Many people see home security as annoying and tedious, particularly when installation specialists enter your home. Fortunately, it does not need to be that bad. Read the following article for some great tips on how to properly secure your home.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Put the key on the dog’s collar. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.

Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. Many police departments will offer expert advice, arrange inspections, sponsor neighborhood watches, and help you mark and register your valuables. Discuss the possibility of this sort of program with your police department.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

Get to know your neighbors. Speak with your neighbors. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. Pay attention to gossip. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. A number of factors can cause problems with your security system, including wild animals and mother nature. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

Alter the combination of the locks in your home. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.

Get creative and hide valuables inside your walls. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. Why not take the guts out of an electrical socket you’re not using? You can convert it into a convenient and covert little wall safe.

Stashing your most precious possession right inside the walls of your home can be a great idea. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.

It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves are aware of the best hiding spots. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

Hide the wires of your home security system. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. Your system will be far more effective this way.

Hide your security system’s wiring. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. You will be much more safe.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

If you bought any expensive or large items, don’t throw the boxes out until the day trash is scheduled to be removed. Empty boxes might draw the attention of robbers and let everyone know you own new and expensive goods.

If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. They don’t want anyone to see them. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. Keep the lights on if you want your home to be secure.

When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you really have no clue as to who they really are. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

Use the Internet to find a reliable home security company. Check out reviews you find on the web. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. Anyone can gain access to our home by prying away the rotted wood. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.

Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. Criminals like to blend into the shadows, so do your best not to provide too many for them. Be sure and have a light next to any entry point in your home. Don’t forget that this includes ground-level windows as well as doors, garages, and porches.

Before letting a home security representative inside, ask for identification. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. Be deliberate in preventing hazards.

If you get home and notice an open door, do not go in to see what has happened. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Go to a neighbor’s or another safe area and call the police.

Criminals are much less likely to target your home if it’s well lit. Burglars don’t want to be visible. When you have a well-lit home, crooks won’t be able to hide and it will be hard for them to break in undetected. Keep your home lit up all night long.

If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Thieves sometimes place fliers on front doors and then wait to see if anyone removes them. If a flier remains on a front door for a number of days, the burglar knows the homeowner is away.

You do not want to use spring latch locks. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. Intruders just have to slide a card in between the latch and door for the lock to pop open. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.

Consider installing a surveillance system. This will allow you to see who is around your house. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. You can sometimes access security systems using your cell phone, keeping you informed on the go.

When you will be away from home, keep the curtains and blinds shut. By failing to do so, you are granting a prime view of your house and your belongings. If their eyes fall on something they like, they are going to think about breaking in. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.

You don’t have to have a giant key ring full of keys just because you want your home to be secure. Code or fingerprint enabled keyless entry locks are a great solution. You can install them yourself or you can hire a home security firm.

There are a number of steps that can be taken for home security without installing a formal system. Whether you add fencing, install new locks or purchase a gun, there are things you can do to help. Keep these tips in mind as you look for ways to make your own home more secure.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. While you will pay more to buy, you don’t have to keep paying for it month after month. On the other hand, while leasing is more expensive overall, it can get you a better system if you don’t have funds available immediately. Think about both options before making a decision.