Establishing a safe living environment might seem like a huge task to the average homeowner. But, there is no need for it to be pricy or hard. As long as you spend he time necessary to memorize the advice in his piece, you will see that the process is cheaper and simpler than you may have believed.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. Timers can be used to turn lights and televisions on and off when required. This will give your home the appearance of someone being there. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

Keep your jewelry, vital documents and other expensive items in a safe. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.

Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. This is the first rule of keeping your home secure.

Use motion sensor lights. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

Don’t open your door if a stranger is on the other side. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. Never open the door to anyone you do not know.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These could catch on fire during the summer, especially if you live in a dry area. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

Use your walls as hiding spaces. You needn’t tear down your walls to do this. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.

Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Burglars are well aware of these hiding places. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

When it comes to securing your home, start by changing your locks. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. Most locksmiths can accomplish the job within 24 hours.

While choosing your alarm system, ask about protection for windows and motion detection as well as doors. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. They are the most effective.

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. There are some who believe country folk are more at risk because neighbors are not nearby. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. Remember that different families might have dwelt there before this person.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Most homes are pre-equipped with these handy spaces. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. You might even purchase and install your own locks so that you are assured of having the only keys.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

When you are away on vacation have a house sitter bring in your mail and any flyers and newspapers that accumulate in front of your house. Thieves have put them up in order to see if people are home to take them down. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.

Don’t give outside people the ability to see into your home. If you have big windows near your big entertainment system, it can seem like an invitation to thieves. Keep your curtains drawn to keep your valuable items safe.

Make sure your address numbers are clearly visible from across the street. If your numbers cannot be plainly seen, then the police will struggle to locate your home very quickly in case of emergency. Fortunately, the solution to this is quick, easy and rather cheap once you are aware of the need.

Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.

Keep blinds, shades, and curtains closed when you’re not home. If the blinds are up, then the intruders can see directly through your home. Intruders will break in if they see an item they want. These should also be kept down while you’re sleeping.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. You can do your own installation to make sure that no one else has a key.

If you must hide a key, hide it somewhere unusual. Fake rocks are easy to spot. Many people also know to check under the welcome mat. Just leave your key with someone you trust. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. It is easy for potential thieves to present themselves as representatives of a company in order to gain access to your home. This is dangerous for your family and your possessions. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.

If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. Wireless systems are convenient, but they require multiple sets of batteries that have to be changed out on a regular basis. If you neglect to change your batteries, the system can fail. Additionally, it can be expensive to replace a lot of batteries.

You should be in a better position to improve your home’s security now that you’ve taken the time to educate yourself on the subject. Start to make changes in your house. You will quickly have a house that always feels safe no matter what time of day. You are going to be able to put your feet up and relax very soon.

Program your lights to turn on and off at random intervals with a timer. This helps the lights stay on and continue to switch even when you’re away from your home.