To make the best choice in terms of securing your home, it is important to familiarize yourself with the range of options that are available. This is not a decision to make casually. Figure out what you can afford and what is most important.

Don’t announce your vacation agenda on your social networks. This is especially true if you have lots of unfamiliar “friends”. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Get advice from your friends before selecting a provider for home security. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Be sure you seek out advice by asking those people.

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Fire prevention is paramount.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

Never open up your door to a stranger. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

Secure your garage. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. You can use a C-clamp to stop the door from being opened.

Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. This will keep thieves from stealing it or harming it. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. Keeping your car out of sight is also a good way to prevent intruders from determining whether or not you are home.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.

You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

Were you aware that your home’s wires are valuable? Many people have their wires stripped each year. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

Walls make the perfect hiding spot. If you have valuables that are small in size, you may want to hide them within your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you use all of them, you can always have fake ones installed.

A simple way to increase your home security is to add motion lights around the house. At night, not only will these lights be handy to light up areas around your home,they are also a cost-effective and efficient security addition. If you position motion detectors properly, it is very hard for someone to sneak onto the property.

Just moved in? Time for new locks! You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. Keep in mind that other families might have lived with them, too.

When about to sign a contract with any home security firm, read all the small print. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. You’ll definitely want to avoid these types of fees if you can, so read carefully.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. They also help to keep intruders away, because an intruder does not want to come close to your property if they know they might be spotted.

Do your landscaping keeping safety in mind. All of your windows and doors should be unobstructed by plants, shrubs, trees or fences. If these things can be seen by the naked eye, they won’t offer hiding places to potential criminals. This will give your home additional safety.

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’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.

Consider all of your individual security needs before looking into any alarm systems. Security systems are a proven method of reducing your chance of break-ins, but it is not always the right choice. Some neighborhoods may do better with self-defense classes or having a dog, while others may require the best home security technology you can get. Think about your risk factor when making a decision.

Before you think about home security, consider personal security and safety. While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t for everyone. Some neighborhoods feel more safe than others, but a good security system definitely makes you feel more safe. Understanding your neighborhood, risks and budget constraints can help you to make the best choices.

You should think about getting a home security system that is wireless. Wired systems may be cheaper, however it usually means you’ll have to rewire your home, and your system may get finicky in the event of a power outage. Systems that operate in a wireless environment can be easier to manage and are not as likely to cause extensive rewiring issues.

If you see that the door is open, do not enter the house. It can be dangerous to walk in on an intruder. Just contact the police and sit tight until they arrive.

Don’t neglect your garage when it comes to home security. Use a frosted film to cover the windows. This can be purchased at many hardware stores. Don’t leave doors open for long lengths of time when working there.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. Cover your windows in frosting, which can be bought at big box hardware stores, so people can’t peek inside. If you use your garage for working on projects, don’t forget to lock it when you’re through working for the day.

Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you know a lot more about home security. It’s useless to enter into home security blindly. You want to make your family’s safety your priority. Keep all this information available when it is time to make a decision.

If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. It’s easy to see fake rocks. Many people will look under your doormat. You should just give a spare key to a trusted neighbor instead. If you must keep it elsewhere, be creative with your hiding spot.