As a homeowner, it’s imperative that you take security as a serious manner. Nonetheless, it is difficult to know what steps to take first. This article will be your guide, so read on.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Check their references fully. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. This adds an extra layer of protection to your home, especially if you live in a very dry area with power lines. Fire is such a destructive force that it makes excellent sense to reduce fire hazards in your home whenever possible.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. This will help you to reduce the stress that you have on your search for a good one. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. It is probable that you will hear some great stories about some companies as well as some not so great stories about others. This can save you the hassle of having to research everything on your own. Be sure you seek out advice by asking those people.

Do not open your door for strangers. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

In the summer, remove all the dead trees from your yard. As it gets hotter, the chances of these igniting and putting your house at risk increase. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.

Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

Find a home security company you can trust. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. Ask for someone else to come out or switch companies. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.

Keep valuables out of sight of windows. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. That will make you safer.

Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. The rotten wood will be simple to remove, allowing a thief access to your home. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders from vandalizing or stealing it. Hiding your car from plain view will also keep potential intruders from tracking when you are home and when you aren’t.

Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.

Before letting someone from a security company into a house, get some sort of official identification. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This proves rather dangerous for both your family and also your valuables. Be careful to avoid this sort of danger.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Ask the security company to send a technician out to give your system a thorough inspection. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. If you aren’t paying attention, you may not be aware of these problems.

If you need to make the outside of your home secure, you can achieve this relatively inexpensively by installing lights with motion detectors. These lights will keep your property well lit and give you a good idea of who approaches your home. Positioned correctly, these lights can make it impossible for intruders to get on your property undetected.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Plan your home with safety in mind.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

Your home’s exterior needs to be well lit. Dark houses invite burglars who prefer to operate under cover of darkness. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders. There is no need for a guard dog. A terrier will make enough of a fuss to stop someone from breaking in.

The wiring outside of your home can be valuable. This is something few homeowners realize until they become victims of wiring theft. The wiring contains valuable copper than can be quickly stripped from a home. That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

A safer home will bring you peace of mind. There is no doubt about that. The best way to know this can sometimes be elusive, though, unless you have reviewed the information above.