If you own valuable items, such as jewelry, art or money, don’t assume that you’re the only one that knows about it. Upgrading your home security gives you protection from burglars. To learn more about home security, read on.

Be sure your home appears to always be occupied. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. It’ll make it seem like someone is home. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.

Home security systems are able to do more than just sounding the alarm whenever you have an intruder. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. This is important if you have small kids.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. People will check your doormat and frame first. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Check out your garage to ensure that it is secure. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.

Buy a safe. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. They are a potential fire hazard during warmer months. Make sure your yard is clean for the sake of your safety – and that of your family!

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. The security company should have a specialist come to look at it. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. These lights will come on if someone walks near your home. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Just remember that you must change the bulbs often in order to keep the lights working in order.

When choosing a home security firm, trust your instincts. This goes for the installer, too. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.

Walls are a good place to hide things. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

Keep your most valuable possessions inside your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. Most homes are pre-equipped with these handy spaces. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Don’t announce your vacation agenda on your social networks. This is especially true if you have lots of unfamiliar “friends”. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

Instead of thinking that your house will never be threatened by a criminal, always prepare for the worst. Don’t live in fear, but be sure and take the steps to protect yourself. Keep these ideas in mind as you go about boosting the security of your home.