Every homeowner needs to take active steps to maintain home security. Burglaries are becoming more and more common, and there are other things to be concerned about as well, such as a flood or a fire. Keep reading this piece to find out what it takes to make your home secure.

Change the locks after buying a new house. The person who previously owned the home may have made copies of keys. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Make your home look occupied at all times. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This will keep people from breaking in.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Be sure and get a minimum of three quotes from different companies prior to choosing one.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

You should never give details about your vacations and other plans on social networks. 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.

Home security systems are able to do more than just sounding the alarm whenever you have an intruder. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.

Never allow str4angers to enter your house. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home security equipment.

Spare Key

Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. Use a C-clamp to secure the door if it’s off track.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. Many programs include how to use some engraving tools to create code numbers for identifying valuables that are stolen, home inspection, and advice on protective measures. Get in touch today.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

Put up motion activated lighting. The lights will be triggered when someone gets too close to the house. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

There are lots of things that can go wrong with home security, so homeowners should be very vigilant. After reading this article, you should know what steps to take to secure your home. Use these ideas to boost your home’s safety.

Walls are great for hiding items. Hide valuables inside of your walls. Just take advantage of the phone jack, electrical outlet or unused switch plate. You can also install a fake one.