For the sake of your family, your home should be as safe as you can possibly make it. Your home needs to be safe for when everyone returns. This article will advise you on the best ways to keep your home secure from robbery.

Always change the locks after moving into a new home. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Get a locksmith in right away. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Make your house look occupied all the time. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. This makes people think you’re home. It is also another way to secure your home.

Use a safe to protect your valuables. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. Some people may simply be trying to determine whether or not you have a home security installed; if you don’t, they may plan to return later if you are away from your home.

After you purchase a new home, change the locks. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

Before doing anything else, install new locks in your home. Perhaps you aren’t sure who owned the home before you or maybe an old roommate has a key and never returned it. Regardless, changing the locks will ensure your security. It doesn’t cost much and they can usually show up within a day.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

Home security systems have different kinds of features that can sound an alarm when someone breaks into your house. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. You will be much safer.

Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Empty boxes might draw the attention of robbers and let everyone know you own new and expensive goods.

Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. There are early termination fees, and there may be fees for extra equipment procured in the future. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

Keeping your home very bright during the night hours is an excellent way to prevent thieves. That’s because they want to remain hidden. It makes it look like you are home and makes it difficult for thieves to hide. Keep your lights turned on during the night.

Find a home security company you can trust. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. Make sure that the installer has experience installing your type of security system. You want your new system to protect you, not be the way the thief gets into your home.

Always use online resources to identify the very best home security firm. Go through different websites and investigate testimonials about different companies and packages. Once you do this, make appointments with the three best companies you find so that you can compare pricing and other important details.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. If they can be seen, there will be no place to hide. If you want to have a garden around your home, keep trees and shrubs away from your house.

Those that live in rural area are not as concerned about having their home invaded as those who are located in the city. People who live in the country may even be more vulnerable because they do not have nearby neighbors. Some think rural areas see less burglary.

Before signing up for a particular home-security company, find out how long they’ve been around. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

A dog is a great alarm system. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. There is no need for a guard dog. Any dog who barks, small or large, can scare off a burglar.

Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Although a skylight can bring light into one’s home and look good, it’s also a common entrance way for burglars. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

You now have expert advice at your disposal. How are you going to use it for your home? Keep learning about home security. Technology is rapidly advancing, changing the industry along with it. Stay up to date, and everyone stays safe.