Are you interested in getting a home security system? If you feel lost, then you should keep reading to find out more information. This is an expensive investment that means everything to the safety of your family, so continue reading to learn more.

After you purchase a new home, change the locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. When you lose your keys, have your locks rekeyed.

Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. Others have likely had both good and bad experiences that they can share with you that can then save you a lot of stress and time. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

Buy a small home safe that you can use to keep your valuables in. This will help to keep your jewelry and other valuables secured in the event of a break in. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. If the phone rings when you are away, burglars will know there’s nobody home, making the house vulnerable to a break-in when you are out.

Talk to people you know about their security systems. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Don’t let strangers into your home. 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. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Before leaving for vacation, turn off the ringers in your house. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Clear yard regularly to maintain your house safe.

Don’t let strangers enter your house. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. 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.

Alter the combination of the locks in your home. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It shouldn’t cost too much, and the process can be completed very quickly.

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. Lots of people are afraid that burglars will be able to break into their garage, which will result in them breaking into the home. Thankfully, you can prevent this. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Don’t think you’re not at risk just because you don’t live in a big city. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Consider changing your locks as a part of your home security program. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. It is pretty cheap and the job won’t take more than a few hours.

Walls make the perfect hiding spot. Hide valuables inside of your walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. It is wise to invest in coverings for large windows that can give criminals a large view of your home. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.

Never place a spare key in a plant box or under your welcome mat. While you may feel that you are keeping yourself safe by allowing a way in for yourself, you are also allowing everyone else to visit whenever they want. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Rather, keep your spare keys with a neighbor you trust.

Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.

Lock up your house every time you leave. Surprisingly, lots of burglaries occur because the burglar was able to simply walk in without having to actually break in. It does not take long for thieves to steal your expensive stuff.

Keep safety at the forefront as you landscape. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Put these features at a greater distance from your house; let beauty also complement safety.

Replace rotten wood near door frames. Home invaders interested are able to pry off any rotted wood to get inside. Replace any wood that has begun to rot with new wood so that your house stays safe.

If the front door is open when you get home, resist the temptation to go in alone to find the reason. It can be dangerous to walk in on an intruder. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.

Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. Be sure to perform a background check and look for any criminal history that might be in evidence. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.

Make sure that your garage is not visible from the outside in. Frost your windows so people cannot look inside your home. Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when you are working in the garage or yard.

Your landscaping should be designed based on what will be safest for your home. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

Make sure that your house number are visible from the street. It is important for the authorities to find your address in the event of an emergency. This is a project any homeowner can tackle.

Ask your security provider about their history in the business. Find a home security company that has a good reputation and many years of experience to get excellent service. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

Don’t have spring latch locks installed. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. A deadbolt should be added for security purposes if you have locks that are spring latch.

If you buy something that is expensive, you need to make sure you don’t leave empty boxes curbside. This will show that you have expensive equipment in your home. Cut up the boxes completely instead.

Do not store your car registration in your glove box. These valuable documents provide criminals with information about your home location. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place like your trunk. However, make sure you have them in case you were to get pulled over by the cops.

One of the best home burglary systems is man’s best friend. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders. You don’t even need a huge, vicious dog. Small dogs are noisy and unpredictable and very good at deterring burglars.

If you’re worried about how you’re going to be able to maintain a wireless system, you may want to opt for a wired one instead. Wireless set-ups need battery changes all the time. If you neglect to change your batteries, the system can fail. Buying new batteries to replace the old ones can get expensive.

If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. It is possible to have locks that require just codes, not keys. Any good security company can provide and install these locks, or you can even put them in yourself.

Always store your irreplaceable valuables in a secure place. Some examples include legal documents, expensive jewelry, financial records, passports and family pictures. One option is a floor safe inside your home. Or, a better idea, is to place them in a deposit box outside of your home.

Ask the security company about various contract lengths. These lengths can be both good and bad. You may pay less if you sign up for longer, but you might also get left with a contract if you have to sell your house. Shorter contracts mean more freedom along with higher costs.

If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. There is no need to have outsiders looking into your living room. If the crooks can see what you own, then they are going to target you next. Be discreet about what the public can see and you can reduce your chances of getting burglarized.

Install a hard-wired system if you want to minimize maintenance costs. Sure, wireless options are easier to use, but they consume battery power quickly. Forgetting to change out the batteries leaves you insecure. Also, frequent battery replacements can be costly.

Replace flimsy doors with doors made of solid wood or metal. Metal or solid wood doors cannot be broken. These materials make it difficult for a would-be thief to break down the door. The cost of replacing your doors is worth it in the end.

Do you feel confident now? The more knowledge you have, the easier time you will have of it. Have this advice handy when making a decision.

Locks from the inside can be helpful, but it’s not real useful if you are unable to lock your door from the outside. Deadbolts that use keys on both sides are the most secure locks.