The safety of your home and family is of utmost importance. Sadly. burglaries are all too common, as are fires and floods. This article will show you a few ways to keep yourself safe.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. This makes it appear that someone is home. This helps you keep your house burglar-free.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie 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.

It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.

Get a safe to protect your valuable items. 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.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. Knowledge of first-hand experiences can be very helpful to you when it comes to making this important decision. By asking around, you will gain information about the pros and cons of a variety of options.

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. The police can offer you some great advice, help you engrave valuables and even come check out your home. Call the local police department and inquire as to what programs they offer.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, they should not be given access. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.

Try not to have a shy attitude. Talk to your neighbors. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. Listen for gossip too. It is often a good way to find out about security issues, such as strangers in the neighborhood.

Never open the door for a stranger. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

Find a home security company you can trust. You should be very picky when it comes to letting people inspect your home. You don’t want to refrain from choosing a different company or technician. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

Make sure your attached garage is secure. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. Place a C-Clamp on the door track near the roller. This will prevent the door from lifting.

Walls are a good place to hide things. Small valuables fit nicely inside walls. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.

You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. This sort of thing is a fire hazard in the heat of summer. To make sure your home is safer, clear your yard periodically.

Security System

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. There are differences between large cities and homes located in the countryside. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. This helps keep you and your family safe.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. If you haven’t got any plates that are unused, simply install a false switch plate.

If you bought any expensive or large items, don’t throw the boxes out until the day trash is scheduled to be removed. Empty boxes for expensive new gear serve as advertisements to potentials thieves; don’t make it easy for them to spot such tempting targets.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. Why not take the guts out of an electrical socket you’re not using? You can convert it into a convenient and covert little wall safe.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Replace any wood surrounding your door frame that is rotting. Anybody wanting to break into your house can just pry off rotted wood and get inside. Therefore, replace rotted wood with fresh wood to ensure your home’s safety.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. At night, the lights will keep things bright round the house, but they are also efficient and cost-effective ways to help your security. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

Having light on in your home at night will scare crooks away. Most burglars rely on concealment to approach a home. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. Keep your lights turned on during the night.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. You should have a clear view out of all your windows and an unobstructed path to any doors. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

Many things can be threats to your home, which is why you need a good security system. This article has many quality ideas about protecting your home from threats. Use these concepts as a means to increase the safety level of your home.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. Many years of service bode well for the company’s performance. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.