Home owners have a responsibility to keep their houses as safe as possible. Alarm systems are not the only way to keep your home safe and secure. Keep reading for an inside look at what you can do to make your home secure.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

When you buy a new house, change the locks. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Get a locksmith in right away. You should also have your locks changed if you lose your keys.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. This will help to keep your jewelry and other valuables secured in the event of a break in. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Therefore, ask everyone you can in order to obtain the most advice. With thorough advice, the best decision can be made.

Do not invite strangers into your home. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, do not let them in. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home security equipment.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is secure. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

Your garage needs to be secure. Lots of people are afraid that burglars will be able to break into their garage, which will result in them breaking into the home. Thankfully, you can prevent this. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.

Is your garage used for storage? Consider removing those items and keeping your car there instead. It will be far more secure against thieves. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

There’s no security system so durable that it can go without regular maintenance and inspections. Have yours checked out once a year. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. It’s quite possible for there to be a fault in your system even if you can’t see it.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.

Go with your gut when you invite a home security company representative into your house. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. You don’t want to refrain from choosing a different company or technician. You want your new system to protect you, not be the way the thief gets into your home.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.

Always lock your house, even if you are only going to be away for a few minutes. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. It can be a quick job for a burglar to steal items of great value.

When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief. Make sure the alarm is attached to all of them, and that monitoring is offered for all possible entry points. This is a way to make sure your family will be safe.

Are you aware of the value contained in your home’s wiring? A lot of people don’t realize this fact until a robber steals it from their home. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and may be stripped off the exterior of the house in a short time span. To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. Positioned correctly, these lights can make it impossible for intruders to get on your property undetected.

An important part of vetting any security company before you sign a contract with them is finding out how long they’ve been providing security services in your community. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

When searching for methods of improving your home’s security, a great, inexpensive method of doing this is purchasing exterior lights with installed motion detectors. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. They also help to keep intruders away, because an intruder does not want to come close to your property if they know they might be spotted.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars tend to commit crimes at night. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

Wireless System

When you hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. There may be hidden costs to doing business with them, including early termination fees and surprising equipment costs. You’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.

A wireless security system for your home is a great option. Systems that are wired are cheaper, but they need unattractive wiring inside your home and may malfunction when you have a power outage. A wireless system is easy to install and to maintain. Besides, you will still be able to count on your wireless system in case of a power outage.

You want your blinds and curtains closed if you’re away from your home. When they are open, potential burglars get a free look in. If something desirable is visible, you can expect a break in. At night when you’re asleep, you should close your shades.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. Intruders should have nowhere to hide near your home. Plan these features for further away from your home.

Do not keep the registration papers for your car inside the car’s glove compartment. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. Instead, keep the registration in your wallet or a lock box in the trunk. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.

After reading these tips, your home should be safe. There is a lot of information to take in, but you are better prepared to create your security system. The excellent advice you have just read will help you in achieving this.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. When you know that you’re dealing with a company of some repute, you can feel more at ease making that decision.