If you wish to learn all that you can about home security, this is your chance. You should not settle on such a crucial matter. You need to be in control of this decision, and you need the right information. THe article below will help you get educated on the subject.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Don’t announce your vacation agenda on your social networks. This is especially true if you have lots of unfamiliar “friends”. It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. Other people are sure to have opinions and experiences to share. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. This is very important, as you do not want your gold, diamonds and personal items exposed if someone were to break into your house. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

You should mute your land line phone if you are going on a vacation. If a burglar keeps hearing your phone ring, they’ll know the home is not occupied, making it more likely for a break-in to occur.

If you like to have a key hidden in case you lose yours, place it in a safe place. People will check your doormat and frame first. Rather, think about putting a key on your outside dog’s collar.

No matter how good your security system is, it should be checked annually. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

If your social networking accounts are filled with folks you do not really know, do not announce vacations on the sites. Although your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.

Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.

In the summer, remove all the dead trees from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Clear yard regularly to maintain your house safe.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. Windows need to be monitored too. Make sure the alarm is attached to all of them, and that monitoring is offered for all possible entry points. This is great for keeping the family secure.

End your shyness. Be friendly with people that live in the neighborhood. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

Keep flashlights in your rooms. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

People who live rurally often don’t think about home security. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Not everyone believes this, though.

Change the locks on any new place you move into. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. You can purchase and install locks yourself to make sure only you have the key.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. It is unnecessary cut space into your wall. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. How about unwiring an electricity socket and using it as cover for a place to stash valuable jewelry?

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. They lights will light up your property at night and they are cost-effective and efficient. When they are positioned correctly, they make it pretty much impossible for intruders to get to your house unnoticed.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. Though it is nice to have big windows to get a great view of the outdoors, it is also easier for burglars to look into your home. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

Criminals are much less likely to target your home if it’s well lit. They don’t want visibility. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. Thus, you should always keep lights on at nighttime.

Whenever you are landscaping your home, you should consider safety. Don’t provide burglars with cover by planting big shrubs in front of your doors and windows. These types of places provide the perfect cover for prowlers. This should be planned in advance for your safety.

Be sure to make good use of the Internet when you’re trying to select your home security company. Look at various sites and read customer testimonials, along with details on various packages. After that, choose your top three for consultations.

Keep your outdoor areas well lit. Nothing is as attractive to a burglar as a dark, deeply-shadowed house. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.

Be sure to get a home security service that will inspect your home and tailor a home security system just for you. Every house and every family will produce a unique set of security concerns that are best addressed with tailor-made security arrangements. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.

If you arrive home and you see that your door is ajar, never enter to investigate on your own. The burglar may be on the premises. Call the police, then wait until they get there to do anything else.

The areas outside your home should be kept well lit. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. You should put a light on any area where a person could break in. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

Do not keep the registration papers for your car inside the car’s glove compartment. This isn’t smart because that information contains your home address. Ideally, you should carry your registration in your wallet or bag. If you must leave them in the car, pick a less obvious hiding place. You must have this information on hand if you are stopped for a traffic violation.

Now that you’ve read this article, make use of this information so that you can be on the right track towards protecting your home. Installing the right type of service and system as well as having the right type of knowledge is very important. Use these tips and ideas to create a safer and more secure home environment.

Always keep your valuables secure. Photos, passports, important documents and heirlooms should be kept where they can’t be stolen or damaged. You may want to invest in a floor safe for these. What is even better is the safe deposit box at your bank.