It is a homeowner’s responsibility to keep their home secure. Purchasing a home security system is just one of many things you can do. Continue reading for some expert tips on making your home a safer place.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Buy timers so that lights, radios, TVs and all other electronics turn on and off at various times. This makes it look as though people are home no matter what. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You have no way of knowing how many folks might have keys to your house. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Do not give the key to your home to your cleaning person unless you are certain they are worthy of your trust. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. 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. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

Check out your garage to ensure that it is secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. Try putting a C-clamp on your garage door track. This will stop the door from rising if you want to keep it closed.

Purchase a safe to lock all of the extremely valuable items in your home in one place. This is very important, as you do not want your gold, diamonds and personal items exposed if someone were to break into your house. Keep the safe hidden in a hard-to-find location like an attic or a basement closet.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.

Do not tell anyone that you are going on vacation out of your friend circle. Although it’s fun to talk about, posting it online makes it more possible for criminals to find out when you’re gone.

If you do not reside in a big city, you may not worry as much about home burglaries. Nonetheless, people in the country may be at greater risk due to being far away from neighbors. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.

Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. They have likely had interactions with home security providers that they can tell you about, saving you time and stress. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. This could be an ex-spouse or roommate you got into a fight with. It is pretty cheap and the job won’t take more than a few hours.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. This will help to keep your family safe.

When securing your home, don’t forget about skylights. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. One of the ways an intruder can get around a security system is by disconnecting or cutting the wires. This is why it is so important to make sure all your wires are well hidden. Your system will be far more effective this way.

After having read these tips, you should now feel much safer. It may not be easy, but you have to do what you can to protect your family. Apply what you’ve just learned, and you should be golden.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. While the person you bought the home from may seem on the up and up, you have no idea who they really are. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.