Every homeowner must maximize efforts to secure his home. Purchasing a home security system is just one of many things you can do. Read on to find out all you can.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

Buy a safe. This will keep your stash of diamonds, gold and other valuable items out of view and inaccessible to burglars. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.

Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

Do not 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. Never open the door to anyone you do not know.

Never let a stranger inside. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home security equipment.

Take advantage of any and all security resources your local police force makes available to homeowners. They often offer home inspections, seminars and even the ability to purchase items. Ask your police department to see if these types of programs are available.

Choose an alarm which monitors other areas outside your doors. The best systems are those that cover windows as well. Be sure your home alarm covers all entry points into your home. This will make your family safer.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This way, you will be safer.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. 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. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

Hide the wires of your home security system. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This will make you much safer.

A good way to scare off intruders is to keep your house lit at nighttime. They don’t want anyone to see them. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. Secure your property by creating a well-lit area.

Replace rotted wood that surrounds your door frame. It is simple for a robber to pry away rotting wood and enter your home. Replace any wood that has begun to rot with new wood so that your house stays safe.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. Companies in business for many years engender great confidence and trust. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.

Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. Do not hesitate to hire someone to run a background check if you have doubts. You need to be very careful with the contractors, repairmen or maids you trust with being alone in your home.

Make an appointment with a home security company to evaluate the security needs of your home specifically. You need some features which other families may wish to do without. You will get the best home security system possible if you use a service willing to work with you to create a tailored system.

One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. Nighttime security lights are affordable and effective in terms of security and handy in terms of visibility and safety. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.

Break down the boxes from your new TV or computer rather than leaving them on the side of the road. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. Break them down and put them in a bag or take them to a recycling center.

If you hire a security company, read any fine print. There could be fees for terminating the contract early or acquiring additional equipment down the road. You’ll definitely want to avoid these types of fees if you can, so read carefully.

If there are areas of your home you want to keep locked off, you do not need keys. You can instead get key-less locks that work using a code. You can install these locks yourself or have them professionally installed.

Determine how much experience a home security company has before you decide to do business with them. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

Inquire as to the different lengths of contracts offered by your security company. Compare the pros and cons of different options. A long contract may lock you in even if you choose to sell the house or want to stop the services, but it can result in a lower bill every month. While a short contract provides you with extra freedom, it can cost you more for each month.

Be sure your home is well lit on the outside. Thieves like to commit crimes when no one can see. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. Some examples include first story windows, garages, doorways and porches.

Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. These valuable documents provide criminals with information about your home location. Instead, carry them with you or find a more secure location in your car. They have to be available if the cops pull you over.

Spring Latch

Sliding glass doors are a big security problem in many homes. It’s easy to break into a sliding glass door by just lifting it up and shaking it. A pipe cut the right length should be wedged in the door if you have no security system. This keeps the door shut tightly and makes it difficult to force it open.

Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. The lock can be triggered to open by simply wedging the card in the lock. Add a deadbolt if you do not want to replace your spring latch locks.

Though it is often good to avoid neighborhood gossips, make sure you are friendly with those in your area. Busybodies may be quick to notice when someone odd is checking out your house. Being friendly will bring you great security.

Keep your curtains pulled tight when you are away from home. If the blinds are up, then the intruders can see directly through your home. If something desirable is visible, you can expect a break in. It’s good to have them down at night, too.

The best locks to choose are deadbolts which have captive keylocks. This makes it impossible to open the lock from the outside because of the thumb latch. When you are at home, leave the key in the lock so that you can get out in case of a fire.

Batteries Regularly

Although locks are good to use, you could not use them outside. Therefore this will not be of use to you. The best lock of choice is always a deadbolt, and those which have keys on both inside and out ensure they can’t be opened by a burglar.

If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. A wireless system is a good option but you will have to replace batteries regularly. If you neglect to switch out the batteries regularly, your security system won’t function properly. It can also be pretty expensive to replace batteries.

No matter how lovely the people were who lived in your home before you, rekey the lock or replace it. This is true of rentals and homes you buy, so ask your landlord to switch the lock or hire a locksmith to do it yourself, if you are able to do so.

Secure valuables that are truly irreplaceable. This includes important documents, jewelry and keepsakes. Floor safes are great for keeping these items inside the home. An even better idea is to store them in a safe deposit box outside the home.

Choose a reliable security company that goes further than selling a product. A reliable company will inspect your home, and give you ideas about improving its safety. These ideas may include installing additional locks, trimming bushes or installing windows that are more secure. Look for a company that has your safety in mind, and they will give you advice on these safety issues.

Always lock your second story windows. Many people think a criminal won’t check them. This is not the case. This represents a flaw in any home’s security scheme, and criminals know they can take advantage.

Make sure your air conditioners are secured. Burglars can easily move the units and enter the home, otherwise. During the winter, remove them from windows for better security.

Though inside locks are great, they do little if they cannot also be locked externally. Ideal locks are deadbolts which lock with both internal and external key locks.

Many people purchase a gun for safety reasons. You should consider getting a gun and receiving training. You might feel good knowing you have gun protection.

You can proceed to protect your home now that you know what to do. Although all this may seem complicated and tedious, it’s totally necessary in order to keep your whole family safe. These tips can help.

Your trash could compromise your home’s security. If a would-be thief spies a big-screen plasma TV box on the curb, they may decide to return later. The smallest of purchases may indicate you have something valuable in your home, making thieves believe you have things worth taking.