Your home should be a place where you and your family can feel safe. When they venture out, it needs to remain safe and secure for when they return. The article below is a compilation of tips that can be used to keep your home secure.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

Your dog can safeguard an extra key. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.

Do you have an outdoor dog? Your furry friend is also a great storage place for your extra key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.

Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in it. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

Is your dog kept outside when you are away? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This is a good way to ensure easy home access, especially if your pet does not associate well with strangers.

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. It won’t be vandalized or stolen this way. Keeping your car out of sight is also a good way to prevent intruders from determining whether or not you are home.

You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. This is definitely the case if you’re not quite sure about the actual installation people. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. At the end of the day, your efforts are so that you feel more comfortable.

Buy a safe so you can conceal your valuables in it. If a burglar enters your home, he or she will have a hard time making off with your possessions. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

Walls are a good place to hide things. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Any phone jack or electrical outlet that isn’t being used is a great place to hide valuables. You can also just put in a false plate to cover a hiding place.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Ensure that valuables are stored in a hidden area that isn’t visible from outside your home. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. Be sure to put curtains on your front-facing windows so people can’t see your valuable belongings.

Rotted Wood

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. Some criminals will use any reason to gain access to look for security systems and easy entryways into your house.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. Several in various jurisdictions have programs which entail providing a home inspection, what protective measures will help your home and even how to engrave valuable items to make them easier to recover. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

When you landscape your house, make it safe. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Have your landscape several feet away from your house for better safety.

Before checking out security systems for your home, think about your personal security and safety needs. Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. In some cases the security system is your best investment, in others you well-served with an alert dog or reinforced locking systems. Understand completely the risks and rewards in order to make an informed purchase decision.

The first thing to do is get your locks changed out. Maybe you’ve had a roommate leave or a bitter ex-lover, so changing the locks can keep you safer. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

If you are going to be out of town for more than a day or so, have someone check your mailbox and door for mail and fliers. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If the flier isn’t removed, the burglar knows the homeowner isn’t there.

If you want to keep certain rooms in your home private, you don’t need to lock every door with a key. Keyless locks require a code to unlock the door. You can have your home security company install it for you, or you can do it yourself.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Be sure that the skylights for your home are durable and reliable.

Do not store your car registration documents in your glove compartment. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. Ideally, you should carry your registration in your wallet or bag. If you must leave them in the car, pick a less obvious hiding place. They must still be easily accessible should you be stopped by police.

The best advice is at your fingertips. How will you use the information you’ve just read to help secure your home? Learning all you can about home security will enable you to protect both your possessions and your family.

Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Rather, keep your spare keys with a neighbor you trust.