Do you need methods for home protection? You want to make sure that you always feel safe and secure in your home. Use all of these strategies to keep a safer home. Become educated about home security by reading this article.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

Does your dog remain outside while you’re gone? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your extra key. Attach the key to the dog’s collar so that it is hidden from view. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Get advice from loved ones about home security systems. This will help you to reduce the stress that you have on your search for a good one. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. People will check your doormat and frame first. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. It is possible for an intruder to get in the garage and then gain access to the house; however, you can do something about it. Using a C-clamp on the garage door will prevent it from opening by staying on the door’s track.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Keep asking to get the advice that will help you make the right choice.

An extremely important tactic for keeping your home safe is changing out the locks. This could be an ex-spouse or roommate you got into a fight with. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

Shut off the ringer for all of the telephones in your home if you are planning to go on vacation for a long time. A constantly ringing phone lets thieves know that you are not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

Do that put spare keys above door frames or under door mats. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.

Your valuables should not be easily seen from outside your home. It is wise to invest in coverings for large windows that can give criminals a large view of your home. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

Door Frame

Always have your security system checked each year. The security company should have a specialist come to look at it. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. Rotten wood can be removed in order to get inside your home. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. Don’t ignore the gossip. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. If strategically placed, motion detectors ensure that it’s difficult for intruders to break into your home sight unseen.

Lock the house, even if just going away for a short time. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

The outside of your house should be well lit. Darkness allows for all sorts of nefarious activities. Light up the dark spots around your home. Having these outdoor lights installed can really work as a deterrent to criminals who are considering your house.

Replace rotten wood near door frames. It is simple for a robber to pry away rotting wood and enter your home. Keep your home secure by replacing rotted wood with fresh timber.

If you think something looks odd when you get back home, don’t go inside. You have no way of knowing whether the thieves are still inside. Just contact the police and sit tight until they arrive.

Always ask for references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. You can’t know for sure about the integrity of people you hire, and blindly giving them access to your home can be a huge mistake.

Make sure a surveillance system is part of your home security system. Video cameras are a great deterrent. Visible cameras scare intruders while a hidden camera could capture footage. It is possible to use your cell phone to look at your surveillance camera, meaning you can see your house when you’re gone.

Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. This is a great way to deter prowlers and potential intruders at night.

Discourage burglars by making your garage windows opaque. Frosted windows will keep a burglar from being able to see inside. The material needed to do this can be found at home improvement stores. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. Your home and the area surrounding it may still be in danger. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.

Sadly, no home is ever completely safe from every threat. Luckily, there are measures that can be taken to keep your home as safe as possible. You have been provided with some helpful hints concerning home security. Use all the advice here to do the best you can to keep your home safe.

Don’t neglect your garage when it comes to home security. Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house. Also, avoid leaving the door open for prolonged periods of time.