If you own a home, then you understand the importance of keeping it safe. Finding your home damaged is always going to be a bad thing. Your home is a giant investment and a place to build the memories of life. Go over this article for more details on home security.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Check out their references thoroughly. If the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.

Be sure that your home is always occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is just one of the many precautions you can take to secure your home.

Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Always have your security system checked each year. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. If you don’t see the problem, you may remain unaware of it.

If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Be sure to make sure their references check out. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.

The walls are a perfect hiding place. Keep small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

When choosing an alarm system, consider one that offers protection for more than just your doors. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. Be sure your alarm is secured to them all and that monitoring is in place for every point of entry. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. This will help to keep your jewelry and other valuables secured in the event of a break in. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

Be certain the wires to your home security system are neither visible nor accessible. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. Don’t let this happen; bury or hide the wires. This can make you safer.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

Never allow a stranger to enter your home. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. Even if the previous owner or tenant seems trustworthy, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the key they made and distributed. Aside from that, other people lived in the home even before the ones from whom you purchased the home.

Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.

Be sure to secure your attached garage. You can prevent this from happening easily. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. You can purchase and install locks yourself to make sure only you have the key.

It doesn’t have to be the most difficult thing to keep your home protected. It is important to do more research on home security before you decide what kind of system you want to invest in. Use these ideas to boost your home’s security. Do not neglect even one of these tips, because they all help ensure your home is safe.

Home protection program details may be available at your police station. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.