Every homeowner must maximize efforts to secure his home. Purchasing a home security system is just one of many things you can do. Continue reading to learn more about how you can keep your home safe.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Check their references very carefully. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. Instead, try hiding a key on the collar of an outside dog.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? If so, the dog can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. Although your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.

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.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. A constantly ringing phone lets thieves know that you are not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

Never allow str4angers to enter your house. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

If your garage is attached to your house, make it secure. Some people are concerned about burglars entering through an attached garage. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. Having the car in the garage will prevent it from getting broken into or stolen. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

In the summer, remove vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. Break-ins are often the result of unlocked windows and doors. Thieves can steal thousands worth of your belongings very quickly.

Security starts with new locks. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. You might even install new locks yourself so that you know you have the only keys.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. At night, not only will these lights be handy to light up areas around your home,they are also a cost-effective and efficient security addition. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace the rotting door frame with a new one and keep your home much safer.

Could burglars see inside your garage? Make sure that they can’t! Use frosted, adhesive backed plastic to cover the windows. You can purchase this at a home improvement store. Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when you are working in the garage or yard.

Always ask for references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. Check if they have any history of criminal activity. You can’t always be sure that maids, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.

Don’t leave the boxes of any high priced electronics on the curb of your house. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! Break the boxes down, or take a scissors to them to help them fit in your trash can.

Having a well-lit home that’s bight in the evening can really deter crooks. They do not want to be seen. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. Keep those lights shining brightly at night.

From the road, are your house numbers visible? The police will find it difficult to locate your home quickly if your address numbers are difficult to see. Fortunately, it doesn’t require much to fix this problem.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. Your doors and windows should not be obstructed by shrubs or fences. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. Dogs protect their territory diligently, and tend to make noise if something goes awry. You do not need a large, vicious guard dog. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.

Security Company

Your security company might give you the option to lease and eventually buy your security equipment. Purchasing your equipment may cost more in the beginning, but this is a one-time cost which does not recur. Leasing usually proves cheaper at first, but it comes with strings attached through contracts or continuing fees and charges. Check out both options and determine which is best for you.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers. You can feel confident when you choose a well established, reputable home security company.

Avoid storing car registration in your glove compartment. This isn’t smart because that information contains your home address. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place in your car. Make sure you can easily and quickly access them in the event that a police officer pulls you over.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. This can be a dangerous scenario, as the criminal might still be present. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

Do not make a number-code password your birthday or other obvious number. Your birthday is readily available for burglars to find. Instead, make the number something that is hard to figure out.

It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. Both hidden and visible security cameras are effective in protecting your home. Visible cameras can scare intruders, and hidden ones can catch them in the act. You can often view these feeds over the Internet, too.

Even if you don’t like gossip, make a point to become friends with someone in your neighborhood who is always “in the know.” If there are unfamiliar people hanging around, the busybodies in your neighborhood will notice. Being friendly will bring you great security.

Keep your garage shut and locked so burglars can’t peek inside. Go to a hardware store and buy some frosting so you can cover your windows. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

Locks inside are great, but you must be able to lock your home from the outside as well. Ideal locks are deadbolts which lock with both internal and external key locks.

A great protection against burglars is owning a dog. Dogs are quite protective of their masters and home, and they can display quite a bark if someone comes near the house. A big, vicious guard dog isn’t necessary. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.

Regardless of how pleasant the previous tenants of your home are, it is important to replace the locks in your new home. This should be done for rented and bought homes. Do your own lock replacement, or see if a locksmith or landlord will do it.

You should be able to put the suggestions provided above to good use in your quest to improve the security of your home. Perhaps this seems to be very complicated and troublesome; however, you must proceed to secure your home and provide safety for your family. These tips can make this possible.

Avoid letting people outside see inside your home. If people can see a computer or large TV outside your house, thieves can also see it. Be sure to put up good blinds and/or drapes to obstruct the view from outside. If you can’t cover every window, keep your valuables in rooms that are blocked from view.