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. Read these tips for ideas on how to make your house a safe place.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

Make your home look occupied at all times. Invest in timers to automatically turn on and off any electronics at various times. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This will help to deter burglars.

If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Check out their references thoroughly. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. Criminals find ways to get people to open doors so they can commit crimes. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.

You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Clear up your yard so it looks good and is safe.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This isn’t just for burglars; parents with young children can also use it as a valuable tool to know when their child has come inside.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Has a roommate or ex-lover moved out recently? If so, then you need to change out the locks in order to keep you and your home safe. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.

Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. It’s exciting going to new places and enjoying your time, but you could alert thieves to an empty home that they can easily break into.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. You are going to want to avoid these kinds of hidden fees, so know about them up front.

Ask friend for any advice they have prior to purchasing a security system or service. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Keeping your home very bright during the night hours is an excellent way to prevent thieves. Thieves don’t want to be visible. If you have your home lit up, then you have made it hard for burglars to hide and rob your home. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Do not obstruct doors and windows with plants or furniture. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

In the event you find your door open upon arriving home, you should never enter and investigate yourself. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.

Invest in a high quality paper shredder. Thieves are likely to steal documents that include your personal information if they can find them. Rip your important papers up before throwing them away if you can’t get a shredder.

Never allow any strangers into your home. While their story may seem legit, that doesn’t mean it is true. 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 use spring-latch locks. Just one credit card can get a burglar access to your home. The card is slid into the crevice between the latch and the door, pushing the latch back and springing the lock open. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.

Always keep your irreplaceable valuables secure. Items such as family photos, passports, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. Floor safes are excellent locations for keeping these particular items safe inside your home. What is even better is the safe deposit box at your bank.

Don’t let strangers into your home. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Keep a hard, fast rule that says you only open the door for invited guests in order to keep your family safe.

A lot of people try avoiding the neighborhood gossip. Try to listen to them when you need to. They will let you know if they see someone suspicious near your home. Being friendly will make them more likely to alert you right away.

Deadbolts are the best locks for your doors because they contain captive keylocks. These locks have a thumb latch that will keep intruders from opening it by using a broken window pane to reach in. If you are home, have a key inside the lock so you can easily exit if a fire breaks out.

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.

Be prepared for the worst contingency when it comes to criminal threats. You shouldn’t be afraid. Instead, just utilize great home-security strategies. Put the tips from the article to good use and protect your family and home.