Every homeowner should do everything possible to protect their homes. Burglaries are common, and probably always will be. Read on to learn some useful advice to keep your family and home safe from nearly any threat.

Change all of your locks when you move in. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? They can help you with your spare key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Purchase a safe to lock all of the extremely valuable items in your home in one place. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. This safe should be hidden in a location where burglars won’t find it, such as a hole in the wall, the attic, or a basement closet.

When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

Get advice from your friends before selecting a provider for home security. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. Try to find somewhere less obvious.

Don’t open up your door for someone who is a stranger. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. Having the car in the garage will prevent it from getting broken into or stolen. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

Don’t 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. Keep a hard, fast rule that says you only open the door for invited guests in order to keep your family safe.

People who live rurally often don’t think about home security. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital. Then again, others think rural areas are not as much of a target.

Don’t give outside people the ability to see into your home. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.

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. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. Don’t let this happen; bury or hide the wires. Keep yourself safe.

Don’t be shy. Talk to your neighbors and those on your block. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and do the same thing for them. It does not necessarily pay to steer clear of gossip. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

Rotted Wood

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.

Make sure you have several flashlights that are charged and ready to go in the event of a power outage. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. They wish to avoid detection. When your home is lit well, the crooks have nowhere to hide, making it difficult for them to steal from you undetected. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

If your door is set in a rotted frame, you must replace the frame. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Be sure and replace rotted wood with fresh wood in order to ensure home safety.

Landscape your home with safety in mind. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. Intruders should have nowhere to hide near your home. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. Security systems are a proven method of reducing your chance of break-ins, but it is not always the right choice. In some particular neighborhoods, classes for self defense or acquiring a dog may be the best option. However, the newest home security technology may be the best protection in other regions. Ensure that you have considered all your options before making a final decision.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. Be sure to perform a background check and look for any criminal history that might be in evidence. You can’t always be sure that maids, service workers or contractors are honest, and therefore giving out keys can be a big error.

Many things can affect the safety of your home, and it’s important that you consider many different things. After reading this article, you should know what steps to take to secure your home. Protect your castle by putting this information to good use.