Homeowners must secure their homes. Though you may think that alarm systems are the only option, there actually are many other things to be done. Read on to find out more about keeping your home safe and secure.

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. People will check your doormat and frame first. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.

Buy fire resistant flooring, roofing and ceiling. This can help your home be safer. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Spare Key

Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. Often people are concerned that burglars can enter the home via the attached garage . Happily, there is a solution to this problem. Using a C-clamp on the garage door will prevent it from opening by staying on the door’s track.

Your dog can actually safeguard a spare key. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. Several in various jurisdictions have programs which entail providing a home inspection, what protective measures will help your home and even how to engrave valuable items to make them easier to recover. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

Is your garage used for storage? Consider removing those items and keeping your car there instead. It will be far more secure against thieves. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. Additionally, if your car is put away, burglars will not be able to tell whether or not you are home.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Spending a few days asking for reviews is useful in helping you choose correctly.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

If your garage is attached to your house, make it secure. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

Have lights that sense motion. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

Be sure to secure the skylights to your home. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.

Meet with representatives from the security company you are considering to determine if they are trustworthy. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. Ask the company to send a different installer or simply change companies. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. You should cover any windows that are facing the street so your valuables will be safe.

When in the process of selecting an alarm system, you should select a system that protects more than simply the doors of your home. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. With this method, your family will be safer.

The wiring on your house is valuable to burglars. Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

Replace Rotted Wood

A great way to achieve extra security is to install exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Home invaders interested are able to pry off any rotted wood to get inside. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. Avoid as many fees as you can by reading everything.

You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. Everyone has specific wants and needs when it comes to securing their home, family and belongings. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.

Take advantage of the Internet while comparing your home security options. Check out reviews you find on the web. Then, you can set appointments to make price and service comparisons before you choose.

Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for 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. Understanding your neighborhood, risks and budget constraints can help you to make the best choices.

Make sure you have weighed the costs and risks when you are considering your security needs. Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. In some cases the security system is your best investment, in others you well-served with an alert dog or reinforced locking systems. Know the risks so that you can make a better decision.

The best method to maintain a thief from going into the garage is making sure nobody can see inside. Frost your windows so people cannot look inside your home. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

Don’t give anyone an opportunity to see inside your garage in order to ward off robbers. If your garage door has windows, make sure they have a frosted coating. This is easy to find at any major hardware store, and installation is a breeze. Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when you are working in the garage or yard.

Find out about the various lengths of contracts your chosen home security company has on offer. There are likely pros and cons to each. You may pay less if you sign up for longer, but you might also get left with a contract if you have to sell your house. Short contracts leave you with freedom, but also a larger bill.

A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs naturally protect their homes and they make lots of noise when things go wrong. There is no need for a mean, big dog either. Little dogs can also make big noise, which is the main thing that burglars care about.

Spring Latch

If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. There are key-less locks that open with a push-button security code. These may be installed by yourself or a security company.

Don’t have spring latch locks installed. This type of lock is extremely easy to break. Anyone with a credit card can do it. The card is slid into the crevice between the latch and the door, pushing the latch back and springing the lock open. Put in a deadbolt for more security if your doors already contain spring latch locks.

Ask your security company about the lengths of contract they offer. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Longer contracts may offer more affordable monthly payments; however, it may be hard to cancel that contract should you decide to change services or sell your house. Shorter contracts offer greater freedom, but may be more expensive each month.

See if your security company only sells equipment, or if they will lease it to you instead. Buying will save you a ton of money over time. The initial cost of leasing may seem low, but you may be required to sign a long term contract and it may carry a higher monthly fee. You need to think about each option to think about what is right for your home.

It is always best to go with a solid heavy wooden door, or a metal door for extra security. Metal or solid wood doors cannot be broken. Few people can kick down such a door. Replace outside doors as quickly as possible.

Do not store your vehicle registration documents in your car’s glove compartment. This will prevent anyone from knowing where you reside. Instead, keep the registration in your wallet or a lock box in the trunk. They have to be available if the cops pull you over.

Ask the security company you hire whether they have lights with motion sensors. Most companies offer this option which detects within a given distance of your home and alerts you that someone is approaching. This can deter potential thieves, as well as offer extra security while you enter your home.

Put in a door that is solid wood or metal. Those are the most durable materials available. If a robber tried to break in, it would be hard for him to do that. The cost of replacing your doors is worth it in the end.

Always lock your second story windows. People often overlook their second floor windows, assuming that thieves won’t check them. They do use this method of entry though. This is the weak point of home security and criminal generally know this.

Inquire whether or not your security company offers motion sensor lighting. Many companies do offer this and it makes lights outside the home turn on just as soon as a person approaches them. This will make an intruder hesitant to break in, and it will provide you with additional safety whenever you arrive home late at night.

Women living alone or with only children are easy targets for home invasion. Therefore, consider putting large boots on the front step of your home to make burglars believe a manly man lives in the room. This will help keep criminals away.

Now that you’ve read this, you have no reason to be in an unsafe home. It may appear like a tough task at first, but it’s worth it. The tips in this article should help you accomplish just that.

External wiring is sometimes all that a thief is after. Copper, which is found in electrical wiring and components, can be sold for a lot of money. Hiding electrical wiring can stop intruders from stealing copper, preventing you from having to pay repair costs.