If you are a homeowner, you should know the importance of being safe. There aren’t many feelings worse than your home being severely damaged or destroyed. Besides being a valuable possession in its own right, your home is also the stage upon which you live your life. Continue reading to learn tips that can keep your home and family safe.

Put your spare key on your dog. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times. This makes people think you’re home. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.

Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. One way to do this is to check their references. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. People will check your doormat and frame first. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Store the spare key with them. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

If there are people you don’t know that have access to your social media sites, then you don’t want to let all of them know you’re on vacation. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. The safe should be situated in an inconspicuous area of your home.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These are vulnerable to fires and put your home in danger. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Ask them to watch your home if you are on vacation. Don’t ignore the gossip. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.

Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. While they are there to let light in, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Be sure that the skylights for your home are durable and reliable.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. Even if the previous owner or tenant seems trustworthy, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the key they made and distributed. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

Check each spring for any rotting frames on your doors and windows. Replace them immediately if you spot any problems. Anyone can gain access to our home by prying away the rotted wood. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

To increase your home’s security, buy some outdoor lights that are motion activated. At night, the lights will keep things bright round the house, but they are also efficient and cost-effective ways to help your security. Intruders will not be able to sneak into your home if you place your motion detector in the right spot.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. There may be hidden costs involved that you were not aware of. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Light up your home’s exterior. Criminals like to blend into the shadows, so do your best not to provide too many for them. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.

Wireless System

If you get home and notice an open door, do not go in to see what has happened. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Instead, wait outside until the police come, after calling them on your cell phone.

There are wireless systems available for home security, as another option. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. 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.

Consider installing a surveillance system for your home. Adding video cameras on the property can be a good idea. Visible cameras deter the majority of intruders, and if they try to disarm them, a camera that is hidden will keep capturing footage. Surveillance systems often allow you to access videos through your cell phone, too.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. Cover windows using frosting, which you can buy at large hardware stores, to keep people from peeking in your window. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

Dogs are among the most effective home burglary systems. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. Your dog doesn’t have to be a big, burly attack dog. A small or medium dog will bark to alert you if it is properly trained.

A dog is a great home security alarm. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. There is no need for a guard dog. Even tinier canines can ward off intruders with enough noise.

If you have roommates or kids who you do not want in certain areas of the house, you do not have to lock the doors and carry around a ton of keys. Keyless locks require a code to unlock the door. Install them yourself or get a local home security company to do that.

If you want to keep certain rooms in your home private, you don’t need to lock every door with a key. If you do have areas to lock, consider getting keyless locks that you can open using a code, rather than carrying a huge ring of keys around with you. Any good security company can provide and install these locks, or you can even put them in yourself.

Do not use spring latch locks on your doors. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. Intruders can just wedge the credit card in between the latch and the door, causing it to open. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.

There are many simple ways to safeguard your home effectively. You just require knowledge about different ideas. Utilize the tools provided here to make the best home security decisions for your unique situation. Don’t neglect these tips since they can ensure your home’s safety.

When checking out security companies, ask whether they allow you to choose between buying or leasing the system. Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. Leasing is cheaper, but there may be hidden fees and contracts. Check out both options and determine which is best for you.