Making sure your home is secure seems a huge task. It doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. If you read the tips that follow, it can be simpler and cheaper than what you thought.

Really take an inventory of what people can see through your windows. If you can obviously see expensive technology like flat screen TVs and pricey desktops, then you are inviting trouble. Instead, hide that tech and expensive furnishings out of view. Your home will be a lot less attractive to potential thieves.

Some people believe the cost of a home security system is prohibitive. However, recent statistics reveal that the average cost of a burglary is nearly three thousand dollars. When this amount is taken into consideration, the cost of a home security system can be justified. There is also the added safety factor of preventing criminals from entering the home.

If you have a door in your garage that leads to the inside of your home, make sure that you keep your garage door down when no one is out there. Having an open door gives a burglar a place to enter, which means you and your family may be in danger.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.

Ask your alarm system if they provide separate entry codes for cleaning people or maintenance men. If they do, take advantage of this feature. In many instances, you can arm the system to allow entry with that code only at specific times of day. This will help prevent potential thieves from entering your house during the evening hours or at other times when they know you might not be at home.

If you have to leave home for an extended period of time, do things to make the home look occupied. Put lights on timers so that they turn on in the evening and off at bedtime. Do the same with the television or radio to really make your home appear lived in.

If you live in a building that has a secured door, do not allow anyone into the building that you don’t know. Many people will hang around and pretend to be a resident or someone else that should be there, so be very careful. If you do not recognize the person, let them know that you cannot let them in.

Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. Be sure to perform a background check and look for any criminal history that might be in evidence. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

Armed with your new knowledge of home security, you ought to be ready to make your home safer. Start with small changes. You’ll find that it’s surprisingly easy to make your home more secure so that you can feel more at ease. You can then relax quickly.…