If you own a home, then you understand the importance of keeping it safe. There aren’t many feelings worse than your home being severely damaged or destroyed. Your house represents your biggest investment and the place you call home. You can do more to protect your home and its occupants by checking out the advice presented below.

Put your spare key on your dog. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Home security systems are able to do more than just sounding the alarm whenever you have an intruder. 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.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. This works very well if you have a pet that is not very fond of strangers. You will get the access you need without having to worry about your safety.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Replace bulbs regularly and check the sensors once a month.

It is important to invest in building supplies that are as fire resistant as possible. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.

The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get new locks. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

Never allow a stranger to enter your home. Stay true to your safety, even if it appears the person has legitimate reasons for wanting entry. Some folks will enter to scout for security systems, and upon seeing you lack one, will resolve to return at a later time.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Be sure that the skylights for your home are durable and reliable.

Be outgoing. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

Walls are great for hiding things. Hide valuables inside of your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. You put in a fake plate if there aren’t any unused in your home.

If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.

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. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This can make you safer.

Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

Hide your valuables in the walls. This is a great way to hide jewelry, for example. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. Installing a false unused plate is very easy to do if your home doesn’t have one.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. Be sure that your wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep your wires safe.

If you are seeking home safety ideas that are simple and inexpensive, you should buy outdoor lights with motion sensors. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. You can purchase and install locks yourself to make sure only you have the key.

Always enlist the powers of online research to help you make a smart choice when it comes to home security companies. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. Then, you can set appointments to make price and service comparisons before you choose.

Before allowing any security company reps to come into your home, make sure they have on a uniform and they have valid ID. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Trust your gut and if something does not feel right, it is okay to go with your feelings.

Ask your home security company how long they have been in business before you sign up for service. It doesn’t take long for a quality company to prove itself in the security business, and you should look for a track record of satisfied customers and successful work. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.

When you landscape your house, make it safe. Make sure that the doors and windows to your home are not covered by trees, fences, shrubs or any other type of thing. If these things can be seen by the naked eye, they won’t offer hiding places to potential criminals. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.

Think about your specific needs and risks prior to investigating security systems. While these systems are great and can help protect your family, they are not necessary for everyone. In some neighborhoods, it may be better for you to have a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself. Ensure that you have considered all your options before making a final decision.

Consider a surveillance system for your home and property. You can make a huge difference in your home’s security by putting in cameras whether they’re concealed or out in the open. Visible cameras scare intruders while a hidden camera could capture footage. Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, allowing you to check up on your home when you are away.

If you see that the door is open, do not enter the house. The thief might still be inside, and you don’t have any idea whether or not they are armed. The best thing to do is call the police and wait for them to arrive before doing anything else.

Clearly, it is not prohibitively difficult to secure your home. A little learning in the appropriate fields will make you and your home much more secure. Use what you’ve just learned to secure your home. Don’t neglect anything you read here. Make your home as safe as possible.

Think about having a wireless security system for the home installed. A wired system should be less expensive but you might have to spend your money on getting your home rewired. The wireless systems are simpler to maintain and install and they don’t need power from the home to run.