Safety is paramount when you own your own home. Almost nothing is as bad as the thought of having your home broken into and destroyed. Your home holds your memories, your sense of security and represents a major monetary investment. Continue reading to learn more about making sure your home stays safe and protected.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This way, it will appear that you are at home. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.

Make sure your home appears occupied. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. This will give the appearance that someone is at your house at all times. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. The majority of systems are able to be set to put out an alert when any individual enters the home. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Consider the advice of your friends when selecting your home security company. Other people are sure to have opinions and experiences to share. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

Don’t let any person you don’t completely know into your house. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, do not let them in. There are some people who will just come in to see if you have a home security system, and if you do not, they could come back later when you are not home.

Talk to people you know about their security systems. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. By asking around, you will gain information about the pros and cons of a variety of options.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. Small items of value can be hidden for safety in your home’s walls. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. If you have no unused plates, you can put in a fake one.

Don’t be afraid to know the people who live near you. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

Do not hide your spare key under your doormat or in a nearby planter. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.

You don’t have to undergo a difficult process to secure your home. All you need is some reliable home security advice. Use these home security tips wisely. Don’t neglect anything you read here. Make your home as safe as possible.

When deciding on an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This will help to keep your family safe.