As a homeowner, it’s imperative that you take security as a serious manner. Unfortunately, just getting started in this important area is sometimes confusing. The article that follows should prove extremely helpful as you proceed.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. You can attach a copy of your key to the dog’s collar, so when you need that spare, you’ve got one handy!

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. You can purchase inexpensive timers that will control different electronics and lights in your home. This will make your home look like someone is in it. That means burglars will pass right by.

Your flooring and roofing should be fire resistant. This adds an extra layer of protection to your home, especially if you live in a very dry area with power lines. Keeping fire hazards away is a great safety precaution since fire can cause lots of destruction.

Your dog can actually safeguard a spare key. This can be done if your dog can come outside. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. These programs can make a big difference to the security of your home, and they may just be a phone call away.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. If you plan to give them a key so they can clean in your home while you are away, ensure they are reputable and honest. All references should be checked. If the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.

Keep your car in the garage. It won’t be vandalized or stolen this way. Hiding it will help to deter people from tracking the times you aren’t there.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. They will notify you of any movement and can deter any possible burglars since they like remaining inconspicuous. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Any phone jack or electrical outlet that isn’t being used is a great place to hide valuables. Installing a false unused plate is very easy to do if your home doesn’t have one.

Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. As it gets hotter, the chances of these igniting and putting your house at risk increase. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. Keeping a spare key is convenient but intruders will have access to your home if your key is too easy to find. Burglars are well aware of these hiding places. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.

If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.

Keep flashlights in your rooms. These items will help you remain safe when there is no electricity. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

Be certain your wires are hidden, if you have installed a security system in your home. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This way, you will be safer.

Always ask for references before letting a contractor or a maid in your home. A background check is also a good idea, so that you know what their criminal history looks like. You never really know if you can trust a service person, and giving access to the wrong one can prove disastrous.

When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

When you hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.

Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. If the lights go out, they will ensure everyone stays safe. Teach everyone in your home to use the flashlights so all family members can see and help each other.

Use the Internet to find a reliable home security company. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. After narrowing down your top five choices, you can then take the next step by contacting each one.

Think about safety when designing your home. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. Plan features like these further from your home to have a safe, beautiful design.

Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. Burglars tend to commit crimes at night. Put a light anywhere where an intruder can enter your home. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.

Are your house numbers visible from the street? During an emergency crisis, smaller numbers prevent emergency personnel from finding your home quickly. Just replace them if you need to.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. This is very dangerous due to the fact that the thief can still be inside your property. Your best bet is to call the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.

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A wireless security system for your home is a great option. A wired system should be less expensive but you might have to spend your money on getting your home rewired. A wireless security system is easy to install and take care of. Additionally, this type of system is not dependent upon the electrical system of the home.

Spring latch locks are not a good option. This type of lock is extremely easy to break. Anyone with a credit card can do it. Intruders simply use a credit card inside the latch, making the lock open. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.

If you don’t have a paper shredder, you might want to buy one. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home. If a shredder is too expensive, at least tear relevant paperwork into small bits.

Do not make a number-code password your birthday or other obvious number. Your birthday is readily available for burglars to find. Use a password that you can remember but that no one else will be able to guess.

If you are planning to be away, and you have someone picking up your mail, ask them to also double-check your door for fliers. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed. If a flier remains on a front door for a number of days, the burglar knows the homeowner is away.

Think about a security system that is hard-wired if you really have concerns about maintenance costs. While there is a greater level of convenience if you go wireless, there is also a requirement that several batteries be changed, sometimes multiple times a year. If the batteries are not changed, the system might not work at all. What you spend on batteries, additionally, can really add up!

See if your firm gives you the choice of leasing and/or buying security equipment. Buying outright costs a lot more in the beginning, but one time costs might lower or eliminate some monthly fees that add up over time. The cost of leasing is lower at first but adds up over time. Explore both options to see which works best for you.

You want to always keep your home and family safe. There is no denying this truth. Thankfully, this article has shown you the way.

If your door has a numeric keypad, don’t use your birthday as the password. Anyone can easily get your birthday from a Facebook profile or your driver’s licence. Use a number you can remember through some trick of memory known only to you, making it difficult for someone else to figure it out.