Bad things usually happen when they are least expected. Don’t take any chances with protecting your home if you can do something about it. Continue reading this article to help you keep your home safe from those criminals.

Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Be sure you have secured your attached garage. 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.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood 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. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. The lights will be triggered when someone gets too close to the house. They will notify you of any movement and can deter any possible burglars since they like remaining inconspicuous. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.

A secure hiding place can be created in a wall. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Repurpose phone jacks and electrical outlets as tiny wall safes. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

You can hide your valuable items inside your walls. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. While it may seem like a convenient way to give you access to your home, intruders are aware of this practice. Any thief knows all the typical hiding spots. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

Do not be shy. Get to know other people who live next door and others in your neighborhood. Keep your eye on their houses, and ask for help to keep yours safe too. Pay attention to gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but it can make it easier for criminals to see inside. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

When securing your home, don’t forget about skylights. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Skylights need to be installed correctly and safely, with hardware that will keep intruders out.

Security System

Be certain your wires are hidden, if you have installed a security system in your home. One of the ways an intruder can get around a security system is by disconnecting or cutting the wires. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. You’ll be safer.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Intruders know about the usual hiding spots. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.

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. Doing so is like giving a burglar an invitation to target your home; he or she will know there is something good inside.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Criminals are often unpredictable, and it is hard to tell when your home could be a target for a burglar. You can do a lot more to protect your home and your family than just hope it doesn’t happen to you. Keep these ideas in mind and conduct additional research so that you can avoid crime.