This is your opportunity to find out more concerning home security systems. You should not settle on such a crucial matter. You need to take the time to consider your options and make an informed decision. Read on to learn about the choices you have.

Put your spare key on your dog. This will only be ideal if you have a dog door or an outdoor dog. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.

Make your house look like it’s always occupied. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This is great for keeping a home safer from burglaries.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. It is best to do a reference check on them. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. You don’t know the exact number of copies of that key the previous owners have or have handed out. Have a locksmith install a brand new lock. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.

Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.

A home security system has other features in addition to sounding an alarm when there is a break-in. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. If you have little ones wandering about the house, this makes it easy for you to know if they have come in or gone out.

Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Keep asking to get the advice that will help you make the right choice.

It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. A ringing phone that goes unanswered may signal to a burglar that nobody is home.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.

Never allow a stranger to enter your home. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

Follow the advice presented here to move forward in choosing a home security system. Making sure you have covered all your points of entry is important in keeping your valuables safe. Take what you’ve read, and put it to good use today so that your family is kept safe.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. These programs may include engraving identification codes on your valuables, home inspections, and advice about home security. These programs can make a big difference to the security of your home, and they may just be a phone call away.