To make a better home security decision, you need to take the time to familiarize yourself with the various options. Decisions in this area are too important to be taken lightly. It is important to review your options and do what you can to protect your family.

Be sure your home always looks occupied. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.

If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. There are some people who are very convincing and good at getting you to let them into your house. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

Before leaving for vacation, turn off the ringers in your house. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. These are lights that turn on whenever any living thing gets too close to your home. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Make sure everyone in your house knows not to open the door unless they know the person standing outside.

You can hide your valuable items inside your walls. You don’t have to cut pieces out of the walls. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. How about unwiring an electricity socket and using it as cover for a place to stash valuable jewelry?

It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. Get a security comapny tech to check it. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Rather, keep your spare keys with a neighbor you trust.

Get to know your neighbors. Talk to your neighbors. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Never neglect gossip. It is often a good way to find out about security issues, such as strangers in the neighborhood.

Don’t give outside people the ability to see into your home. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

Security starts with new locks. Changing the locks will ensure that you are the only one who knows the combination. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.

The alarm system you choose should protect more than just the doors to your home. Burglars can gain entry through your windows as well. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. This is great for keeping the family secure.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. Ask for someone else to come out or switch companies. Your security system is supposed to help you, not cause you more stress.

Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

The walls of your home make for great hiding spots. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. Installing a false unused plate is very easy to do if your home doesn’t have one.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. You may not feel as safe if you opt to go with a company that has not been in business for long or that does not have a stable history.

Keep your most valuable possessions inside your walls. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. Why not take the guts out of an electrical socket you’re not using? You can convert it into a convenient and covert little wall safe.

Since reading this article, you know more about home security. There is no need to venture into home security matters blindly. You must place your family’s safety as a top priority. Keep the ideas from this piece close at hand in the coming days.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. Exposing the box to view ahead of time signals a burglar that he will find this item in your home.