Homeowners must secure their homes. While you may think the only thing you have to do is get an alarm system put into your home, there are a lot of other things that can be done. Read the following article for more detailed information about making your home secure.

Any time you buy a new home, have the locks changed. This is because you really have no idea who has keys, and therefore access to your home. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.

Change all of your locks when you move in. You cannot be sure of the number of key copies that the former owner gave out. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. This is the first rule of keeping your home secure.

Security System

Is your dog outside even if you are away? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. Put the key on the dog’s collar. This is a good way to ensure easy home access, especially if your pet does not associate well with strangers.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. There are many reason why a home security system can have problems, and it might be the weather or wild animals that cause it to malfunction. It’s quite possible for there to be a fault in your system even if you can’t see it.

Put up motion activated lighting. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

You should never give details about your vacations and other plans on social networks. Although it’s fun to talk about, posting it online makes it more possible for criminals to find out when you’re gone.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. This is definitely the case if you’re not quite sure about the actual installation people. Make sure that the installer has experience installing your type of security system. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.

If you’ve bought large or pricy items, avoid throwing out boxes until the day the trash is scheduled for pick-up. You are alerting thieves that there is something worth stealing inside your home.

If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, make sure you get the locks changed. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

Always have your security system checked each year. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. A number of factors can cause problems with your security system, including wild animals and mother nature. If you aren’t paying attention, you may not be aware of these problems.

Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. Do not hesitate to hire someone to run a background check if you have doubts. Avoid giving keys out to contractors, maids and repairmen.

When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. There may be hidden costs to doing business with them, including early termination fees and surprising equipment costs. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. The lights will notify you of motion and also deter would be burglars. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs when they burn out.

Having your home lit up and bright at night is a great deterrent to crooks. They do not want to be seen. Thieves have a hard time stealing things when there are lots of lights around. Thus, you should always keep lights on at nighttime.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. 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. Burglars are well aware of these hiding places. A better solution is to give your key to a neighbor you trust.

Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. Every person has specific needs and wants when dealing with securing your family, home, and items. Most companies will create an individual plan to meet your needs so you can have a high level of security to assure your peace of mind.

Purchase a paper shredder to prevent your discarded papers from providing burglars with valuable information. Thieves often dig through garbage to obtain personal data that will help them enter the house. If paper shredders don’t fit into your budget, you can manually rip up important documents yourself.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. Large windows let in a lot of light, but they also allow outsiders to see inside your living space. If your windows are facing the street, make sure you cover them and protect your valuables.

Install a home surveillance system. Installing video cameras, both visible and hidden, are a great way to secure your home. A visible video camera acts as a warning to an intruder. If the intruder disables the visible camera, the hidden camera will document it! There are surveillance systems that you can access and check by cell phone.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. These pets are usually territorial and want to protect their masters. A common misconception, though, is that you have to have a large animal to be safe. Even small dogs can deter criminals just by making noise when something is afoot.

Lock the house, even if just going away for a short time. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Secure any valuables which can’t be replaced. This may include things like pictures of your children, heirloom jewelry or birth certificates. One option is a floor safe inside your home. If you want to be very secure, you can put it in safety deposit boxes at your bank.

Now that you’ve read this, you have no reason to be in an unsafe home. It’s worth the effort and expense to keep your home and family safe. The above advice should be of help.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Burglars often enter through windows as well. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. This will help to keep your family safe.