Do you need some tips for keeping your home safe? You have to learn all you can. You need to do everything you can if you want your home to be safe. Use this article to learn what you need to know about home security.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This will only be ideal if you have a dog door or an outdoor dog. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

Any time you buy a new home, have the locks changed. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. This isn’t just for burglars; parents with young children can also use it as a valuable tool to know when their child has come inside.

The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

Your friends may have some great advice for choosing the right company. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.

Is your dog outside when you are away? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. This is an especially good idea if your dog doesn’t like strangers, and gives you easy access to get in your home.

Never open the door for a stranger. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Make sure your yard is clean for the sake of your safety – and that of your family!

Aim to purchase fire-resistant ceilings, roofs and floors. This adds an extra layer of protection to your home, especially if you live in a very dry area with power lines. Preventing fires is the best way to deal with them.

Don’t be shy. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. It does not necessarily pay to steer clear of gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

Talk to people you know about their security systems. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. They turn on only if someone is nearby. These lights will make you aware of, and can also scare off, potential burglars. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

When you’re going away, turn off your phone ringers. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. Ask the company to send a different installer or simply change companies. Do some background research on the company you select, and look for people who make you feel safe.

Never open up your door to a stranger. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

Install lights that use a motion-sensor. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Remember to keep working bulbs in them at all times.

Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from the outside. Large windows allow you to keep an eye on who is approaching your home, but keep in mind that potential intruders will be tempted if they can see your valuables. Blinds are a great way to allow the light in, without allowing people to see in at the same time.

Skylights need to be secure, too. While they are an excellent source of natural light, they are also an easy way for thieves to enter your home. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. A thief can take plenty of valuables in minutes.

Rotted wood in your door framing should be replaced. An intruder can simply pry away that rotted wood and enter your home. Replace rotting wood with new wood to stay safe.

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. Although you may trust the previous homeowner, you cannot be 100% sure of their character. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. This is a fairly inexpensive way to provide light and security to your property. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? This is something few homeowners realize until they become victims of wiring theft. It does not take much time to strip off the expensive copper wires from the exterior of your house. Be sure to hide your wires or make sure they are hard to get to.

A good way to scare off intruders is to keep your house lit at nighttime. Intruders will avoid being noticed. Making your home’s exterior nice and bright will make it impossible for crooks to go undetected. Thus, you should always keep lights on at nighttime.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely ensure your home’s safety. Luckily, there are measures that can be taken to keep your home as safe as possible. This article should have given you some ideas to work with. Consider them carefully as you go forward to implement your own home security solutions.

Talk to any companies you’re considering hiring to install a security system about how long the company has been around. 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. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.