Keeping the bad guys on the outside is what you want to do as a homeowner. However, knowing the right security steps to take is not easy. With the information presented here, you can move forward systematically.

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest. Make sure you check references. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

Make your house look occupied all the time. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. It is also another way to secure your home.

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.

If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. While these platforms are there for sharing, this is announcing to the world that your home is an open target.

Don’t use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.

When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, do not let them in. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. They will signal movement to you but will also serve as deterrents to the thieves. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. You need to feel secure with the entire process.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. Hide valuables inside of your walls. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Those living in rural areas often don’t worry as much about intruders compared to city dwellers. Due to the distance between neighbors, some think rural areas are more likely to have intruders. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

Keeping the home safe is something you need to do for a calmer mind. There is no doubt about it. Learning all you can about home security will assure you have a safe home and peace of mind.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. It may shock you to know this, but a lot of intruders get inside homes through open doors. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.