You need to keep your home safe, whether you rent or you own. You might not be exactly sure what you can do for better home security, but that’s why you’re reading this article! Continue reading to find out how you can make your home a much safer environment.

Change the locks after buying a new house. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Man’s best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!

Do you have an outdoor dog? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. The person who previously owned the home may have made copies of keys. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. Try to find somewhere less obvious.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

Get advice from loved ones about home security systems. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

Be sure to keep your car in your garage rather than filling your garage with stored belongings. In this way, your car will be safer. Keep the car within the garage will make sure no one harms or steals it. Storing your car in the garage will also make it difficult for anyone casing your home to figure out when no one is going to be there.

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. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

Avoid coming across as overly shy. Talk to the people who live in your neighborhood. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. Listen to gossip also. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.

Put up motion activated lighting. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. You will be alerted when there is activity outside, and any potential burglars will be deterred because they do not want to be seen. Replace bulbs regularly and check the sensors once a month.

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.

You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. After all, you’re investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. No need to damage your walls. There are many locales that are already around your home. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. In a lot of cases, home intruders enter through unlocked doors. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. While you may need to prepare if you have a spare key, it is wise to choose ways that do not increase the risk of a criminal gaining entrance to your home. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.

Copper Wiring

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. You will be much safer.

There is a lot of value in copper wiring. Many people have their wires stripped each year. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! Be sure to hide your wires or make sure they are hard to get to.

If you make a large purchase, like a big screen television, don’t simply set the box out in front of your home. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

When you hire a type of home security company, read the contract’s fine print before signing. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. Companies that have been around for years have shown that they know the industry and that their services are reliable and great enough for recommendations. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

If you see that the door is open, do not enter the house. Your home and the area surrounding it may still be in danger. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.

Have your home security company inspect your home and suggest safety improvements. You need some features which other families may wish to do without. Most companies will create an individual plan to meet your needs so you can have a high level of security to assure your peace of mind.

A wireless security system could be a good option. A wired system is probably less expensive, but wires are a hassle. Also, you will have a very easy time installing them.

Before you go shopping for a home security system, take a moment to think about your specific situation and unique requirements. Though such systems can be terrific for many, not everyone really needs one. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Be sure to understand the sorts of risks you face before deciding what sort of security is best for you.

You don’t have to have a giant key ring full of keys just because you want your home to be secure. Instead, use a numeric keypad. You could install these locks yourself. Or, you may have a security company to do it for you.

If you don’t have a paper shredder, you might want to buy one. You will be astonished at how burglars find important information from loose paper that they could use to break into your house. If you can not afford to purchase a paper shredder, just rip the paper into smaller pieces.

Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. This is quite convenient because you won’t need to turn the lights off and on, and you won’t need to worry if you go away for a spell.

If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. This will show that you have expensive equipment in your home. When you have emptied the boxes, make sure you cut them up.

If you have windows into your living room that open to the street, always draw your curtains in the evening. There is no need to have outsiders looking into your living room. Someone who can peer into your home may decide that your valuables are ripe for the taking. Lock everything up and shade your windows to stay discreet.

Make sure your address numbers are clearly visible from across the street. If the numbers aren’t legible, police may drive right by. This is a project any homeowner can tackle.

If your door isn’t either metal or solid wood, replace it with one that is. Those materials will hold. A burglar would not be able to kick that door in. Replace outside doors as quickly as possible.

The glove compartment is bad place to store important documents like your car’s registration. This isn’t smart since anybody who gets them is going to know your address. Instead, keep the registration in your wallet or a lock box in the trunk. They’ll always need to be close by in the event you get pulled over.

Get going, now that you are armed with lots of useful knowledge. Do not hesitate to put these ideas into practice. Allow them to be the first step in your journey to learning all about home security. Once you improve your home’s security, you will sleep better at night.

See if your security firm offers lighting that is motion-sensitive. Lots of companies have this, which triggers your exterior lights whenever something or someone moves near a doorway. This can provide extra security when you enter your house, and can also hinder an intruder.