Tragedy seems to spring up without any warning. Do not put your home and loved ones at risk due to laziness. Keep reading for useful advice on deterring burglars and making a secure home.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. This is because you really have no idea who has keys, and therefore access to your home. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

Make your home look occupied at all times. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. It’ll make it seem like someone is home. This will keep people from breaking in.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. This isn’t just for burglars; parents with young children can also use it as a valuable tool to know when their child has come inside.

Does your dog stay outside while you are gone? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your extra key. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Get a safe to protect your valuable items. If a burglar enters your home, he or she will have a hard time making off with your possessions. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.

Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. Other people are sure to have opinions and experiences to share. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

If there are people you don’t know that have access to your social media sites, then you don’t want to let all of them know you’re on vacation. This can indicate that your home will be free and vulnerable during the time.

Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. Many police departments will offer expert advice, arrange inspections, sponsor neighborhood watches, and help you mark and register your valuables. Get in touch today.

Your friends may have some great advice for choosing the right company. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.

You should mute your land line phone if you are going on a vacation. If the phone rings when you are away, burglars will know there’s nobody home, making the house vulnerable to a break-in when you are out.

Go with your gut when choosing a home security company to install a system. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. After all, you’re investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.

Attached Garage

Hide your security system’s wiring. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. You’ll be safer.

Make sure your attached garage is secure. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. Try putting a C-clamp on your garage door track. This will stop the door from rising if you want to keep it closed.

If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. Doing so is like giving a burglar an invitation to target your home; he or she will know there is something good inside.

Use your garage for your car, not just storage. This will keep thieves from stealing it or harming it. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

Anytime a security installer comes to the house, make sure they display proper identification. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This can be risky for you and your belongings. Proceed with caution.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. In the dark hours, these lights will provide the illumination necessary to protect your home and also save money by staying off when they’re not needed. If they are positioned correctly outside of your home, your motion detectors can make it impossible for strangers to sneak around.

Purchase flashlights that have good batteries, and keep them in every room in your home in case the power goes out. It is extremely important that you have flashlights because they allow you to move around easier in the dark, which is especially useful in an emergency. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.

Find out how long a company has been in operation before signing a home security contract. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

Criminals are not predictable, and a break-in of your home can happen at any time. Home burglaries happen more often then you would probably like to think, so it is a good idea to be prepared. Start with these tips, and grow from there.

Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. Burglars love to operate in the dark. Motion sensor lights can work great because they can also alert you when someone does come onto the property. This extends to doorways, porches, garages and lower windows.