As you’re well aware, owning a home carries with it a very reasonable interest in home security. Home damage can be devastating. Therefore, it is important to protect your home at all costs. Read this article for tips on keeping your precious asset safe.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. You could purchase timers which make lights and TV’s, as well as other devices, power on or off at varying intervals. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This will help safeguard your house to the best of your ability.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? They can help you with your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.

Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. One way to do this is to check their references. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.

Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Do you have an outdoor dog? This is where you can put your spare key. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. If your phone is ringing while you are out, burglars will realize that no one is home, making your home very vulnerable to an attack during your time away.

Don’t let any person you don’t completely know into your house. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.

Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies before you decide on which one you think is the best option.

Those that live in rural area are not as concerned about having their home invaded as those who are located in the city. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.

Conceal valuable spaces within your walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. There are many places in your home that are pre-cut and available. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. The doormat is too obvious of a place to hide it, as robbers will look there first. An example would be to attach a key to your dog’s collar, if he stays outdoors.

Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. Thieves can steal a lot of valuable stuff in mere minutes.

Do not choose a home alarm system that monitors only your doors. Windows need to be monitored too. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This will make your family safer.

In summer, take care to trim back branches and plants near the house. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. Clear up your yard so it looks good and is safe.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. You are alerting thieves that there is something worth stealing inside your home.

Are you aware of the value contained in your home’s wiring? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. Copper is expensive and most wiring is composed of it, so stripping it is a great way for crooks to make a quick buck. Hide your wiring for optimum security.

It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. You may not be able to tell there is an issue by yourself.

Replace rotten wood on your door frame. Anybody wanting to break into your house can just pry off rotted wood and get inside. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. Be aware of these particular fees so you can steer clear of them.

Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. Small items of value can be hidden for safety in your home’s walls. All you have to do is place them behind any unused phone jack, electrical outlet or switch plate. If there are no unused plates, you can easily install fake ones.

Keeping your house safe is not a difficult feat. It simply takes knowledge. Use these ideas to boost your home’s security. Give all of these tips at least a second glance, because they are all important and could provide the keys you need to keep your home safe.