You probably know someone personally who has had his home burglarized at one point in the past. There has been an increase in home invasions, making home security even more important than it ever has been. A home break in can happen in any location. This article provides information about ways you can improve the security of your home.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. You could purchase timers and have your TVs, lights, radios and other types of electronics to go on at various times. This way, it will appear that you are at home. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

Make your house look occupied all the time. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This makes people think you’re home. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.

Security starts with new locks. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. When giving your house cleaner the key to your home, you need to be sure that they are reputable and honest. Check references thoroughly. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if their firm is well-reviewed.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. If you have valuables that are small in size, you may want to hide them within your walls. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

Home security systems have different kinds of features that can sound an alarm when someone breaks into your house. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. You can find areas in your walls that are pre-cut and use those. Perhaps you could deactivate a few unused electrical sockets to use as a place to store stuff.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

Always lock your home, regardless of how short your trip out is. It may shock you to know this, but a lot of intruders get inside homes through open doors. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. You really owe it to yourself to solicit firm quotes from three different providers before you sit down to pick one.

When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. That will make you safer.

If there are people you don’t know that have access to your social media sites, then you don’t want to let all of them know you’re on vacation. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

Make sure all the wood around your doors is in great shape. A burglar can easily strip away wood that has rotted. As a result, this will assist them in breaking into your home. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

Don’t be afraid to know the people who live near you. Converse with those living in your area. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. Pay attention to gossip. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

It is a good idea to get some history on any home security companies you are thinking about doing business with. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.

A simple way to increase your home security is to add motion lights around the house. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. If strategically placed, motion detectors ensure that it’s difficult for intruders to break into your home sight unseen.

Request that prospective security firms design a system specifically for your home. Each situation is different. If you’ve found a company that can tailor a system to you, you can receive the greatest amount of security to make you feel much more comfortable.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. Thieves are likely to steal documents that include your personal information if they can find them. You can tear your documents up by hand before disposing of them if a shredder is out of your price range.

When you are away on vacation have a house sitter bring in your mail and any flyers and newspapers that accumulate in front of your house. This is a way people who are casing out your house can tell whether you are home or not. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.

If you are away, pull your shades closed. If the blinds are up, then the intruders can see directly through your home. If a burglar sees something that is enticing, they are going to try and get it from your home. You should have the windows covered when you’re asleep.

Talk to your security company about the contract; in particular, inquire about the various contract lengths that are available to you. Each likely has its benefits and drawbacks. With a longer contract, your monthly payment is likely to be lower. The downside is you might be stuck for a longer period of time if you decide you don’t like the service or want to move. There’s more freedom with a contract that’s shorter, but the monthly payments may be higher.

When you’re dealing with a security company that provides you with significant equipment to install, ask about the benefits and drawbacks of buying versus leasing. Buying the equipment might cost more up front, but it means a one time cost that does not continue every month. Leasing is often less expensive, but it may involve contracts and higher monthly fees. Look at what you can afford, as well as what is offered and make an informed choice.

Don’t hide your key somewhere obvious. Fake rocks are particularly simple to spot. Anyone looking for your key will look under your doormat. Instead, you should keep your spare keys with a trusted neighbor. If you have no trustworthy neighbors, try to be more creative.

If you must hide your key outside, do not put it someplace obvious. It’s easy to see fake rocks. Someone is going to look under your doormat. A safer option is entrusting a neighbor or one of your most trusted friends to keep your spare key. If you can’t do that, you must think creatively to find a good place to keep a spare key.

Think about hard-wired security systems if you’re worried about long term maintenance costs. Wireless systems are of course convenient, but unfortunately you have to change numerous sets of batteries regularly. If you don’t replace the batteries, you’ll find that your system stops working correctly. Buying new batteries to replace the old ones can get expensive.

Make sure you have the curtains drawn if your windows are faced toward the street. Don’t tempt others to look in your windows. Burglars may see something valuable, which will tempt them to steal. Be discreet when showing off what everyone can see, and you can be more likely to avoid burglaries.

A home alarm system is a great investment, but it only works if someone notifies the authorities when it sounds. The best strategy is to buy a centrally monitored alarm so that the police always show up if it is triggered. Don’t count on neighbors to hear the alarm and call the police.

A home alarm can be a good investment if police are notified when it sounds. The best strategy is to buy a centrally monitored alarm so that the police always show up if it is triggered. You can’t rely on your neighbors to call.

A sliding glass door can make your home less secure. They can easily be unlocked by lifting them and then shaking them. If you don’t have your security system connected to them, try cutting some pipe to fit into your door channel. This can keep your door tightly closed and make it tougher to force wide open.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that your home is not a target for burglars because it’s not the fanciest house in the neighborhood. Thieves target houses that are easily broken into. If you use the tips here to improve your home security, your family will be much safer.

Many people avoid the neighborhood busybody, but try getting on their good side. Your neighbors will probably notice people lurking near your house when you are gone. If you remain in their good graces, then, you have a better chances of finding out valuable information.