Something bad can happen at any time, and you’ll never expect it. Don’t neglect to prepare for unfortunate events. Read on for great tips to make your home safer and to keep criminals from targeting you.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times. This will make your home look like someone is in it. It is also another way to secure your home.

There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.

Security systems are more than just an alarm. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person 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.

Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. People will check your doormat and frame first. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Hiding places for spare keys must be chosen with extreme care and caution. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.

Don’t be shy. Get to know other people who live next door and others in your neighborhood. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. Don’t disregard gossip either. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Install lights that have motion sensors. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

Garage Doors

Those living in rural areas often don’t worry as much about intruders compared to city dwellers. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Not everyone believes this, though.

If you have an attached garage, make sure it is secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

When summer comes around, eliminate all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. They pose a fire risk. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. A lot of times, burglaries happen due to carelessness. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? Often homeowners are unaware of this fact until they find that their wiring has been stolen. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. Be sure to keep your wiring hidden or difficult to reach.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.

Get a custom-designed plan that fits your needs by having the security company do a site visit in your home. Everyone has different needs, and your security system should be designed to protect your home and family. If you have found a company that could cater to your needs, then it is easy to get the security that will make you and your loved ones comfortable.

Use the Internet to find a reliable home security company. Read through official websites for different companies and look for reviews written by customers. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. Although they can be very helpful, security systems aren’t always necessary. In some cases the security system is your best investment, in others you well-served with an alert dog or reinforced locking systems. See to it that you understand the risks involved in making these purchasing decisions.

Perform landscaping for your home which enhances your home’s safety. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, get one. Thieves might go through your trash bags to find bills for valuables or personal information. If a paper shredder is not in your budget, consider tearing your documents into tiny pieces or even burning them.

Ask your home security company how long they have been in business before you sign up for service. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.

Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. Video cameras are a great deterrent. Intruders can be deterred to visible cameras, but hidden cameras are better if criminals damage the other cameras. Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, allowing you to check up on your home when you are away.

There is no knowing what a criminal is thinking, so you’ll never know if your dwelling is a target. Don’t take a chance of a burglar invading your home. Do what is necessary to make it secure. Remember these tips, and do further research in order to protect yourself from crime.

Inquire about various contract lengths which your security company might offer. There are likely pros and cons to each. Long contracts are cheaper every month, but can outlast your stay in the home. Shorter contracts likely allow you more flexibility with exiting the plan; however, you will probably have a larger monthly bill.