It is important that you never completely put your guard down. Don’t risk your home and family’s safety by being negligent. Read the guidelines in this guide in order to make your house a safe place that will scare intruders from coming in.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. Get a locksmith in right away. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. This will keep your stash of diamonds, gold and other valuable items out of view and inaccessible to burglars. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.

A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.

Never open the door for a stranger. 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 a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Meet with representatives from the security company you are considering to determine if they are trustworthy. This goes for the installer, too. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. After all, the point of the system itself is to help you feel more at ease.

If you have an attached garage, make sure it is secure. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Check with the police department in your town for home security tips and advice. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

If you are moving in your new home, ensure all the old locks are replaced. You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Use motion sensor lights. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. They will signal movement to you but will also serve as deterrents to the thieves. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.

Make sure you have several flashlights that are charged and ready to go in the event of a power outage. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

Go with your gut when you invite a home security company representative into your house. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

When moving into a previously owned home, change the locks. The previous tenants may have returned the keys, but they could have a copy. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

A wall is a great hiding place. Concealing small valuables in your walls is an easy and highly effective way to protect them. Any phone jack or electrical outlet that isn’t being used is a great place to hide valuables. You can easily install fake unused plates.

Before you let any strangers enter your home, be sure you look over their references. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. You can find areas in your walls that are pre-cut and use those. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

A bright home is a safe home. Thieves don’t want to be visible. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. Keep those lights shining brightly at night.

Unless you’re moving into a brand-new apartment or home, changing the locks should be one of your top priorities. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. They aren’t the right fit for everyone. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Know the risks so that you can make a better decision.

Be certain to read the entire contract when you hire a home security firm. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. You’ll definitely want to avoid these types of fees if you can, so read carefully.

If you think something looks odd when you get back home, don’t go inside. It can be dangerous to walk in on an intruder. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. They prefer not to be seen. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. Keep your lights turned on during the night.

Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. Placing hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. Visible cameras can deter many intruders and if they disable them, the hidden cameras can still capture footage. Many surveillance systems may be easily accessed through a cell phone so that you can check on your house while you’re away.

You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. The needs and wants of each family and the configuration of each home are quite individual. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.

Keeping thieves from the contents of your garage can be as simple as making sure they can’t easily look inside. Have your windows frosted so they aren’t as easy to see through. Don’t leave doors open for long lengths of time when working there.

You may want to get a security system that is wireless. A wired system is probably less expensive, but wires are a hassle. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.

Make sure that your house number are visible from the street. During an emergency crisis, smaller numbers prevent emergency personnel from finding your home quickly. Just replace them if you need to.

If you are going to be out of town for more than a day or so, have someone check your mailbox and door for mail and fliers. Thieves will drop off flyers to see if home owners are away. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.

You don’t have to have a giant key ring full of keys just because you want your home to be secure. It is possible to have locks that require just codes, not keys. Install them yourself or get a local home security company to do that.

One of the best home burglary systems is man’s best friend. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. A dog with a vicious attitude and large size isn’t necessary. Even small dogs can deter criminals just by making noise when something is afoot.

You never know when someone might target your home. Home burglaries happen more often then you would probably like to think, so it is a good idea to be prepared. Keep these tips in mind, and start looking for a quality home security system.

Don’t utilize spring latch locks. These type of lock is the easiest lock to pick, it could even be opened by a credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.