It is up to you to keep your home safe and secure and you should do everything you can to protect it. In addition to having an alarm system installed, there are a number of habits you can cultivate for maximum safety. Read on for some excellent ideas on keeping your home secure.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. Fire is such a destructive force that it makes excellent sense to reduce fire hazards in your home whenever possible.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. 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.

A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Shut off the ringer for all of the telephones in your home if you are planning to go on vacation for a long time. A constantly ringing phone lets thieves know that you are not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. This includes a salesperson or people looking for help. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies before you decide on which one you think is the best option.

Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. Lots of people are afraid that burglars will be able to break into their garage, which will result in them breaking into the home. Thankfully, you can prevent this. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened by strangers.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Just remember to change out the bulbs every so often so the lights remain in working order.

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 placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Entry Points

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Be sure your home alarm covers all entry points into your home. With this method, your family will be safer.

While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. An intruder can easily disable your security system by cutting the wires. Do not make entry into your home easy. Make sure the wires are not exposed either inside or outside your home. Your safety will increase.

Switch your locks. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

If you have any boxes to discard from large, expensive items, wait until the evening before the trash is scheduled for collection. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. Always replace rotting wood with fresh wood immediately to keep your house strong and secure.

Skylights should be secure. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

Anytime a security installer comes to the house, make sure they display proper identification. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Take care to steer clear of danger.

Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. They want to avoid being seen. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. That’s why it’s a good idea to light your home well for optimum safety.

Always lock your home, even if you plan on coming back within a few minutes. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. There are always going to be unique things about your home as well as your specific needs, so make sure you think about these things. You will get the best home security system possible if you use a service willing to work with you to create a tailored system.

It might be time to get yourself a paper shredder if you haven’t already gotten one. Thieves often look through garbage, trying to find credit card information or other important documents. If you can not afford to purchase a paper shredder, just rip the paper into smaller pieces.

Believe it or not, the wires on your house are worth stealing. Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. Copper is expensive and most wiring is composed of it, so stripping it is a great way for crooks to make a quick buck. Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access to keep this valuable property safe.

You don’t need to rely on keys to prevent entry to certain areas of your home. Keyless locks require a code to unlock the door. Many home security companies will install these, and there are also do it yourself kits available.

See if your firm gives you the choice of leasing and/or buying security equipment. Buying it may cost more, but this means there are no monthly charges. You’ll pay higher monthly fees if you lease the equipment, and that will add up over time. You must review both options carefully to determine which will best suit your needs.

Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. Flashlights are very important, as they will give you the ability to move around in the event of an emergency. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.

Now that you have read this, there should be no reason why you are in a home that is not safe. Although home security might appear to be a complicated issue, it is crucial that you utilize home-security strategies in order to protect your home and family. The tips here should make this possible.