If you own a home, you should learn how to protect yourself. It takes a lot of time and research if you look at the different sources of information. This article will help to boil down the important considerations so you are able to develop a program that works for you.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This way it will always look as if someone is home, even when you are away. This helps you keep your house burglar-free.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Store the spare key with them. The key can be attached to the collar of your dog. This will ensure that burglars cannot see it. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet 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!

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Check their references very carefully. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

Security systems are more than just an alarm. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. Some give offer the option to monitor all entries into the house. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

If you retain a space key for when you get locked out, consider the place you hide it carefully. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Don’t let strangers into 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. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

Garage Door

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you own smaller things that need protection, think about keeping them hidden in the walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Burglars always know just where to look. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. On a different note, some people believe homeowners in more rural areas are more likely to experience robberies because of the lack of nearby neighbors. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

Always lock your home, even if you plan on coming back within a few minutes. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

When deciding on an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. Doing this will help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Any skylights in your home should be secured with strong hardware.

Home security installation technicians should always be in uniform and wearing identification. They might not be who you think they are. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. They lights will light up your property at night and they are cost-effective and efficient. Intruders will not be able to sneak into your home if you place your motion detector in the right spot.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. Windows are all potential entry points for burglars. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all windows and entry points. You want the best security possible for your family.

Look online for a reputable home security business. You should look at testimonials from customers and different information you can find. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

Before signing up for home security, find out how long they’ve been in business. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

Buy flashlights with strong batteries and make sure there is one in each room in case of power outages. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

It is important to invest the time and energy into learning about home security. Unfortunately, separating the good information from the chaff can be quite a job. This information can pay a lot of dividends from a monetary and personal perspective.