The average homeowner has a lot of work to do to secure their home. However it doesn’t have to be all that hard or expensive. By reading the below article, you’ll realize that you can take significant steps in protecting your home.

Always change the locks after moving into a new home. This is because you really have no idea who has keys, and therefore access to your home. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.

Make your home look occupied at all times. Timers can be used to turn lights and televisions on and off when required. This makes people think you’re home. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. The majority of systems will give an audible alert when someone enters the house. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.

Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. This can help your home be safer. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Don’t open your door for strangers. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

Local Police Department

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. The problem might not be obvious to you, though.

See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This way, you will be safer.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. Never hesitate to has for a new technician or even go with a different company altogether. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t need to cut out segments of your walls by the way. There are many locales that are already around your home. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

If you move to a place that was occupied before, you should change the locks right away. Although other tenants might not have a key anymore, they could have copied it. You can install locks yourself to make sure you’re the only one who has a key.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

Before allowing any security company reps to come into your home, make sure they have on a uniform and they have valid ID. Thieves can pass themselves as workers, which can end up in a robbery of your home. This proves rather dangerous for both your family and also your valuables. Make sure you are as cautious as you can be.

The wiring on your house is valuable to burglars. A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. The copper wiring can be stripped and be turned in for money. Keep your wiring hidden or inaccessible to potential burglars.

Security System

Change the locks on any new place you move into. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. It is possible to purchase and put in locks on your own so you can be assured you have the only keys.

You want the security company to actually come to your house and install the system according to your needs. Everyone has different needs, and your security system should be designed to protect your home and family. You will get the best home security system possible if you use a service willing to work with you to create a tailored system.

Before letting a home security representative inside, ask for identification. Many thieves use this tactic to enter a house. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Be very careful with who you let into your home.

If you are planning to be away, and you have someone picking up your mail, ask them to also double-check your door for fliers. Burglars often put fliers on the door to see if the owner removes them. Fliers that are not removed let the burglar know that the home is vacant.

Before you let anyone go into your home, look at their references thoroughly. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.

Make sure a surveillance system is part of your home security system. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home safe. Also, you can capture the intruder in the act. A lot of surveillance cameras could be accessed through your phone, giving you the chance to check it even when you’re away.

Ask a home security company to come to your house and design a security system that is perfect for your needs. All homeowners and homes differ. A good company will tailor your security plan to the needs of you and your family.

If you buy something that is expensive, you need to make sure you don’t leave empty boxes curbside. Burglars will see these boxes and recognize that there are new valubles in your house. Cut the boxes up when they are empty.

The areas outside your home should be kept well lit. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. Add lights to any areas you believe are potential entry points for burglars. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

Having been given some good information, you stand ready to make your home safe and sound. You can now make the changes you need. You’ll feel safe living in your home at any point of the day. You will be able to kick back and relax in no time.

Before looking at home security systems, consider your personal security risks and safety needs. Some systems might not be adaptable to your situation. In some situations, having a good dog and/or learning some self defense may be all that you really need to feel safe. You need to assess risks and choose a system adapted to the kind of situations you are likely to run into.