If you have a home, you know how vital it is to keep it safe. Being the victim of a home invasion is a very unpleasant experience. The investment you make in your home and belongings can be huge. The article below has the tips you need to keep your home safe.

Change all of your locks when you move in. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. You want to be sure that you’re the only one with a key. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.

Do you allow your dog to stay in your yard while you are away? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. Try hiding the key in your outside dog’s collar.

Don’t allow anyone you don’t know to look into your house. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This will give your home added security. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.

Use your garage for your car, not just storage. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

Use the spaces in your home’s walls to store valuables. This does not mean that you should make alterations to your walls. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. As it gets hotter, the chances of these igniting and putting your house at risk increase. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief. The alarm and monitoring system should be set for all windows and doors. You want the best security possible for your family.

If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. Not everyone believes this, though.

Rotten wood on door and window frames needs to be repaired. Anyone can gain access to our home by prying away the rotted wood. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. Keep yourself safe.

Keep flashlights in your rooms. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. You can do your own installation to make sure that no one else has a key.

Whenever seeking out home-security companies, the Internet can be a valuable resource, so utilize it. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. Then, you can choose a top three to contact and compare details and pricing.

If someone from the security company comes to your home, ask to see their ID before allowing them in. They might not be who you think they are. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Make sure you are as cautious as you can be.

A reputable security company will send a representative to your home to design a custom system. Everyone has specific wants and needs when it comes to securing their home, family and belongings. By locating the company that will create the best plan for you, you will be assured you are receiving the best possible home security.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. These lights are not only handy when you get home late, they also help deter criminals from entering your home. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

If you get home and see the door is slightly open, don’t go inside by yourself to investigate. This is a delicate situation as the burglar might still be in your home. Call the authorities and let them take care of the situation.

Always go over the small print on contracts offered by your home security company. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. You can easily avoid these fees if you do your research.

It might be time to get yourself a paper shredder if you haven’t already gotten one. You would be surprised at how often thieves look through trash to find personal information to find out when you will be away from home so they can break in. Cutting the papers into small pieces with a pair of scissors is another option.

Be sure and keep the outside of your house well lit. Criminals love darkness to help mask their crimes. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. This includes doorways, windows, and your garage.

If you will be away from your home, arrange to have whoever is collecting your mail to also pick up fliers placed inside your door. Thieves have put them up in order to see if people are home to take them down. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.

As stated in this piece, making sure your house is safe need not be tough. There is some education that is required though. Follow the advice in this article to improve your home’s security. Don’t neglect these tips because you could use them to ensure your house’s safety.

Consider installing a surveillance system. Placing hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. Visible cameras deter the majority of intruders, and if they try to disarm them, a camera that is hidden will keep capturing footage. As an added security bonus, most modern systems will allow you to monitor your cameras remotely (via cell phone) for round-the-clock protection.