Do you need to buy a security system? Often people make this important purchase without thinking about whether or not it is necessary. The tips below will help you make the decision.

Is your ceiling resistant to fire? What about your flooring or roofing? This adds more protection to a house, especially if you’re in a dry area with some power lines. It’s best to prevent a fire before it starts.

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. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. Pay attention to gossip. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.

Your garage should be as secure as your home. You can prevent this from happening easily. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

When choosing a home security firm, trust your instincts. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. Your security system is supposed to help you, not cause you more stress.

During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

It’s a good idea to have motion sensor lights installed. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs to ensure they continue to work properly.

Stashing your most precious possession right inside the walls of your home can be a great idea. This doesn’t necessarily involve chopping up your walls, either. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

An extremely important tactic for keeping your home safe is changing out the locks. Perhaps you aren’t sure who owned the home before you or maybe an old roommate has a key and never returned it. Regardless, changing the locks will ensure your security. Most locksmiths can accomplish the job within 24 hours.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. It is wise to invest in coverings for large windows that can give criminals a large view of your home. Blinds are a great way to allow the light in, without allowing people to see in at the same time.

Lock up your house every time you leave. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. Empty boxes for expensive new gear serve as advertisements to potentials thieves; don’t make it easy for them to spot such tempting targets.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

Were you aware that your home’s wires are valuable? Many people have their wires stripped each year. It does not take much time to strip off the expensive copper wires from the exterior of your house. Hide your wiring to secure it.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Rotten wood is easily removed and can give an intruder a way into your home. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

If you come home and see your door ajar, never investigate it alone. The thief may remain inside. Your best bet is to call the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. Positioned correctly, these lights can make it impossible for intruders to get on your property undetected.

A wireless security system for your home is a great option. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. Wireless systems tend to be easier for installation and maintenance, and they will not go out if your power does.

You want to know what is included in a contract if you’re signing up with a security company. There are sometimes fees if you break a contract or need additional equipment. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.

If you don’t own a paper shredder already, you might want to get one. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. A burglar prefers to sneak around in the dark, and a well lit house is always a deterrent. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. Don’t forget that this includes ground-level windows as well as doors, garages, and porches.

If you are going to be out of town for more than a day or so, have someone check your mailbox and door for mail and fliers. Crafty burglars will leave fliers on homes, and check to see if they’re being removed as a means for determining whether or not the home is vacant. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.

Can someone standing in the middle of the street see clearly your house numbers? During an emergency crisis, smaller numbers prevent emergency personnel from finding your home quickly. Just replace them if you need to.

Make sure a surveillance system is part of your home security system. This will allow you to see who is around your house. Visible cameras are a deterrent to most intruders, and should they decide to disable them, a hidden camera will continue to capture footage. Some security systems are accessible via mobile phone, which lets you look in on your house when away.

If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. You can either install these locks by yourself, or have them professionally installed if you are not that handy yourself.

Keep burglars on the outside of your garage by making sure nobody can actually see inside the garage. Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house. It’s also a good idea to avoid leaving your garage door open for any longer than absolutely necessary, even if you’re at home.

Find out more about the different contracts your security company offers. There are of course pros and cons for each contract. Your bill may be lower with a long-term contract, but you could wind up paying for a service you’re not using if you decide to move. A short contract will avoid this, but may be more costly.

If you want to hide your house key, find a spot that is not obvious. Everyone knows about fake rocks. Doormats are the first place people look at. It is best to simply ask a neighbor or trusted friend to hold on to an extra key for you. If you want to keep it at your house, find a spot that’s not obvious.

Don’t use spring-latch locks. These locks are the simplest ones to breach, since they are able to be opened by using just a credit card. Wedging the card into the door crack can cause the lock to release. A deadbolt should be added for security purposes if you have locks that are spring latch.

You should never use your birthday as the password for your numeric keypad. Anyone can get your birthdate off mail or your Facebook page and will therefore have access to your home. Rather, try and make your combination the answer to an equation so that you only need to remember an equation instead of an actual series of numbers.

A home security system might just be what you need. It may be, however, that you simply need to start doing a few things differently around your house. Research your options to find the best solution for your family.

If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. You don’t need to have an invitation to people through your window. If possible burglars see your valuables, they may see your home as the next target. Reduce the risk of being burglarized by being careful about what people can see.