If you have valuables like jewelry, art or lots of money, don’t assume that only you know about it. Securing your home requires protection from burglars and other invaders. The following article will give you some great home security tips to help make your home a more secure place.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. To make sure your home can only be accessed by you, enlist the help of a locksmith. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This is just one of the many precautions you can take to secure your home.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Carefully check their references. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Fire prevention is paramount.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Make sure you check references. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.

Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Never let a stranger inside. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. 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.

Don’t talk about your vacations on social media. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. Get a professional in to check it out. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

The first step in making your home more secure is to change out your locks. There are many different people who might have keys from your past, and removing the potential of them accessing your home can be a very good idea. It shouldn’t cost too much, and the process can be completed very quickly.

Never open up your door to a stranger. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.

Be cognizant of what others can see when they look in your windows. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. It does not take long for thieves to steal your expensive stuff.

If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

Err on the side of caution when you are dealing with home security. Avoid becoming paralyzed by fear, but don’t hesitate to make the prudent preparations. Follow the excellent tips presented here to provide your home, your family and yourself with great security.