Most people don’t know enough about the important topic of home security. Making a thorough study of the topic is a good idea if you want to maximize the security of your home, your family and your possessions. Keep reading to get some useful advice on making your home safe.

Check around for prices, reputation, and reliability when choosing a home security provider. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. While these platforms are there for sharing, this is announcing to the world that your home is an open target.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. You’ll find a wide range of prices from different companies. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

Your home security system ought to be checked each year. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. Many different things can make problems for your security system. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Above doors or under doormats are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Don’t be afraid to know the people who live near you. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep your eye on their houses, and ask for help to keep yours safe too. Pay attention to gossip. It is often a good way to find out about security issues, such as strangers in the neighborhood.

Is your ceiling resistant to fire? What about your flooring or roofing? This will help you protect your home under all circumstances. Fire prevention is always a good idea, and sometimes it can be a lifesaving idea!

When choosing a home security firm, trust your instincts. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. Ultimately, the whole point is for you to have peace of mind.

You might think that your home is secure. They don’t understand how to protect their homes, though. Consider the information that has been given to you as a resource for making sure your home is safe.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.