The average homeowner has a lot of work to do to secure their home. It does not have to be difficult or expensive. By reading the below article, you’ll realize that you can take significant steps in protecting your home.

It is important for your home to always look lived in. Buy timers so that lights, radios, TVs and all other electronics turn on and off at various times. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This will help to deter burglars.

Do you allow your dog to stay in your yard while you are away? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. This works very well if you have a pet that is not very fond of strangers. You will get the access you need without having to worry about your safety.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.

When looking for a system to secure your home, do comparison shopping. Each company has different rates for their security system. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. Fire prevention is always a good idea, and sometimes it can be a lifesaving idea!

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. Fire is such a destructive force that it makes excellent sense to reduce fire hazards in your home whenever possible.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is secure. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Avoid coming across as overly shy. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Ask them to watch your home if you are on vacation. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. Do some background research on the company you select, and look for people who make you feel safe.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

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. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital. Some think rural areas see less burglary.

Hide the wires of your home security system. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. Do not make entry into your home easy. Make sure the wires are not exposed either inside or outside your home. You’ll be safer.

Skylights should be secure. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

If you purchase big-ticket items, don’t throw their boxes in the trash before trash day. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

Hide valuables in spaces in your walls. It’s not necessary to cut out parts of your wall to do this. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

Rotten Wood

If you bought any expensive or large items, don’t throw the boxes out until the day trash is scheduled to be removed. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

Replace rotten wood on your door frame. The rotten wood will be simple to remove, allowing a thief access to your home. Keep your home secure by replacing rotted wood with fresh timber.

Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? People don’t realize this until it is stolen. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. Be sure that your wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep your wires safe.

Check references before giving anyone access to your home. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history. You never really know if you can trust a service person, and giving access to the wrong one can prove disastrous.

Having a bright and lit-up home at night deters crooks. These crooks do not wish to be noticed or seen. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. At night, keep your lights turned on to boost security.

Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. You need some features which other families may wish to do without. You’ll get the best protection by using a company that can tailor a plan to your requirements.

Have a home security company come to your house and come up with a system that best suits your needs. Every house and every family will produce a unique set of security concerns that are best addressed with tailor-made security arrangements. You will get the best home security system possible if you use a service willing to work with you to create a tailored system.

Use a wireless security system. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. Wireless systems don’t need your home’s power in order to properly work. In addition, they can be usually be installed and maintained easier.

For maximum safety, your home needs bright exterior lighting. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.

If you will be going out of time, have someone you trust get your mail. Also, have them look for fliers stuck in your door. This is a way people who are casing out your house can tell whether you are home or not. Fliers that are not removed let the burglar know that the home is vacant.

When you are away on vacation have a house sitter bring in your mail and any flyers and newspapers that accumulate in front of your house. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes them down. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.

Put a surveillance system in your home. Installing hidden and visible video cameras are great for securing your house. Cameras that can be clearly seen have a powerful deterrent effect, while concealed cameras are difficult or impossible for intruders to disable. A lot of surveillance systems are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.

If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. Break the boxes down, or take a scissors to them to help them fit in your trash can.

Speak with your security company about contract lengths and any options available. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. A longer contract might give you a lower monthly bill, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. Shorter contracts allow your greater freedom, however they usually cost more each month.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. You’ll spend less money in the long-run if you buy the equipment outright. Leasing may seem cheaper but might require contractual agreements and fees. Compare both avenues to see which one is better suited for your needs.

Don’t use spring-latch locks. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. Burglars just slip a card between the latch and the door, causing the lock mechanism to open. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.

If you are concerned about the cost of maintaining your security system, then you may find that a hard-wired solution is a good option. Wireless security systems are great, but need frequent battery changes. Forgetting to add new batteries can cause your system to not work as it should. Batteries can be very expensive to change.

Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. If someone breaks into your car, that person can view your registration and instantly know where you reside. Keep these papers on you or hide them under a seat in your vehicle. Keep them close to you in case you get pulled over.

Ask the security company whether or not that have motion sensitive lighting. Most companies will offer this service, and it illuminates the outside of the house whenever there is any movement. This can provide extra security when you enter your house, and can also hinder an intruder.

Now that you’ve got some useful home security tips, they can be used to better secure your home. Alter your home for maximum security. You’ll feel safe living in your home at any point of the day. That will give you great peace of mind.

Also, keep your second floor windows locked at all times. Burglars may not use the front entrance, so this is important for you to do. This simply isn’t the case. A burglar will attempt to get in any way they can.