It is up to you to keep your home safe and secure and you should do everything you can to protect it. While you may believe it is only necessary to install an alarm system in your home, you have many other choices. Continue reading to find other ways to help keep your home as secure as possible.

It is crucial that you change the locks as soon as you move into a new residence. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. People will check your doormat and frame first. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. Many programs include how to use some engraving tools to create code numbers for identifying valuables that are stolen, home inspection, and advice on protective measures. Speak with the police in your area to see if they have these things.

Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. As things heat up in the summer, items may catch on fire and threaten your home. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.

No matter how good your security system is, it should be checked annually. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. Mother Nature and wild animals can also cause issues with your home security system. If you don’t see the problem, you may remain unaware of it.

Have lights that sense motion. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Just do not forget to replace the bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Be sure that the skylights for your home are durable and reliable.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.

Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.

When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. Burglars can gain entry through your windows as well. Therefore, ensure the windows have an attached alarm. All potential entry points should have an alarm. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.

Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. Large windows let in a lot of light, but they also allow outsiders to see inside your living space. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

When moving into your new house, change every lock. The previous owner may be perfectly respectable, but you can’t know that for sure. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.

When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Burglars often enter through windows as well. You want a security system that monitors all your windows and doors. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. If you position motion detectors properly, it is very hard for someone to sneak onto the property.

Rotted Wood

Look online for a reputable home security business. Look at various sites and read customer testimonials, along with details on various packages. You can then make three solid selections and make appointments with them.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Keep your home secure by replacing rotted wood with fresh timber.

Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

Ask your home security company about coming to your residence and creating a system that is tailored to your personal needs. Everyone has specific needs and wants when dealing with the security of their house, belongings and family. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.

If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. Sometimes, hidden costs can be incurred if you get rid of the service before a certain date. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.

If you are out of town for awhile, ask a friend to take a look at your door for any fliers. Burglars have been known to put these up, waiting to see if they are removed or not. If their fliers are not moved, the crook knows the home is unattended.

Having read the information presented here, you are ready to make your home safe and secure. Even though improving your home’s security is not always an easy task, the importance of your family’s safety makes it worth expending some extra effort. These tips can help.

Do not store your vehicle registration documents in your car’s glove compartment. This isn’t smart because that information contains your home address. You should keep them on your person, or find another place in your vehicle to hide them. Remember, you do need to be able to access them quickly if you get pulled over by a policeman.