It is the job of every homeowner to do everything possible to keep their home properly secured. There are a wide range of security solutions available to you, depending on your circumstances. Continue to read to learn what other options you have to boost your home’s security.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. The person who previously owned the home may have made copies of keys. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

Have your home always look occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This makes it appear that someone is home. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, they should not be given access. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

Don’t open your door if a stranger is on the other side. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Keep your car in your garage. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. Hiding it will help to deter people from tracking the times you aren’t there.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. This will keep thieves from stealing it or harming it. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

Security System

Don’t be shy. Talk to your neighbors. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and do the same thing for them. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. Many different things can make problems for your security system. If it’s not visible, you might not even know there’s a problem.

When having a company install your security system, you must trust your feelings. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

When choosing a home security firm, trust your instincts. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. Do some background research on the company you select, and look for people who make you feel safe.

Those living in rural areas often don’t worry as much about intruders compared to city dwellers. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. You should cover any windows that are facing the street so your valuables will be safe.

Skylights should be secure. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Be certain that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

Replace all locks in a new house. Even if the previous owner or tenant seems trustworthy, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the key they made and distributed. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Check references before giving anyone access to your home. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. 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.

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. A burglar prefers to sneak around in the dark, and a well lit house is always a deterrent. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. Some examples include first story windows, garages, doorways and porches.

If you don’t own a paper shredder already, you might want to get one. Thieves often find the trash cans to be a gold mine of pertinent information about potential victims. If paper shredders don’t fit into your budget, you can manually rip up important documents yourself.

You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. They give you and your family the opportunity to move around should the electricity go out. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. Each likely has its benefits and drawbacks. The longer the contract, the lower your monthly bill, but if you move or become dissatisfied, you are stuck with the monthly fee. Shorter contracts likely allow you more flexibility with exiting the plan; however, you will probably have a larger monthly bill.

After having read these tips, you should now feel much safer. There is a lot of information to take in, but you are better prepared to create your security system. You can do exactly that with these tips.

Before you let anyone go into your home, look at their references thoroughly. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. Avoid giving keys out to contractors, maids and repairmen.