As you’re well aware, owning a home carries with it a very reasonable interest in home security. Being the victim of a home invasion is a very unpleasant experience. Your home is your haven as well as a huge investment. Keep reading for ways to make sure your home remains protected.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!

Be sure that your home is always occupied. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This makes it look as though people are home no matter what. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if their firm is well-reviewed.

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. If an intruder breaks into your home, at least these valuables will be secure. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. Be sure any home cleaner you give your key to is trustworthy and reputable. One way to do this is to check their references. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

Is your ceiling resistant to fire? What about your flooring or roofing? This is a good way to protect your home against fires, for instance if you live near power lines or in a dry area. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Get in touch with the department to determine their offerings.

You should invest in fire-resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling. This can help your home be safer. Preventing fires is the best way to deal with them.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. They turn on only if someone is nearby. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

Conceal valuable spaces within your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. 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.

Never allow any strangers into your home. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. It does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.

You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. Get an alarm that will trigger if either the doors or windows are opened. Doing this will help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. There is a way to prevent burglars from entering your home through the garage. If your garage lifts up on a track, try using a C-clamp. This will prevent your door from opening up if the clamp is close to its roller.

It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. One of the ways an intruder can get around a security system is by disconnecting or cutting the wires. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. Your safety will increase.

The wiring outside of your home can be valuable. Some intruders could strip your home of every bit of copper. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Make sure the wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep this valuable item safe.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. This will make you much safer.

Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. Criminals like to blend into the shadows, so do your best not to provide too many for them. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. This extends to doorways, porches, garages and lower windows.

Buy a paper shredder. You would be surprised at how often thieves look through trash to find personal information to find out when you will be away from home so they can break in. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. Realizing you at involved with a stable firm will give you a sense of calm that is important.

Put up video surveillance. Video camera installation can effectively make your home secure. While a visible camera is a deterrent, a burglar might try to disable the camera, but a separate hidden camera can solve this problem. Surveillance systems often allow you to access videos through your cell phone, too.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Frost your windows with film bought at a hardware store. Also, avoid leaving the door open for prolonged periods of time.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. They can really protect your family, but they’re not something that everybody needs. In some situations, having a good dog and/or learning some self defense may be all that you really need to feel safe. Be sure to understand the sorts of risks you face before deciding what sort of security is best for you.

See if your security company only sells equipment, or if they will lease it to you instead. Purchasing equipment outright will cost more initially, but may offer savings over the long term. Leasing is often less expensive, but it may involve contracts and higher monthly fees. Compare these two options before making your decision.

If you use a door lock with a numeric keypad, do not use your birthday as the pass code. Your birth date is pretty easy to come by, especially for seasoned thieves. Instead, make it a number which you can figure out through a math equation so you remember the equation instead of the number.

If you see that the door is open, do not enter the house. This can be quite dangerous because the burglar may still be on your property. Call the police, then wait until they get there to do anything else.

Any priceless items need to be secured. Irreplaceable valuables, including financial records, family photos, legal documents, passports, etc., should be secured at all times. You may want to invest in a floor safe for these. If you want to be very secure, you can put it in safety deposit boxes at your bank.

As you’ve read, keeping your house safe doesn’t need to be hard. All you need is some reliable home security advice. Utilize the tools provided here to make the best home security decisions for your unique situation. Don’t neglect home security; stay safe.

Can you locate your house number if you are standing on the street? If your numbers cannot be plainly seen, then the police will struggle to locate your home very quickly in case of emergency. There is a cheap and quick fix if you see an issue.