The business of home security is booming. No matter what kind of neighborhood you live in, home burglaries can strike anywhere and at anytime. Criminals often target homes with minimal security. If you want to keep your home from being a target, read this article to make improvements to your home security.

Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. This will help ensure the safety of your home, particularly if your home is located in a dry area. Fire is such a destructive force that it makes excellent sense to reduce fire hazards in your home whenever possible.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. Some give offer the option to monitor all entries into the house. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened by strangers.

Do not allow anyone you do not know into your home. It is essential you do not do this, even if the stranger gives you a convincing story or states they need your assistance. Some people just want to know if there is a security system so they can plan on coming back later or not.

See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.

If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. Having the car in the garage will prevent it from getting broken into or stolen. Hiding your car away from plain view is a good way to keep intruders from knowing when you are at home or not.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs to ensure they continue to work properly.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to check it annually. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. 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. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Be certain that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. All you need is a wall opening you’re not using (something like a phone jack, electrical box, or switch plate). You can also just put in a false plate to cover a hiding place.

Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. If you need to protect expensive items in your home, put them inside the walls. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. You can also just put in a false plate to cover a hiding place.

Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Your home should have a few pre-cut areas that can be used. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Rotten wood can be removed in order to get inside your home. Replace it as soon as possible.

Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Caution is always advisable if dangers like this are to be avoided.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. While you may trust those who lived there before you, you have no idea who lived there before them. It is possible to purchase and put in locks on your own so you can be assured you have the only keys.

A great way to achieve extra security is to install exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors. In the evening, lights will help keep your home safe, and will add little in the way of extra expense. When they are positioned correctly, they make it pretty much impossible for intruders to get to your house unnoticed.

To increase your home’s security, buy some outdoor lights that are motion activated. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

Whenever you are landscaping your home, you should consider safety. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs will bark at the sign of trouble or intruders. A big, vicious guard dog isn’t necessary. Small dogs even scare off intruders as they don’t like anything to make noise when breaking into a home.

Shred any documents and junk mail that contains identifying information. Thieves can use this information to figure out your schedule and determine the best time to break in. If you can’t get a paper shredder, try ripping papers into smaller pieces.

If there are certain rooms you want to keep unoccupied, then you don’t want to keep track of all the keys and locks. Get key-less locks that need a code. You can install them yourself or you can hire a home security firm.

Whenever you purchase some expensive item, don’t place the empty boxes right outside your home. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target. Cut the boxes and wait until the garbage truck comes to put them outside.

Don’t hide your keys in obvious places. A fake rock or flower pot are simply too easy to guess. Many people also know to check under the welcome mat. You should just give a spare key to a trusted neighbor instead. If you must keep it elsewhere, be creative with your hiding spot.

If you lose your house keys often, you might want to install a keyless entry system. You can have key-less locks which require a code. Either you or a security company can install them.

If you have windows into your living room that open to the street, always draw your curtains in the evening. It’s best to discourage peeping toms. If the crooks can see what you own, then they are going to target you next. Lock everything up and shade your windows to stay discreet.

When you are out of the house, your drapes and blinds should be fully closed. By failing to do so, you are granting a prime view of your house and your belongings. It could be enticing to break in if they notice something that’s nice. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.

A sliding glass door is not very safe. They can be simply unlocked with a lift and a shake. If you lack a connected security system for such doors, cut a piece of pipe to stick in the door’s channel. This will make the door a lot harder to force open.

Home security is the only way to keep your family safe. When you aren’t expecting it, an unfortunate event can happen. Use the tips in this article to make sure that your home is as safe as possible. Don’t wait. Take care of this important matter now.

Don’t avoid your neighborhood gossip. Instead, get to know him or her. The nosy neighbor may be the one to alert you that someone was snooping around your house. You will even be able to ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your home if you are going on a vacation.