Have you ever considered buying a home alarm system? Many people buy one without considering if they actually need one. Always locking your windows and doors, along with a few other simple steps may be just what you need.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This will make it look like someone is home. This is an excellent technique that helps avoid robberies while keeping the property safe.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

When looking for a system to secure your home, do comparison shopping. Each company has different rates for their security system. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This will help ensure the safety of your home, particularly if your home is located in a dry area. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.

If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

Turn the ringer off on your telephone if you are going to be away. If your phone is ringing while you are out, burglars will realize that no one is home, making your home very vulnerable to an attack during your time away.

You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. These could catch on fire during the summer, especially if you live in a dry area. Make sure your yard is clean for the sake of your safety – and that of your family!

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. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. Hiding your car away from plain view is a good way to keep intruders from knowing when you are at home or not.

You should not be shy. Engage your neighbors in conversation. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. Many different things can make problems for your security system. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. The lights will be triggered when someone gets too close to the house. They will signal movement to you but will also serve as deterrents to the thieves. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. It’s not necessary to cut out parts of your wall to do this. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. Whether an old roommate left or a relationship ended, changing your locks is a good idea. Changing the locks can typically be done very cheaply and quickly.

Don’t put your spare keys under floor mats or plants. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t have to cut pieces out of the walls. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.

When in the process of selecting an alarm system, you should select a system that protects more than simply the doors of your home. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. Doing this will help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.

Never place a spare key in a plant box or under your welcome mat. 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. Thieves are aware of all these spots. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

If you bought any big or expensive things, wait until trash day to throw away the boxes. Having these boxes outside of your house will give robbers the temptation of robbing your house.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. It can be a quick job for a burglar to steal items of great value.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

You might have decided that a security system for your home is the best solution. But, perhaps all you need to do is make some changes in your home. Ensure you thoroughly research your options so you can select the best home-security plan for your home.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and may be stripped off the exterior of the house in a short time span. Keep your wiring hidden or inaccessible to potential burglars.