If you keep items of great value at home, you should realize that people may notice. You should protect your home and your family by investing in a quality home security system. Read these tips for ideas on how to make your house a safe place.

If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

When looking to buy a security system, shop around. Most companies have different price schemes for the the same general level of protection. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

Remove old plants and debris from your yard. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Be sure all sorts of flammable items are kept under control around your home.

Use your garage for your car and not for storage. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders from vandalizing or stealing it. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

Install motion-sensor lights. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. 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.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. This could be an ex-spouse or roommate you got into a fight with. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

The walls of your home make for great hiding spots. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. You can use the opening provided by an electrical switch plate or other device that is not being used. If there are no unused plates, you can easily install fake ones.

It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. Instead of letting you into your home in the event you are locked out, you are providing criminals with easy access to your home. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Instead, give your extra key to a neighbor whom you trust.

Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. The police can offer you some great advice, help you engrave valuables and even come check out your home. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.

Hide the wires of your home security system. An intruder can cut the wires if he can find them. Don’t make it easy for an intruder, have the wires buried or hidden within the home’s walls. This will make you much safer.

Were you aware that your home’s wires are valuable? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. The copper wiring can be stripped and be turned in for money. To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. Jewelry and other small items can be protected very well when placed in hiding places in your walls. Simply take advantage of an unused switch plate, electrical outlet, or phone jack. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. You might even install new locks yourself so that you know you have the only keys.

Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. A background check may also be a good idea. Avoid giving keys out to contractors, maids and repairmen.

If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. These types of items are appealing to thieves, and you may as well put a sign in your yard inviting them to steal yours.

Be prepared for the worst contingency when it comes to criminal threats. There’s no need to live in fear, but addressing some basic security concerns is always the prudent course of action. Keep these tips in mind, and set out to protect your home and family.