You have every right to worry about your home’s safety. You never know when a burglar will target your home. Read this article in order to make your home a safer and more secure place.

Be sure your home appears to always be occupied. You could purchase timers which make lights and TV’s, as well as other devices, power on or off at varying intervals. This makes people think you’re home. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Your dog could carry a spare key for you. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You don’t know who might have a key. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This give your home an extra protection layer. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.

Your flooring and roofing should be fire resistant. This adds an extra layer of protection to your home, especially if you live in a very dry area with power lines. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. Although your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

Talk to people you know about their security systems. This will help you to reduce the stress that you have on your search for a good one. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.

Avoid being shy. Talk to your neighbors and those on your block. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. Pay attention to gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

Always ask for references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. No matter how innocent a person may seem or how interesting the product he or she may be offering, you must not allow access. Some people may simply be trying to determine whether or not you have a home security installed; if you don’t, they may plan to return later if you are away from your home.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. There may be hidden costs to doing business with them, including early termination fees and surprising equipment costs. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.

Be sure to keep your car in your garage rather than filling your garage with stored belongings. In this way, your car will be safer. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. Storing your car in the garage will also make it difficult for anyone casing your home to figure out when no one is going to be there.

Keeping your home well lit at night can help keep the burglars away. They want to avoid being seen. A well-lit home will make it hard for intruders to hide and take your valuables without being detected. Secure your property by creating a well-lit area.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs when they burn out.

Anytime you come home and notice that the door is open whenever you are quite certain you closed it, don’t enter on your own to investigate. This can be very dangerous because the thief could still be inside. Instead, wait outside until the police come, after calling them on your cell phone.

If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. Intruders can easily disable your home security system by cutting or unplugging the wires. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. This makes it much less likely that your system will be compromised.

You need a home security system. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home safe. Visible cameras have a deterrent effect, and if they are disabled, hidden cameras can capture the events that unfold. Many surveillance systems may be easily accessed through a cell phone so that you can check on your house while you’re away.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Ask whether or not your home security company gives you the option to lease and/or buy your equipment. Purchasing your equipment may cost more in the beginning, but this is a one-time cost which does not recur. Leasing usually proves cheaper at first, but it comes with strings attached through contracts or continuing fees and charges. Compare both avenues to see which one is better suited for your needs.

Before you give a security company employee access to your home, make sure they’re in uniform and that they present acceptable identification. It is simple for a thief to pose as a representative of your home security company as a means of gaining access to your house. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Be cautious to stay away from those potential dangers.

Rather than hoping nothing bad ever happens to your family or you, have a more realistic view of the world. Things can always happen, and you need to prepare yourself. Use the tips from this article to create a safer place for your family.

Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t for everyone. Some neighborhoods may do better with self-defense classes or having a dog, while others may require the best home security technology you can get. Understanding your needs will help you make a good purchase decision.