If you keep items of great value at home, you should realize that people may notice. In order to protect the things you own, putting a little thought into home security is a must. Read the following suggestions on increasing the safety and security in your home.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. 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.

When you buy a new house, change the locks. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Check their references very carefully. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This will help you protect your home under all circumstances. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

Never open up your door to a stranger. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Spare Key

Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.

Always have your security system checked each year. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

Be bold. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

If you scheduled an appointment for a member of the security company to come to your house, ask them to show you some identification first. Having the name of the technician coming to your house ahead of time can help to ensure you are allowing someone who really works for the company into your home. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

Those living in rural areas often don’t worry as much about intruders compared to city dwellers. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. It may be shocking, but many home invasions and burglaries occur by intruders walking through the front door that was left open. It does not take long for thieves to steal a lot from your home.

You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. Research the possibilities, check out package options and pricing and analyze customer feedback. Then, you can choose a top three to contact and compare details and pricing.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Burglars can easily cut the wires if they are visible. Instead, make sure the wires are hidden. Keep yourself safe.

Keep safety at the forefront as you landscape. You should have a clear view out of all your windows and an unobstructed path to any doors. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. Put these features at a greater distance from your house; let beauty also complement safety.

If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. There are always going to be unique things about your home as well as your specific needs, so make sure you think about these things. If you’ve found a company that can tailor a system to you, you can receive the greatest amount of security to make you feel much more comfortable.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. This can come in handy if someone has cut your power and is attempting to break in.

If you are out of town for awhile, ask a friend to take a look at your door for any fliers. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.

Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. Thieves don’t want to be visible. A well-lit home will make it hard for intruders to hide and take your valuables without being detected. If you want to stay secure, keep your house brightly lit.

Find out about the various lengths of contracts your chosen home security company has on offer. There are likely pros and cons to each. The longer the contract, the lower your monthly bill, but if you move or become dissatisfied, you are stuck with the monthly fee. There’s more freedom with a contract that’s shorter, but the monthly payments may be higher.

The most useful tool for finding home security is the Internet. Research the possibilities, check out package options and pricing and analyze customer feedback. Then you can schedule an appointment for a home visit to discuss which package is best for you and what it will cost.

Do not keep the registration papers for your car inside the car’s glove compartment. This isn’t smart since anybody who gets them is going to know your address. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place like your trunk. You must have them on hand if the police stop you.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

If your door has a numeric lock, make sure the combination isn’t your birthday. Your birthdate can be found on Facebook or pieces of mail and you have given entry into your home. Think instead of a more creative way to keep track of your code.

Put in a surveillance system. Installing hidden and visible video cameras is great for securing a home. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. A lot of surveillance systems are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.

When you don’t want to spend a lot on maintenance, go for a hard-wired system. Although wireless systems are easier, they usually require a lot of batteries that require changing regularly. If you don’t replace the batteries, you’ll find that your system stops working correctly. Batteries can be very expensive to change.

Keep your garage shut and locked so burglars can’t peek inside. Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house. Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when you are working in the garage or yard.

When the windows in your family room are facing the street, it is best to close your curtains every night before you go to bed. It’s best to discourage peeping toms. If burglars spot the expensive items in your house, they may want to hit you next. Walk around your house to find out what can be seen and then block it.

Are your house numbers visible from the street? If an emergency happens, the police can’t get to the home as quick if your numbers are obscured in any way or are too small. This is easy and inexpensive to fix if you believe there could be a problem.

A home alarm system is a terrific investment, but make sure someone is there to call the cops if it happens to go off. This is why it’s a great idea to consider a centrally monitored system. Don’t rely solely on your neighbors to notify the police.

Rather than hoping you won’t ever be the victim of burglary, take the steps to ensure it never happens. You don’t have to live your life in fear, but you should take some preventative measures. Keep this advice in mind to provide you and your family with protection.

When it comes to security, sliding doors aren’t very safe. They can be unlocked very easily if you shake and lift them. You have to secure them, so use a piece of pipe in the track. This will ensure the door stays tightly shut and it is difficult to force open.