All homeowners should have some type of home security plan, but many people fail to do this. A small amount of research might be necessary before you can fully understand all of the different components that compose an ideal security system. Read on to learn how you can set up an effective home security plan.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Timers can be used to turn lights and televisions on and off when required. This makes it appear that someone is home. This helps you keep your house burglar-free.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? Your pet might just be the perfect place to stash a spare key to your home. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

Have your dog protect the spare key. This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!

Loved Ones

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Check their references fully. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Get advice from loved ones about home security systems. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Do you have an outdoor dog? You could let your dog carry a spare key. Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.

Do not allow anyone you do not know into your home. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.

Use your garage for your car and not for storage. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Keep a hard, fast rule that says you only open the door for invited guests in order to keep your family safe.

Don’t be shy. Converse with those living in your area. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

Talk to the police department in your area to see what safety programs they have. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Your skylights need durable and reliable hardware for true protection.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. There are many reason why a home security system can have problems, and it might be the weather or wild animals that cause it to malfunction. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

Be sure your expensive belongings are not visible from the home’s exterior. While having huge windows may be good for letting in light and viewing what is outside, it also gives potential thieves a good look in your own home. Blinds are a great way to allow the light in, without allowing people to see in at the same time.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.

Don’t allow the wires of your home security system to be visible to others. Intruders can easily disable your home security system by cutting or unplugging the wires. Make it hard for intruders and bury the wires or hide them inside your walls, if possible. This way, you will be safer.

Securing the home is something everyone wants to learn to do, but many do not know where to start. It is important that all homeowners who are concerned about their home’s security take the time to learn about the subject. After reading this article, hopefully you gathered enough useful information to help you feel confident on the topic of home security.

Even the wires inside your home are worth something. Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. Hide your wiring to secure it.