You never know when crime may strike close to home. Make sure you look at your home security. Don’t put your family in unnecessary danger. The advice below will make for a great start.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. One way to do this is to check their references. If they work for a firm, call the local Better Business Bureau to find out that firm’s reputation.

A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This can be useful if you’ve got small children that are able to open doors.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Spending a few days asking for reviews is useful in helping you choose correctly.

Your garage needs to be secure. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. If your garage door happens to lift on a track, using a C-clamp can help. the C-clamp prevents the door from opening if it’s tightened on the track close to the roller.

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

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.

You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. The sites of the companies themselves will provide you with details about their services, testimonials from their customers, and pricing information. After reading about these services, you can narrow down the results and use appointments for price comparisons.

You should not be shy. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. Don’t ignore the gossip. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. Realizing you at involved with a stable firm will give you a sense of calm that is important.

When securing your home, don’t forget about skylights. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Be certain that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

Make sure your home’s exterior is well lit. Burglars love to operate in the dark. Motion sensor lights can work great because they can also alert you when someone does come onto the property. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. If you have a neighbor you can trust, have them hold your extra key.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.

Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. It can be a quick job for a burglar to steal items of great value.

If you are going on a vacation, ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and check your home for flyers. Burglars have been known to put these up, waiting to see if they are removed or not. Fliers that are left behind signal to the burglar that there is no one at home.

Keep safety at the forefront as you landscape. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. If they can be seen, there will be no place to hide. This will give your home additional safety.

A dog is a great alarm system. Dogs become extremely protective of their families and bark when uneasy. It is not necessary to have an aggressive dog. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.

A wireless home security system could be just the option you are looking for. Wired systems might be a bit less expensive, but they often involve intrusive rewiring of your home, and can become faulty during a power outage. Wireless systems are easier to install and maintain, and they do not rely on the power in your home to work correctly.

Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. Each will have its own pros and some cons, too. With a longer contract, your monthly payment is likely to be lower. The downside is you might be stuck for a longer period of time if you decide you don’t like the service or want to move. If you want more freedom, it is best to purchase a more expensive but shorter contract.

Keeping a dog provides a great way to boost your home’s defense. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. A dog with a vicious attitude and large size isn’t necessary. Any size dog will drive criminals away, as the barking will be too much noise for them to be stealthy.

Predicting what intruders will do is hard, which is why it is best to protect yourself against many possibilities. Take the necessary steps to keep your home safe instead of thinking you have it made. Use what you’ve just read to secure your home.

If you have rooms that are off limits to kids and company, the following is a great solution. You can instead get key-less locks that work using a code. You can install these locks yourself or have them professionally installed.