It is up to homeowners to take proactive steps to ensure the safety of the home and its inhabitants. Home invasions can be quite common, as well as natural disasters that damage houses. Keep reading to find out more about home security and how you can protect your family.

Is your dog outside even if you are away? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. Put it on their collar. This is the perfect place to store a spare key, especially if your dog doesn’t care for strangers.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. Buy timers so that lights, radios, TVs and all other electronics turn on and off at various times. This gives off the appearance that someone is home. This is an excellent technique that helps avoid robberies while keeping the property safe.

Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. When giving your house cleaner the key to your home, you need to be sure that they are reputable and honest. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

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. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

Talk to the police department in your area to see what safety programs they have. Many police departments will offer expert advice, arrange inspections, sponsor neighborhood watches, and help you mark and register your valuables. Talk with local police to see if they offer these programs.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. Try having your trustworthy neighbors hold spare keys.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

The first step in making your home more secure is to change out your locks. Perhaps you aren’t sure who owned the home before you or maybe an old roommate has a key and never returned it. Regardless, changing the locks will ensure your security. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. Most real-world burglars aren’t master lock-breakers; they simply stroll in through a door left carelessly unlocked. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t forget about it when it comes to home security. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

When in the process of selecting an alarm system, you should select a system that protects more than simply the doors of your home. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This is great for keeping the family secure.

Make sure the wires of your home security system are completely hidden. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. Don’t let this happen; bury or hide the wires. This will make you much safer.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. Having a well-charged flashlight on hand is very beneficial in case of emergency. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.

Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. It is extremely important that you have flashlights because they allow you to move around easier in the dark, which is especially useful in an emergency. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. They sometimes have hidden costs if you let go of them prior to the contract expiring. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

It’s smart to use the Internet when you are looking for a good security company for your home. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. It doesn’t take long for a quality company to prove itself in the security business, and you should look for a track record of satisfied customers and successful work. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

Find out how long a company has been in operation before signing a home security contract. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

One effective home security trick you can use is by installing outdoor motion sensor lights. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Make sure to have lights anywhere an intruder might enter. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

Think about your specific needs and risks prior to investigating security systems. Though such systems can be terrific for many, not everyone really needs one. Some neighborhoods feel more safe than others, but a good security system definitely makes you feel more safe. Be aware of your risks to make an intelligent purchasing decisions.

Prior to purchasing a security system, think about what you need it for. Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. It may be better for you to take a self-defense class or buy a dog. The neighborhood you live in makes a difference. Learn about all of your options before choosing anything.

If you live with children or others whom who don’t want entering some parts of the house, keys and lock sets aren’t the only option. Instead, key-less key code locks can work just as well. You can have keyless locks installed by a security company or you can do it yourself.

You should think about getting a home security system that is wireless. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless systems tend to be easier for installation and maintenance, and they will not go out if your power does.

Ask the security company about various contract lengths. These lengths can be both good and bad. While your monthly rates may be lower with a lengthy contract, you have no recourse should you list your home for sale or terminate your contract. With a shorter contract, you will have a greater level of flexibility. The downside is you will also have larger monthly bills.

Put a surveillance system in your home. A wonderful way to make your home safer is by putting in hidden or visible cameras. A visible video camera acts as a warning to an intruder. If the intruder disables the visible camera, the hidden camera will document it! Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, allowing you to check up on your home when you are away.

Steer clear of locks with spring latches. These locks are easy to break into since they may be opened up with a credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.

Make sure no one can look inside your garage. Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house. Do not leave doors open for lengthy periods while you are doing work.

If your door is not made out of solid wood or metal, you should replace it. Doors made of metal or wood are much sturdier than those that aren’t. These materials make it difficult for a would-be thief to break down the door. You ought to be able to get new exterior doors fairly cheaply, so make this a priority.

Man’s best friend can be one of the most effective anti-burglary systems. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. You will get good results even if you do not have a large or vicious dog. A terrier will make enough of a fuss to stop someone from breaking in.

Consult with your home security provider on whether they can supply lighting that is motion sensitive. Many companies do offer this and it makes lights outside the home turn on just as soon as a person approaches them. This can add extra security as you go into your house, and it can keep intruders away.

Do not use locks with spring latches. Defeating a spring latch lock is a trivial endeavor; experienced burglars can get through one using nothing more than a credit card. All they have to do is wedge the card between the latch and door, then wiggle it. A deadbolt should be added for security purposes if you have locks that are spring latch.

A sliding glass door often presents a big challenge to home security. They can be unlocked with a bit if jiggling. If you haven’t hooked them up to your security system, you can install some pipe to fit within your door channel. Doing this will help keep your door closed tighter, making it more difficult for burglars to break in.

Take every precaution to protect your home and family from life’s emergencies. You should know more about home security after going over this article. Use the ideas you’ve read to help you make your home much safer.

Although locks that are sealed inside are fine, they won’t be too useful if you cannot lock them from outside. Therefore, a deadbolt is a great selection; it will make things very difficult for a burglar.