Knowledge is the basis on which the best home security decisions are made. This isn’t something you want to take lightly. Instead, focus on what is going to provide the safety and security that you want for you and your family.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Check references thoroughly. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. Keep the safe hidden in a hard-to-find location like an attic or a basement closet.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

When looking to buy a security system, shop around. Every company offers different pricing. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. You can use a C-clamp to stop the door from being opened.

Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. It is probable that you will hear some great stories about some companies as well as some not so great stories about others. This can save you the hassle of having to research everything on your own. By asking around, you will gain information about the pros and cons of a variety of options.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Therefore, only allow people you know and are expecting to enter your home.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

Try not to have a shy attitude. Build up a rapport with the people who own homes close to yours. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. Don’t disregard gossip either. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

Try installing motion-sensor lights. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

Do not hide your spare key under your doormat or in a nearby planter. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Any thief knows all the typical hiding spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. While having huge windows may be good for letting in light and viewing what is outside, it also gives potential thieves a good look in your own 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. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. Thieves can steal a lot of valuable stuff in mere minutes.

Do your landscaping keeping safety in mind. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. Intruders should have nowhere to hide near your home. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.

While choosing your alarm system, ask about protection for windows and motion detection as well as doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This will make your family safer.

Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. Install a light in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. Having these outdoor lights installed can really work as a deterrent to criminals who are considering your house.

If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. This makes it much less likely that your system will be compromised.

If you get home and notice an open door, do not go in to see what has happened. This is dangerous because the thief may be right inside. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. Having these type of boxes hanging around will give robbers a good idea of what type of merchandise you have inside of your home.

Wireless security systems are the next generation in protection. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

Invest in a high quality paper shredder. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.

Are you aware of the fact that your home wiring is worth money? Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. Be sure that you keep all your wiring hidden and make it hard to access.

Put up video surveillance. Video camera installation can effectively make your home secure. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. It is possible to use your cell phone to look at your surveillance camera, meaning you can see your house when you’re gone.

Criminals are much less likely to target your home if it’s well lit. This will deter crooks from trying your home. 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.

Now that you are finished with the article, you know a little more about protecting your home. You should not purchase the first system you find. Your family’s safety should be priority number one. Take the ideas discussed here under advisement as you assess your own security needs.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Thieves like to commit crimes when no one can see. Motion sensor lights can work great because they can also alert you when someone does come onto the property. This includes doorways, windows, and your garage.