Renters and owners both need a safe home. You may not know the best way to secure your home, so that’s what this article can help you with. This article will help you make your house much safer.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Make sure you verify all references. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

Do you keep your dog outside when you aren’t home? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your extra key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. Every company offers different pricing. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.

If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

Ask friend for any advice they have prior to purchasing a security system or service. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Remove old plants and debris from your yard. These could catch on fire during the summer, especially if you live in a dry area. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

Never allow any strangers into your home. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. This is the first rule of keeping your home secure.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

Avoid opening the door if you don’t know who is standing on the other side. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Hide any valuables in wall spaces. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. Consider unwiring an electrical socket that isn’t used and storing your valuable jewelry.

Get to know your neighbors. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Ask them to look after your home, and in return, look out for theirs. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. It is often a good way to find out about security issues, such as strangers in the neighborhood.

Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. Thieves can make off with large amounts of valuable merchandise very quickly.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. If the installers give you the heebie-jeebies, it’s not a good sign. If you don’t feel comfortable, go with someone else. After all, the point of the system itself is to help you feel more at ease.

Before letting someone from a security company into a house, get some sort of official identification. Burglars are creative, and they often pose as a member of the security team to get inside. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Take care to steer clear of danger.

Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

Whenever you are landscaping your home, you should consider safety. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. If you have them visible, people can’t hide in those areas while they try to break in. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.

Now is the time to get started in making your home a more secure place! Do not waste time and allow these ideas to slip away. Use them as a springboard in order to make your house as secure as possible. You can sleep better at night when you know your home is safe; begin now!

If you get home and the door is open, don’t go in. The thief may remain inside. Your best bet is to call the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.