Every homeowner should do everything possible to protect their homes. Burglaries are on the rise and protection against floods or fires can be useful too. You should keep reading to find out more about how to keep your home safe.

It is important for your home to always look lived in. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This way, your house will always look occupied. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

Be sure to keep your car in your garage rather than filling your garage with stored belongings. In this way, your car will be safer. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

Walls are great for hiding items. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.

Shop around when looking for a good home security system. Each company has different rates for their security system. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies before you decide on which one you think is the best option.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you really have no clue as to who they really are. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. Although it’s normal for owners / tenants to surrender their keys when they leave, there’s no way of knowing who else might have copies. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.

It is important to invest in building supplies that are as fire resistant as possible. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. 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. Try avoiding these fees when you can so that you know about them.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. Companies with a long history can give you the best service for many years. You can feel confident when you choose a well established, reputable home security company.

Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. Ask your police department to see if these types of programs are available.

Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Burglars like using darkness to hide. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. Some examples include first story windows, garages, doorways and porches.

If you haven’t gotten a paper shredder, it may be time to purchase one. Thieves can get lots of information simply by looking through your trash. If you can’t get a paper shredder, try ripping papers into smaller pieces.

You should not be shy. Speak to your neighbors. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and do the same thing for them. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

If you plan to go away and have asked someone to get the mail, see if they will also remove fliers that may have been left at the door. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed. If a flier remains on a front door for a number of days, the burglar knows the homeowner is away.

For improved security, put your home under video surveillance. Both hidden and visible security cameras are effective in protecting your home. Intruders can be deterred to visible cameras, but hidden cameras are better if criminals damage the other cameras. You can sometimes access security systems using your cell phone, keeping you informed on the go.

Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

Empty Boxes

Never place empty boxes for expensive items out on the curb. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. Break down the empty boxes whenever possible.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and may be stripped off the exterior of the house in a short time span. To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

Do not purchase spring latch locks. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. If you already have spring latch locks, install a deadbolt for added security.

If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. A wireless system required the regular replacement of many batteries. Not replacing the batteries keeps your system from working properly. Replacing all of those batteries will cost a lot, too.

Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. Conduct background checks if necessary. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.

Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. This is simpler, as you will not have to flip any switches, and you will know the lights will go off and on in your absence.

Secure any valuables which can’t be replaced. Items like passports, family photos, financial records, expensive jewelry and legal documents are best kept in a secure location. Floor safes are great for keeping items secure in your home. If you want to be very secure, you can put it in safety deposit boxes at your bank.

Be sure to get a home security service that will inspect your home and tailor a home security system just for you. Every person has specific needs and wants when dealing with securing your family, home, and items. You will get the best home security system possible if you use a service willing to work with you to create a tailored system.

Because of the various harms that can befall any home, it makes good sense to take active steps toward adding protection. Ideally, you’ve picked up quite a few useful security hints from the preceding article. Use each idea to give your home maximum security.