Something bad or tragic can and will happen when it is least expected. You don’t want to put yourself in danger because of your safety negligence. Read on for great tips to make your home safer and to keep criminals from coming in.

Always change the locks changed when you buy a new home. You have no clue how many keys to the previous owners made and handed out. Do the same thing if you misplace a key.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so it is always handy.

Home security systems offer other triggering features that can sound an alarm sound. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone enters. This is great for parents that have small children since they know if their kids open or close doors.

Ask friends for some advice before you choose a home security system or company. You can learn a lot from people who have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Ask around to get lots of advice as you need in order to make a better choice.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. Some give offer the option to monitor all entries into the house. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Turn the ringers off on all your telephone if you are going to be away. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

Don’t let any person you don’t know to look into your house. Even if the person has a compelling story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. This is the joint to see if there is home secure.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

You should never open up a door to someone you do not know. People try many ways to trick others into letting them in so that they can steal from them. Make it a rule forbidding anyone to open your door for an unexpected visitor.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, you need to check it annually. Get a professional in to check it. You may not know there’s an issue if they aren’t easily sighted.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. If a burglar keeps hearing your phone ring, they’ll know the home is not occupied, making it more likely for a break-in to occur.

This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. Ask for someone else to come out or simply change companies. The point of that system is to feel at ease.

Don’t forget about the skylights when doing a security sweep for your home.Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Be sure that the skylights in your home can be locked securely.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

Walls are great hiding items. You should think about hiding certain small valuables in your walls. You can use phone jacks or other device that is not being used.You can easily install a fake one.

Replace all the locks in a new house.Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you cannot be 100% sure of their character.

Meet with representatives from the security company you are considering to determine if they are trustworthy. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. If you are unsure, contact the security company to make sure that the installer was actually sent by them. Remember that every aspect of your home security system should support you in feeling more secure.

If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, you should first change your locks. The person who used to live there may still have made some copies of the key. You can even buy and install the locks on yourself so you can be sure no one else has a key.

Always ask for references before letting anyone work on your home. You should do a background checks in order to find out their criminal history. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, repairmen or maids you trust with being alone in your home.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

The areas outside your house should be well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to hide. Install lights in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. This can include the garage, in the doorways, and windows on ground floors which may invite intruders.

Think about a home security system for your home. Systems that are wired can be a little cheaper, but they need unattractive wiring inside your home and may malfunction when you have a power outage.

Are you aware of the value present in the wiring in your home? People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. Copper wiring is very valuable and susceptible to being stripped from the outside of your home. In order to protect yourself from this risk, make sure wires on your house are difficult to find and hard to access.

Don’t leave empty boxes of any high priced electronics on your house. Burglars will notice these boxes and recognize that there are new valubles in your house. Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put them outside.

Criminals are often unpredictable, and it is hard to tell when your home could be a target for a burglar. You should take action to secure your family and your belongings. The information you’ve just reviewed can be a vital first step in improving the security of your home.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Check out reviews you find on the web. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.