Safety should be priority number one for a homeowner. Burglaries are common, and probably always will be. Keep reading to learn a few things you can do to protect yourself.

You should only provide a house cleaner your key if you completely trust them. 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 you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.

Home security systems are able to do more than just sounding the alarm whenever you have an intruder. Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. This ensures your home won’t be a tinderbox. Keeping fire hazards away is a great safety precaution since fire can cause lots of destruction.

Aim to purchase fire-resistant ceilings, roofs and floors. This adds an extra layer of protection to your home, especially if you live in a very dry area with power lines. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Don’t use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. 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.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. Stay true to your safety, even if it appears the person has legitimate reasons for wanting entry. Some criminals will use any reason to gain access to look for security systems and easy entryways into your house.

Avoid opening the door if you don’t know who is standing on the other side. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. Make sure everyone in your house knows not to open the door unless they know the person standing outside.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Speak with your neighbors. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. Do not ignore gossip either. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

Security System

Be sure to secure the skylights to your home. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. You should have them equipped with strong, sturdy hardware.

Always have your security system checked each year. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

Get creative and hide valuables inside your walls. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. You can find areas in your walls that are pre-cut and use those. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Walls make the perfect hiding spot. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. You can also install a fake one.

Do that put spare keys above door frames or under door mats. Instead of letting you into your home in the event you are locked out, you are providing criminals with easy access to your home. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Get an alarm that will trigger if either the doors or windows are opened. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Don’t throw away boxes for expensive or valuable items until the garbage collection day. Having these type of boxes hanging around will give robbers a good idea of what type of merchandise you have inside of your home.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. An intruder can cut the wires if he can find them. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. This helps keep you and your family safe.

Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. The person who used to live there may still have a key. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. They don’t want anyone to see them. Thieves have a hard time stealing things when there are lots of lights around. Secure your property by creating a well-lit area.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. Your doors and windows should not be obstructed by shrubs or fences. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. Keeping the areas around your windows free of plants can help to deter criminals from lurking too close to your home, without you noticing.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. Though such systems can be terrific for many, not everyone really needs one. In some areas, a class on self defense or a guard dog might be more suitable, yet in others, an advanced home security system will fit the bill. Make sure you understand your risks so you can make wise purchasing decisions.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.

There are wireless systems available for home security, as another option. These systems are much more efficient and can save you time and hassle. Systems that operate in a wireless environment can be easier to manage and are not as likely to cause extensive rewiring issues.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. Burglars like using darkness to hide. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

If you live with children or others whom who don’t want entering some parts of the house, keys and lock sets aren’t the only option. You may have locks without keys that need a code. You can even install it yourself.

Consider your own personal safety needs and security risks before exploring home security systems. While alarm systems are great, they aren’t necessary for every family. Sometimes just taking a class in self defense or adopting a loud dog is enough, while at other times a full fledged security system might be the way to go. See to it that you understand the risks involved in making these purchasing decisions.

Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. They all likely have different benefits and downsides. A longer contract might give you a lower monthly bill, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. A short contract will avoid this, but may be more costly.

Because of the various harms that can befall any home, it makes good sense to take active steps toward adding protection. Ideally, you’ve picked up quite a few useful security hints from the preceding article. Use each idea to give your home maximum security.

Spring latch locks are not a good option. This type of lock is extremely easy to break. Anyone with a credit card can do it. Burglars just slip a card between the latch and the door, causing the lock mechanism to open. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.