You likely know someone that has had their home burglary. Home invasions are on the rise, and people need to be more thorough with home security. This article discusses what you can take to boost security at home.

A good security system has many more features than sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. Many systems can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. This can be valuable to parents that have small children so that they know when their child has opened or closed a door.

Be sure your home always looks occupied. You could purchase timers and have your TVs, lights, radios and other types of electronics to go on at various times. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This will keep people from breaking in.

Don’t post information about your vacations on social media. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

Don’t let people into your home. Even if someone has a good story, needs help or has something to sell, ignore them. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home secure.

Change all of your locks when you move in. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. To make sure your home can only be accessed by you, enlist the help of a locksmith. Also, if you lose your keys, change the locks.

This is very true when you feel uneasy with those that install your actual system. Don’t hesitate to request a different technician or get another company. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel safer after all.

Don’t forget skylights when securing your home. While they are nice and help with lighting, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Be sure that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

When choosing an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. All of your windows are possible entry spots for a thief too. You want to be sure that monitors all windows and doors. This can do to protect your home.

Having these boxes around for a while will let thieves know the type of what is inside your home.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. If your police department does not offer these programs, find a private security company.

Use the Internet to find a new home security company.With this information, you can make your appointments with the top three companies you’ve chosen so that you can compare pricing and look at specific monitoring and plans.

Get your home security company do a site visit in your home.

If you own a garage, be sure to use it to place your car, as opposed to using it as a storage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

Never enter your house if the door open. This is a delicate situation as the thief could still be inside. Your best bet is to contact the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.

Think about a home security system that is wireless. Systems that are wired are cheaper, but may need significant reworking of your home’s electrical wiring and can fail in a power outage.

Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Watch their homes and ask them if they’ll watch yours as well. Pay attention to gossip as well. You will learn a lot from your neighbors, including details about recent break ins in the area and the shady individuals they noticed.

Don’t let anyone an opportunity to see inside your garage in order to ward off robbers. Do not leave doors open for people to get an idea of what you own.

Ask about the different contract durations that a home security company can offer you. There are of course pros and drawbacks to each. A long contract may lock you in even if you choose to sell the house or want to stop the services, but you may have to continue with these if you decide to sell the house or discontinue services. Shorter contracts mean more freedom along with higher cost.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Just do not forget to replace the bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.

Never hide keys in obvious spot. It is easy to find fake rock. The first place someone will look is a doormat. A friend or neighbor can be a much better plan is to ask someone you trust to keep your extra key in case you need it.If you have no trustworthy neighbors, try to be creative when it comes to hiding places.

Think about hard-wired system if you have concerns about long term maintenance issues. It can also be very costly to replace a ton of batteries.

The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get new locks. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

Always keep your irreplaceable valuables in a secure place. Items like passports, family photos, legal documents, expensive jewelry and financial records need to be placed at a secure location. You can buy a floor safe for these. You could also rent out a bank safe deposit box.

Deadbolts featuring captive keylocks are the best locks on the market.These devices include a thumb latch so that no one can reach around and opening the lock through a broken window nearby. When you are at home, keep the key inserted inside the lock so you can leave if there is a fire.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Don’t fool yourself into believing that only expensive homes are broken into. Thieves target houses that are easily broken into. Protect your family and your home by learning the easy tips shared in this article.