It is up to you to keep your home safe and secure and you should do everything you can to protect it. Purchasing a home security system is just one of many things you can do. The following article will give you some great ideas to help you secure your home and everything inside of it.

Place the spare key that you make on your dog. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so it is always handy.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. If the garage door lifts via a track, you can use a C-clamp to stop your door from opening at the hands of intruders.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Every company offers different pricing. Get quotes from several companies before making a decision.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. This lets you know something is moving and also drives off criminals. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

Spare Key

Never allow a stranger to enter your home. There are some people who are very convincing and good at getting you to let them into your house. These people might want to actually do you harm or could be casing out your house for a future break-in.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Thieves know about all these hiding spots. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.

If you bought any expensive or large items, don’t throw the boxes out until the day trash is scheduled to be removed. Doing so is like giving a burglar an invitation to target your home; he or she will know there is something good inside.

Store your car in the garage if you have it. It won’t be vandalized or stolen this way. Additionally, if your car is put away, burglars will not be able to tell whether or not you are home.

To increase your home’s security, buy some outdoor lights that are motion activated. These lights not only give off light at night, but can also offer security around your home. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

You want to know what is included in a contract if you’re signing up with a security company. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. You’ll definitely want to avoid these types of fees if you can, so read carefully.

Try not to have a shy attitude. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. By knowing the people in your neighborhood, you can rest a little easier knowing that people are looking out for each other. Pay attention to gossip. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

Keep safety at the forefront as you landscape. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. If they can be seen, people will not hide there and attempt a break-in. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.

Consider all of your individual security needs before looking into any alarm systems. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Comprehend the risks associated with your home security so you now can make a more well-informed buying decision.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. There are many different people who might have keys from your past, and removing the potential of them accessing your home can be a very good idea. It is pretty cheap and the job won’t take more than a few hours.

If you’re planning to be out of your home for a period of time, have a neighbor remove any fliers placed on your door. Thieves sometimes place fliers on front doors and then wait to see if anyone removes them. By your neighbor taking the flyer, it appears as if you got it yourself.

Don’t give anyone an opportunity to see inside your garage in order to ward off robbers. Have your windows frosted so they aren’t as easy to see through. Don’t leave doors open for long lengths of time when working there.

Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. This is very true when you feel uneasy about the person installing the system. If you don’t feel comfortable, go with someone else. The purpose of using the company is to calm your uneasiness, not worsen it.

From the road, are your house numbers visible? If your house numbers are not easy to see, the police may have difficulty finding you in an emergency. Fortunately, this is something that can be corrected quickly and cheaply.

Choose an out of the way place to hide your spare key, not the obvious ones. It’s easy to see fake rocks. The thief will check under the mat before anything else. You should just give a spare key to a trusted neighbor instead. If you have no trustworthy neighbors, try to be more creative.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?

You should no longer live in an unsafe home. It may seem overwhelming right now, but it must be done. The tips you’ve just read can help make this a reality.