It is a good idea to have a home security system, especially if you have a lot of valuables in your home. Secure your home to prevent theft. The following tips can help put you in the safest position possible.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! You should hide it in your dog’s collar.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

Shop around when looking for a good home security system. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.

Don’t open your door if a stranger is on the other side. 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. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. Having the car in the garage will prevent it from getting broken into or stolen. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

See if your area police department has any home security programs. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Call and see what is available.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. Burglars can gain entry through your windows as well. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. The safety of your family will be ensured.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. That said, stranger things have happened.

Whenever you move to a new dwelling, make certain to get each lock replaced. You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. Remember that different families might have dwelt there before this person.

When choosing an alarm system, consider one that offers protection for more than just your doors. Windows are all potential entry points for burglars. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. Do this to keep you and your family safe.

If you sign a contract for a security company, read all the fine print first. Sometimes, hidden costs can be incurred if you get rid of the service before a certain date. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Don’t obstruct windows or doors with shrubs, plants, fences or trees. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.

Your landscaping should be designed based on what will be safest for your home. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. This will give your home additional safety.

If you arrive home and you see that your door is ajar, never enter to investigate on your own. It can be dangerous to walk in on an intruder. Just contact the police and sit tight until they arrive.

Ask your security provider about their history in the business. Any business with multiple years of history has a proven record in being reliable. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

Instead of thinking that your house will never be threatened by a criminal, always prepare for the worst. This is why it is important to always be proactive when it comes to your home security. Keep these ideas in mind as you go about boosting the security of your home.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars seek darkness so that they can stay hidden. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. Consider all your doors, porches, patios, decks, garages and all ground-level windows.