Are you clueless about home security systems? Are you not sure how to begin protecting your home? If so, it’ll benefit you to learn a little bit about options available to you. The following information will give you everything you need to know.

When you buy a new house, change the locks. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This can be useful if you’ve got small children that are able to open doors.

Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. This is very important, as you do not want your gold, diamonds and personal items exposed if someone were to break into your house. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. An example would be to attach a key to your dog’s collar, if he stays outdoors.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Secure your garage. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Ask them to watch your home if you are on vacation. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. The best systems are those that cover windows as well. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This helps ensure your family stays safe.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. Hiding your car away from plain view is a good way to keep intruders from knowing when you are at home or not.

Be on the lookout for rotten wood anywhere near your doors or windows. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. They turn on only if someone is nearby. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. Burglars prefer the cover that night provides their criminal activities. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. As nice as they look, they’re a prime target for thieves. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.

If the front door is open when you get home, resist the temptation to go in alone to find the reason. A thief might still be in there, which could put you in danger. Your best bet is to call the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. Keeping a spare key is convenient but intruders will have access to your home if your key is too easy to find. Intruders know about the usual hiding spots. If you have a neighbor you can trust, have them hold your extra key.

Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

You want all wires of an installed security system to be hidden. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. You will be much more safe.

A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves can use this information to figure out your schedule and determine the best time to break in. If you don’t want a shredder, rip the papers up manually.

When you purchase big, expensive items be sure to break down the boxes and take them to the recycling center yourself. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

Make sure that your house number are visible from the street. Make sure they are large in case emergency personnel need to find your house. Thankfully if you notice a problem it’s an easy and cheap thing to fix.

Check each spring for any rotting frames on your doors and windows. Replace them immediately if you spot any problems. Rotting wood is easy to remove and take apart if someone is trying to get in. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

You should know more about home security after going over these tips. Use the information in this piece to begin developing your own home security strategy. You’ll be happy that you took care of the matter before something dangerous happened.

The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. The previous owners or tenants might have made some copies of the key. You can change the locks yourself if you’re feeling really industrious.