Regardless of whether you own a home or rent one, you want your place to be as safe as possible. You might not be exactly sure what you can do for better home security, but that’s why you’re reading this article! This article will help you make your house much safer.

Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. Also, if you lose your keys, change the locks.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? This is where you can put your spare key. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.

Buy fire resistant flooring, roofing and ceiling. This give your home an extra protection layer. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.

Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. There are some people who will just come in to see if you have a home security system, and if you do not, they could come back later when you are not home.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. Intruders can enter through your windows too. Be certain they are also alarmed and monitored. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. It will keep your family safer.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. While they are there to let light in, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Teach everyone in your home to use the flashlights so all family members can see and help each other.

Use the spaces in your home’s walls to store valuables. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. You can find pre-cut areas in your walls that can be used. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, make sure you get the locks changed. Previous tenants may have given the keys back to the landlord, but it is always possible to make copies of keys. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Burglars always know just where to look. Instead, give your extra key to a neighbor whom you trust.

Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. They might not be who you think they are. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. This can keep your family much safer.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. They wish to avoid detection. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. Keep the lights on when it’s dark.

While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. This can make you safer.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. Keep your doors and windows clear of any shrubbery. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Plan your home with safety in mind.

If you buy expensive electronics or appliances, throw the packages away the day that your trash pickup occurs. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

The areas outside your home should be kept well lit. Darkness allows for all sorts of nefarious activities. Make sure to have lights anywhere an intruder might enter. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. Many other people could have keys to the property, and you probably don’t want them to all have access to your home.

Make sure no one can look inside your garage. Add some frosted glass panes to your windows to keep strangers from looking inside. Don’t leave the door unlocked for a long time, either.

Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? Often homeowners are unaware of this fact until they find that their wiring has been stolen. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Hide your wiring for optimum security.

If you buy something that is expensive, you need to make sure you don’t leave empty boxes curbside. These boxes are a signal to burglars that you have something worth stealing. Cut up the boxes completely instead.

If you sign a contract for a security company, read all the fine print first. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. Avoid as many fees as you can by reading everything.

Spring latch locks are not a good option. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.

Having a well-lit home that’s bight in the evening can really deter crooks. They do not desire to be seen. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. That’s why it’s a good idea to light your home well for optimum safety.

If you turn lights on and off around the same time, try using a timer. This is simpler for you to avoid flipping the switch and can make the lights turn off and on even if you’re gone a long time.

Light up your home’s exterior. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Be sure and have a light next to any entry point in your home. Don’t forget that this includes ground-level windows as well as doors, garages, and porches.

Put in a door that is solid wood or metal. These doors are strong. This makes it much more difficult for a burglar to kick in the door and break in. It is easy and affordable to replace all of your home’s exterior doors, so ensure you do this immediately.

Now that you have a better understanding of home security, it is time to get started. Do not waste time and allow these ideas to slip away. Use them as a springboard in order to make your house as secure as possible. You can sleep better at night when you know your home is safe; begin now!

The best locks you can get are deadbolts that include captive keylocks. They have a thumb latch, making it impossible for someone to break the window, reach in and turn them. Anytime you are home, keep the key inside the lock in case you need to exit your home during an emergency, like a fire.