If you’re a women who lives alone, home security should be a major concern. There are different things you can do to improve the security of your home. This article has great home security advice.

Make your house look like it’s always occupied. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Make your home look occupied at all times. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. This will make it look like someone is home. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. Check their references fully. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

Get roofing, flooring and ceilings that are fire resistant. This ensures your home won’t be a tinderbox. Keeping fire hazards away is a great safety precaution since fire can cause lots of destruction.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. Although your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.

Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Don’t let strangers enter your house. While their story may seem legit, that doesn’t mean it is true. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.

It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home. Any thief knows all the typical hiding spots. A better solution is to give your key to a neighbor you trust.

Local Police

When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. Burglars can gain entry through your windows as well. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This is vital to keeping your family safe.

See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. There are lots of different programs, like home inspections, that will help you take the proper steps to make sure your home adequately protected. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they’re available in your area.

Alter the locks and the keys when you change homes. While you may trust those who lived there before you, you have no idea who lived there before them. You can change the locks yourself if you’re feeling really industrious.

The first step in making your home more secure is to change out your locks. Perhaps your roommate left town or you have gone through a messy divorce, and you need to feel that the home is safe. It shouldn’t cost too much, and the process can be completed very quickly.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. Having the name of the technician coming to your house ahead of time can help to ensure you are allowing someone who really works for the company into your home. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. Make sure you are as cautious as you can be.

Be sure to secure the skylights to your home. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

When searching for methods of improving your home’s security, a great, inexpensive method of doing this is purchasing exterior lights with installed motion detectors. They lights will light up your property at night and they are cost-effective and efficient. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. Large windows allow you to keep an eye on who is approaching your home, but keep in mind that potential intruders will be tempted if they can see your valuables. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. A wired system should be less expensive but you might have to spend your money on getting your home rewired. Systems that operate in a wireless environment can be easier to manage and are not as likely to cause extensive rewiring issues.

Don’t let any service people into your home without checking their references completely. A background check is also a good idea, so that you know what their criminal history looks like. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Burglars have been known to put these up, waiting to see if they are removed or not. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.

Security Company

Inquire as to the different lengths of contracts offered by your security company. Compare the pros and cons of different options. A longer contract might give you a lower monthly bill, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. Shorter contracts have more freedom, but the monthly costs could be higher.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers. You may not feel as safe if you opt to go with a company that has not been in business for long or that does not have a stable history.

When you aren’t home, be sure to close your blinds, curtains or shades. Intruders can look into your house if the blinds are up. Intruders will break in if they see an item they want. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. Motion sensor lights can work great because they can also alert you when someone does come onto the property. This includes porches and doorways, the garage, as well as ground floor windows, which can invite an intruder.

The sliding doors made of glass that you see on many modern homes are actually a big security concern. Unlocking them is done simply by shaking and lifting the handle. Place a pipe in the door crevice to keep the door secure. This keeps the door wedged closed so that it is harder to pry open.

Securing your home, along with creating a safe haven doesn’t need costly installation or having a stranger install your system. You can utilize easier and cheaper methods of keeping your home safe. Keep this information in mind if you want your home to feel safer.

While gossip and scandals aren’t the most wholesome neighborhood topics, it’s best to stay in the loop. The nosy neighbor may be the one to alert you that someone was snooping around your house. Stay on their good side and they will be sure to let you know if they see anything suspicious.