Homeowners needs to take the right steps to protect their families. Home invasions are becoming very common, and other thing like flood and fire can damage your home. Read this article to learn great tips and tricks that will ensure your home and family remains safe from any threat.

When looking to buy a security system, shop around. Prices vary greatly in regards to the same protection for each company. Get quotes from several companies before making a decision.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

Don’t use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Your pet might just be the perfect place to stash a spare key to your home. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This works very well if you have a pet that is not very fond of strangers. You will get the access you need without having to worry about your safety.

Never allow any strangers into your home. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, do not let them in. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

Avoid opening the door if you don’t know who is standing on the other side. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

Even if you have a great security system, it must be checked annually. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

Walls are the perfect place to hide. Hide valuables inside of your walls. You could use a phone jack, electrical outlet or a switch plate. You can also install a fake one.

Walls make the perfect hiding spot. If you own smaller things that need protection, think about keeping them hidden in the walls. Just take advantage of the phone jack, electrical outlet or unused switch plate. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. They can get a ton of stuff quickly and be long gone before you return.

Whenever you sign with a home-security company, it is important that you thoroughly read the contract. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This can make you safer.

Having light on in your home at night will scare crooks away. Burglars don’t want to be visible. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. This makes it a good idea to keep the lights on.

If you’ve recently moved into a house, get any locks changed out. As nice as the previous person may seem, you don’t really know them. People may have lived in the home before those owners, too.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. Put these features at a greater distance from your house; let beauty also complement safety.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.

Make sure your home’s exterior is well lit. Burglars like committing crimes in the darkness. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

When you own a home, you must focus on securing it. This article is full of excellent ideas on how to protect your home from virtually any threat. Use the above tips to make your home more secure.

Make sure you have weighed the costs and risks when you are considering your security needs. Some systems might not be adaptable to your situation. In some particular neighborhoods, classes for self defense or acquiring a dog may be the best option. However, the newest home security technology may be the best protection in other regions. Before you sink a lot of money into your home’s security, make sure that you’re properly addressing your particular risks.