There is good reason to be concerned about home invasions. You never know when a “n’er do well” might come along and steal your belongings or harm your family. Read on, and learn how to make your domicile more secure.

Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Invest in timers to automatically turn on and off any electronics at various times. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.

Comparison shop when you are ready to buy a home security system. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. 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. All references should be checked. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Do not invite strangers into your home. No matter how innocent a person may seem or how interesting the product he or she may be offering, you must not allow access. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.

Fire Resistant

Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. 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 to invest in building supplies that are as fire resistant as possible. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.

Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. Call and see what is available.

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

Do not be shy. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. Don’t ignore the gossip. You might hear helpful information, for instance if strangers have been hanging around.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. You should make sure you only open the door to your home for people that you know and are expecting.

Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

Keep your car in the garage. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. All you have to do is place them behind any unused phone jack, electrical outlet or switch plate. If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.

Trust your instincts when it comes to hiring a home security company. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.

Get creative and hide valuables inside your walls. You don’t need to cut out segments of your walls by the way. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. What about un-wiring an electrical socket which isn’t used to utilize as a cover to hide your jewelry?

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. It is wise to invest in coverings for large windows that can give criminals a large view of your home. If your house has street-facing windows, make sure they are always covered and your make sure your valuables are hidden away.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Exposing the box to view ahead of time signals a burglar that he will find this item in your home.

You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. You do not know if the people you hire are trustworthy, so do not give them a key to your home.

Don’t just sit and hope that no bad people will come by; instead, look at things more realistically. Trouble can come down on you at any moment, and that’s why it’s important to prepare yourself as best you can. These tips will help prevent this hardship from occurring.

Ask your security provider about their history in the business. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. Whenever you know you aren’t doing business with a fly-by-night company, you will be more assured your home is protected.