Every homeowner should do everything possible to protect their homes. Unfortunately, home burglaries are becoming extremely common, not to mention the other things that can damage a home, such as fire and flood. Continue reading to educate yourself on home-security strategies to keep your home and loved ones safe from all potential threats.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You’re not aware of any copies that have been made by the previous owners of the house. Get a locksmith in right away. Also, if you lose your keys, change the locks.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Most security systems can facilitate alarm sounds anyone enters. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Get a safe to protect your valuable items. This is vital since it means all of your things will be safe if someone breaks in your home. Put the safe somewhere difficult to get to, like the attic.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Use your garage for your car and not for storage. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. Additionally, if your car is put away, burglars will not be able to tell whether or not you are home.

Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. If the men who come to your home to do the installation seem untrustworthy, you can change your mind. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Some folks will enter to scout for security systems, and upon seeing you lack one, will resolve to return at a later time.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. Intruders can enter through your windows too. Make sure the alarm is attached to all of them, and that monitoring is offered for all possible entry points. This is great for keeping the family secure.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Never make things easy for them. Ask the person installing it to bury the wires or hide them inside the walls. This will add security.

Store your car in the garage if you have it. It won’t be vandalized or stolen this way. Besides, intruders will have a hard time determining whether or not you are home if you keep your car inside your garage.

Are you aware that the wires located on the exterior of your house have value? Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

Check references before giving anyone access to your home. A background check may also be a good idea. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

If you do not reside in a big city, you may not worry as much about home burglaries. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. However, understand that regardless of where you live, a theft can occur anywhere. Therefore, you need to be prepared.

The areas outside your home should be kept well lit. Burglars tend to commit crimes at night. Light up the dark spots around your home. This includes doorways, windows, and your garage.

If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. Burglars pay attention to this, and it will make them want to break in and get the items. Remember to cut up the boxes when they’re emptied.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. While you may need to prepare if you have a spare key, it is wise to choose ways that do not increase the risk of a criminal gaining entrance to your home. Thieves are aware of the best hiding spots. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. These lengths can be both good and bad. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, but you you could maintain those monthly expenses if you discontinue service or sell the home. If you want more freedom, it is best to purchase a more expensive but shorter contract.

It can be worthwhile to invest in a security system that is hard-wired into your home. Although wireless systems are easier, they usually require a lot of batteries that require changing regularly. If you don’t replace the batteries, you’ll find that your system stops working correctly. Additionally, it can cost a pretty penny to buy batteries again and again.

Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from the outside. 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.

Many things can affect the safety of your home, and it’s important that you consider many different things. The ideas in this article will keep your residence protected. Utilize all of these ideas to maximize your home’s safety.