgrade your windows every 3 years as it serves as a vital part of your home's security system.

If you are unsure whether you should purchase a hard-wired or wireless home security system, call a local home security company for advice. It is important to consider the pros and cons of both systems before making a decision. It will take a representative approximately an hour to evaluate your home before giving an opinion. Install metal security bars on all sliding doors and widows. Sliding doors and windows are vulnerable to being forced open by a determined intruder.

A simple metal bar, set into the track, adds considerable security for a small price.