Maintaining a secure home is important if you are a home owner, and it should never be left to chance. However, knowing the right security steps to take is not easy. The following article should be very beneficial as you begin.

Be sure your home appears to always 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 will help safeguard your house to the best of your ability.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. You’re not aware of any copies that have been made by the previous owners of the house. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. When you lose your keys, have your locks rekeyed.

Is your dog kept outside when you are away? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Put the safe somewhere difficult to get to, like the attic.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

Purchase ceiling, flooring and roofing that is fire resistant. This will make your home more safe, especially if you are in a dry climate that has many power lines. Fire prevention is always a good idea, and sometimes it can be a lifesaving idea!

You should not let anyone inside your home. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Some people may simply be trying to determine whether or not you have a home security installed; if you don’t, they may plan to return later if you are away from your home.

Switch Plate

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. There is a way to prevent burglars from entering your home through the garage. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. You can hide small valuables in your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you haven’t got any plates that are unused, simply install a false switch plate.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. 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. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.

Be cognizant of what others can see when they look in your windows. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. If your house has street-facing windows, make sure they are always covered and your make sure your valuables are hidden away.

Keep your car in your garage. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. Hiding your car from plain view will also keep potential intruders from tracking when you are home and when you aren’t.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This way, you will be safer.

Install motion-sensor lights. These lights will come on if someone walks near your home. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs to ensure they continue to work properly.

You should change all the locks if you just bought or rented a new home. The old owners may seem nice, but you don’t know everything about them. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.

Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. Thieves can make off with large amounts of valuable merchandise very quickly.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. Having these boxes outside of your house will give robbers the temptation of robbing your house.

You want to know what is included in a contract if you’re signing up with a security company. They sometimes have hidden costs if you let go of them prior to the contract expiring. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.

Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. Although these systems can protect you and your family, not everybody needs them. Sometimes you may just want to invest in a dog or self-defense classes. Know the risks so that you can make a better decision.

You always want to keep your house safe so that you can have peace of mind. Your home is your castle, and you should always feel at ease there. The best home security methods are not always obvious. We hope this article has given you some insight into planning the best home security measures for your home.

Get a paper shredder. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.