If you have pricey items like art and jewelry in your home, don’t assume that no one knows these things are there. You should protect your home and your family by investing in a quality home security system. Read on to find out how to secure your home.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This is an excellent technique that helps avoid robberies while keeping the property safe.

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. You want to be sure that you’re the only one with a key. In addition, replace your locks if your keys ever get lost.

When looking for a system to secure your home, do comparison shopping. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection. Get quotes from several companies before making a decision.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This is vital since it means all of your things will be safe if someone breaks in your home. Your safe should be placed somewhere it is not readily noticeable.

Consider the advice of your friends when selecting your home security company. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

It’s important to shop around before you settle on the right security system for your home. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.

You need to have your security system checked once a year. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

Use motion sensor lights. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

Security starts with new locks. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.

Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It is pretty cheap and the job won’t take more than a few hours.

Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from the outside. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. If the installers give you the heebie-jeebies, it’s not a good sign. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

Do you have skylights? If so, you should keep them in mind when protecting your home. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Your skylights need durable and reliable hardware for true protection.

Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Having the name of the technician coming to your house ahead of time can help to ensure you are allowing someone who really works for the company into your home. This can be risky for you and your belongings. You want to use caution to prevent danger.

Use your walls as hiding spaces. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

Be prepared for the worst contingency when it comes to criminal threats. You should not become paranoid about home invasions, but keep in mind that you can avoid dangerous situations by protecting yourself. Put the tips from the article to good use and protect your family and home.

If you buy expensive electronics or appliances, throw the packages away the day that your trash pickup occurs. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.