Homeowners must assume the serious responsibility of home safety. In addition to having an alarm system installed, there are a number of habits you can cultivate for maximum safety. Read on to find out all you can.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Keep the safe hidden somewhere remote.

Be sure that your home is always occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This gives off the appearance that someone is home. This is an effective deterrent against burglars.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. 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.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Create a rule where you only allow those you’ve invited to your home inside.

In summer, take care to trim back branches and plants near the house. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This is an especially good idea if your dog doesn’t like strangers, and gives you easy access to get in your home.

Consult with your police department to find out about good programs for home protection. Many police departments will offer expert advice, arrange inspections, sponsor neighborhood watches, and help you mark and register your valuables. Call them up to find out more.

Security System

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Always have your security system checked each year. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. The weather and animals are two things that may cause havoc on your home’s security system. If you aren’t paying attention, you may not be aware of these problems.

The walls are a perfect hiding place. Concealing small valuables in your walls is an easy and highly effective way to protect them. Simply take advantage of an unused switch plate, electrical outlet, or phone jack. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Never allow a stranger to enter your home. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, they should not be given access. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home security equipment.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

Spare Key

Do not open your door for strangers. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Intruders know about the usual hiding spots. You should have a trusted neighbor keep a spare key.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.

It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. 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.

If you are moving in your new home, ensure all the old locks are replaced. You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. It is easy for potential thieves to present themselves as representatives of a company in order to gain access to your home. This is dangerous for your family and your possessions. You want to use caution to prevent danger.

Switch your locks. This could be an ex-spouse or roommate you got into a fight with. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

You should find out how many years of experience your home security service has. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.

People in rural areas are not usually as worried about burglaries as people in cities. There are some who believe country folk are more at risk because neighbors are not nearby. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.

Wireless alarm systems are a great investment. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless options are easy to install, need less maintenance and are not dependent on the home’s power source.

Inquire as to the different lengths of contracts offered by your security company. Each likely has its benefits and drawbacks. A contract that is longer might offer lower monthly payments, but you may have to continue with these if you decide to sell the house or discontinue services. While the monthly rates may be higher for a short-term contract, this option is more flexible.

Skylights should be secure. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

When you aren’t home, be sure to close your blinds, curtains or shades. By failing to do so, you are granting a prime view of your house and your belongings. If burglars see items in your home that appear valuable, they’ll likely break in to steal them. It’s good to have them down at night, too.

If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. It’s best to discourage peeping toms. If one happens to be a criminal, they have an instant visual of many valuable items in your home, making you an easy target. Keep your valuables out of sight and you’ll make yourself less of a target for crime.

Use the spaces in your home’s walls to store valuables. You needn’t tear down your walls to do this. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

After reading these tips, your home should be safe. As inconvenient and confusing as this appears, it’s crucial for securing your home and family. You can do this by applying what you’ve learned here.