Have you ever considered buying a home alarm system? Sometimes, you do not actually need one in your home. Simple things, like keeping your doors and windows locked, can make a bigger difference than the system.

Be sure that your home is always occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

It is important for your home to always look lived in. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. This makes it appear that someone is home. This helps you keep your house burglar-free.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.

Use your dog as the protector of your spare key. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This can help your home be safer. It’s best to prevent a fire before it starts.

Any time you buy a new home, have the locks changed. You’re not aware of any copies that have been made by the previous owners of the house. 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.

Don’t let strangers into your home. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. You will be alerted when there is activity outside, and any potential burglars will be deterred because they do not want to be seen. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Walls make the perfect hiding spot. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Just access unused switch plates, outlets or phone jacks. If you’re using all your outlets, you can install phony ones.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. 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. Your security system is supposed to help you, not cause you more stress.

Don’t put your spare key in an obvious place near your front door. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Burglars always know just where to look. Rather, give your key to a neighbor you find trustworthy.

If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Some think rural areas see less burglary.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Expensive Items

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Be sure your alarm is secured to them all and that monitoring is in place for every point of entry. This will make your family safer.

If you have any boxes to discard from large, expensive items, wait until the evening before the trash is scheduled for collection. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. Intruders can get around security systems and into a home by cutting the wires. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. This will make you much safer.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you really have no clue as to who they really are. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Remember that different families might have dwelt there before this person.

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. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

A home security system can be a very good option to protect your residence and your family. It may also be a good idea to make a few changes around your home. When you know of all your choices, you will make a better choice.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. It doesn’t take long for a quality company to prove itself in the security business, and you should look for a track record of satisfied customers and successful work. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.