Do you want to buy a security system for your home? Often people make this important purchase without thinking about whether or not it is necessary. The tips below will help you make the decision.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

Change all of your locks when you move in. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.

Purchase a safe to lock all of the extremely valuable items in your home in one place. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

Do not give the key to your home to your cleaning person unless you are certain they are worthy of your trust. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.

You should never open your door to someone you do not know. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Don’t use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. You can use a C-clamp to stop the door from being opened.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. Place a C-Clamp on the door track near the roller. This will prevent the door from lifting.

End your shyness. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. Listen for gossip too. You might hear helpful information, for instance if strangers have been hanging around.

During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

If you are new into a house, replace all the locks. While the person you bought the home from may seem on the up and up, you have no idea who they really are. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

Use your garage for your car and not for storage. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

The wires that are on your house are very valuable. People don’t realize this until it is stolen. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Be sure that your wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep your wires safe.

You should not be shy. Converse with those living in your area. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and do the same thing for them. Never neglect gossip. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. Rotting wood is easy to remove and take apart if someone is trying to get in. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. You might even purchase and install your own locks so that you are assured of having the only keys.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. Thieves can steal a lot of valuable stuff in mere minutes.

If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Be careful to avoid this sort of danger.

It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. Keep yourself safe.

If you are searching for ways to make your home more secure, one inexpensive way to accomplish this is to purchase exterior lights that have motion detectors. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. If positioned correctly on the exterior of your home, the motion detectors make it virtually impossible for an intruder to sneak onto your property.

Change all of the locks in your new residence. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Remember that different families might have dwelt there before this person.

Keeping your house bright and lit at night will deter many crooks. Intruders will avoid being noticed. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. So keep those lights on at night for a secure home.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. While you may trust those who lived there before you, you have no idea who lived there before them. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Before you think about home security, consider personal security and safety. They can really protect your family, but they’re not something that everybody needs. In some cases the security system is your best investment, in others you well-served with an alert dog or reinforced locking systems. You need to assess risks and choose a system adapted to the kind of situations you are likely to run into.

When you hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. They sometimes have hidden costs if you let go of them prior to the contract expiring. Avoid nasty charges or fees regarding early termination, contract expiration and additional features or equipment.

A wireless security system could be a good option. While wired systems may seem cheaper, they need your home to be rewired and they can fail due to a power outage. The wireless systems are simpler to maintain and install and they don’t need power from the home to run.

Having your house lit up during the night is a good way to scare intruders. Intruders will avoid being noticed. By minimizing dark and shady areas, you are taking away a potential burglar’s hiding spots. Keep lights on during the night.

Your pup is a great crime deterrent. Man’s best friend is very territorial and makes a lot of noise during anything happening out of the ordinary. That is not to say that a big, scary dog is required. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.

Make sure your home’s exterior is well lit. Burglars tend to commit crimes at night. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

Avoid keeping your key somewhere expected. It is easy to spot a fake rock. Doormats and rocks in front of the house are too obvious. A better plan is to ask someone you trust to keep your extra key in case you need it. If you cannot do that, at least find an unusual place to hide the key.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t for everyone. Some neighborhoods feel more safe than others, but a good security system definitely makes you feel more safe. Comprehend the risks associated with your home security so you now can make a more well-informed buying decision.

The wiring on your home’s outside can make it a target for burglars or thieves. The copper from your electrical system could be traded for a good price. Keeping your wires hidden prevents the thieves from seeing them and wanting to take them.

A home alarm system could be your best option. It may be, however, that you simply need to start doing a few things differently around your house. You must know your options to see what is best for you.

No matter who lived in the home before you moved in, replace the lock or rekey it. This applies to purchases and rentals, so ask the landlord to change the locks, or do it on your own.