Bad things usually happen when they are least expected. 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. You could purchase timers and have your TVs, lights, radios and other types of electronics to go on at various times. This way, it will appear that you are at home. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.

Comparison shop when you are ready to buy a home security system. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies before you decide on which one you think is the best option.

Put your spare key on your dog. This is a great idea if your dog is outside all the time, or they can get out through a doggy door. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

You should never give details about your vacations and other plans on social networks. 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.

Do you have an outdoor dog? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your extra key. The key can be attached to the collar of your dog. This will ensure that burglars cannot see it. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

Don’t let strangers enter your house. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. The doormat is too obvious of a place to hide it, as robbers will look there first. Try hiding the key in your outside dog’s collar.

Make sure your attached garage is secure. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. Your home will get added protection, especially if your environment is dry and has power lines. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Remove old plants and debris from your yard. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. Clear yard regularly to maintain your house safe.

Consider the advice of your friends when selecting your home security company. Others have likely had both good and bad experiences that they can share with you that can then save you a lot of stress and time. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. Call them up to find out more.

If you own a garage, be sure to use it to place your car, as opposed to using it as a storage. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. 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.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. Wild animals, domestic pets, and weather are all factors that can affect the reliability of your home security system. It’s quite possible for there to be a fault in your system even if you can’t see it.

Criminals are tough to predict, and you never know when you may be targeted. Rather than hoping this will not be a problem for you, make your home safer. Keep these ideas in mind and conduct additional research so that you can avoid crime.

Put up motion activated lighting. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Just do not forget to replace the bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.