Do you want to secure your home with an alarm system? Many folks buy one without really needing one. Always locking your windows and doors, along with a few other simple steps may be just what you need.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. 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.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

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 burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. You’ll find a wide range of prices from different companies. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. The previous owner may be perfectly respectable, but you can’t know that for sure. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

If you’ve got lots of people you don’t know on your social networks, don’t let them know that you’re going to be on vacation. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.

In the end, you may decide that an alarm system is the correct choice for your home. Make a few changes to your habits and focus on finding a quality home security system. Check out all your choices to know which ones are right for you.