Every day, thousands of people have their homes broken into. Usually, intruders are able to get into a home because it is not properly secured. Although many homeowners are unaware of what it really takes to prevent intruders from coming into their home, it does not have to be this way. The following article will give you the home security knowledge you need.

You do not necessarily need an expensive home security system to protect your home. You can buy a dog. Dogs are great for home security. Not only will they protect your home while you are away, they are great additions to your family offering protection, companionship and additional security for your home.

A survey taken by police officials reveals that 85 percent of them believe a home is more protected when equipped with a security system. Also, 60 percent of attempted burglaries are unsuccessful when the targeted home has a security system. For this reason, home insurance companies give a discount if the home has a security system.

Compare different systems when looking into home security. Each company has different rates for their security system. Be sure and get a minimum of three quotes from different companies prior to choosing one.

Get your garage clean. Homeowners often use their garage for storage, filling it so full that you can no longer fit a car in. Parking your car in the garage can foil potential thieves in several ways. First of all, they will not be able to break into your car. Additionally, when your car is hidden away in the garage, it is harder to track whether you are actually home or not.

Add lights to your lawn. You don’t need crazy bright spotlights to keep thieves away. All you need is some decent general lighting that makes your property just a little less appealing to criminals than homes that offer a lot more cover. You can even use lights on timers to help save on the overall electricity bill while still helping to keep you safe.

Some wireless home security systems have additional features such as remote control of home systems. When both parents work full-time jobs, this system is convenient for checking on school-age children until they can get home. The system can also be used to lock and unlock doors and adjust the temperature level in the home.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. It is unnecessary cut space into your wall. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

Check the batteries of your smoke detector each and every week to determine if they are running low. If your smoke detector is not on, it will not pick up the smoke of the fire, which can lead to a disaster. Use quality batteries that last a very long time on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Get a family dog to help guard the house when you are away. Dogs not only signify that someone in the house may be home, but also can put fear in the eyes of potential intruders. Do not install doggy doors, as intruders can use these to get into your home.

Fingertip locks are a common, effective way to protect intruders from entering your home. With these locks, the only way someone can get through your front door is by you programming their fingerprints into the system. If someone not in the system attempts to use their fingerprint to get in, you will be alerted.

If you have to leave home for an extended period of time, do things to make the home look occupied. Put lights on timers so that they turn on in the evening and off at bedtime. Do the same with the television or radio to really make your home appear lived in.

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.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Get a paper shredder. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. If you cannot afford a paper shredder, rip papers up into small pieces.

As was already discussed, thousand of homeowners deal with break-ins each and every day. Typically, this occurs due to the fact that they do not have the proper home security measures in place. Now that you have read this article, you know how to properly secure your home. Never worry about intruders again!

When It Comes To Securing Your Home, We Know It All was originally published on Spring