As a single woman, it is essential that you have a good home security system, especially if you do not know how to defend yourself. Instead of feeling scared, there are things that you can do to feel much better. Review the advice in this piece on home security.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. Invest in timers to automatically turn on and off any electronics at various times. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This will keep people from breaking in.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Fire prevention is always a good idea, and sometimes it can be a lifesaving idea!

Don’t open up your door for someone who is a stranger. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Keep a hard, fast rule that says you only open the door for invited guests in order to keep your family safe.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

Remove old plants and debris from your yard. Due to the heat, these items in your yard are more likely to catch on fire. As a result, your home could be caught on fire. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

Keep your car in your garage. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders from vandalizing or stealing it. Hiding your car from plain view will also keep potential intruders from tracking when you are home and when you aren’t.

You should not be shy. Speak with your neighbors. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. Do not ignore gossip either. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

No matter how good your security system is, it should be checked annually. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

You have a choice on who installs your security system, don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.

Install lights that have motion sensors. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. People who live in the country may even be more vulnerable because they do not have nearby neighbors. However, understand that regardless of where you live, a theft can occur anywhere. Therefore, you need to be prepared.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. While it may seem like a convenient way to give you access to your home, intruders are aware of this practice. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Skylights should be secure. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. Exposing the box to view ahead of time signals a burglar that he will find this item in your home.

Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. Break-ins are often the result of unlocked windows and doors. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Replace rotten wood on your door frame. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

When about to sign a contract with any home security firm, read all the small print. 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. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. Be aware of these particular fees so you can steer clear of them.

Making your home safer through home security does not always have to cost a small fortune. There are many cheap products or even habits you can adopt to protect yourself. Remember the tips in this article if you would like to feel more safe at home.

You should find out how many years of experience your home security service has. Any business with multiple years of history has a proven record in being reliable. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.