As a homeowner, you really should know about security procedures for your home. While there is much to learn, it is vital you do so. By reading this article, you’ll get a good overview of the basics of home security.
It is crucial that you change the locks as soon as you move into a new residence. The person who previously owned the home may have made copies of keys. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. In addition, replace your locks if your keys ever get lost.
Shop around when looking for a good home security system. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.
Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. The doormat is too obvious of a place to hide it, as robbers will look there first. Try to find somewhere less obvious.
Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. This can indicate that your home will be free and vulnerable during the time.
Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.
Motion sensor lights are a great investment. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.
Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You needn’t tear down your walls to do this. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.
Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.
Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. Flashlights are very important, as they will give you the ability to move around in the event of an emergency. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.
The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Review the websites of several companies and play close attention to the types of services offered and the customer reviews. With this information, you can contact the companies you feel comfortable with and compare the rates to each other.
Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. Find a home security company that has a good reputation and many years of experience to get excellent service. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.
Invest in a good paper shredder. You would be surprised at how often thieves look through trash to find personal information to find out when you will be away from home so they can break in. Rip paper into tiny pieces if you can’t afford to purchase a paper shredder.
If a friend picks up your mail while you’re away, have them check for fliers on your door. Burglars have been known to put these up, waiting to see if they are removed or not. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.
Make sure that your house number are visible from the street. If an emergency occurs, the police will not be able to find your home as quickly if these numbers are too small or are obscured in some way. If you notice a problem, you should be able to fix it fairly cheaply, though.
It will be well worth your time to learn about ways to make your home safer. It can be hard to tell what information is useful or not, though. It is wise to educate yourself about home security and then put that knowledge to good use.
