We have all heard horror stories about people’s homes being robbed. This crime is increasing, so you need to make an effort to keep your home secure. Burglaries can happen anywhere. Use the tips in this article to increase your home’s security.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This makes it look as though people are home no matter what. This helps you keep your house burglar-free.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Install motion-sensor lights. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

Do not allow anyone you do not know into your home. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.

If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. Clear yard regularly to maintain your house safe.

Don’t put spare keys inside plant boxes or beneath the welcome mat. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Call them up to find out more.

When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. Burglars often enter through windows as well. Get an alarm that will trigger if either the doors or windows are opened. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Be sure to keep your car in your garage rather than filling your garage with stored belongings. In this way, your car will be safer. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

You can find an excellent home security company with a simple Internet search. Go through different websites and investigate testimonials about different companies and packages. After narrowing down your top five choices, you can then take the next step by contacting each one.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. You should be very picky when it comes to letting people inspect your home. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

Keep safety at the forefront when landscaping your property. Make sure that the doors and windows to your home are not covered by trees, fences, shrubs or any other type of thing. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Plan features like these further from your home to have a safe, beautiful design.

Choose an alarm which monitors other areas outside your doors. Windows are a way for thieves to enter your home as well. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Ask your security provider about their history in the business. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. You may not feel as safe if you opt to go with a company that has not been in business for long or that does not have a stable history.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Use caution to stay out of danger.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. There are always going to be unique things about your home as well as your specific needs, so make sure you think about these things. Working with a business that will look out for your specific interests will help you be much safer at home.

Don’t make the mistake of believing that break-ins only occur in pricey areas. If a home looks easy to break into, a thief will break into it. By using these tips, you can keep your home protected from thieves.

Your home’s exterior needs to be well lit. A burglar prefers to sneak around in the dark, and a well lit house is always a deterrent. Put a light anywhere where an intruder can enter your home. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.