All homeowners ought to have a plan to make sure their home is safe; however, many simply do not. In order to learn all you can about protecting your home, it is important that you do some research on the matter. Read on to learn how you can set up an effective home security plan.

Your dog could carry a spare key for you. This will come in handy if your dog is outdoors most of the time or if it can go outside through a pet door. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. There is no way to ascertain how many keys the previous owner handed out. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Check around for prices, reputation, and reliability when choosing a home security provider. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Look at a number of different companies and get at least three quotes before selecting what you feel is the ideal plan for your home.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Put it on their collar. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. They turn on only if someone is nearby. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs when they burn out.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Therefore, only allow people you know and are expecting to enter your home.

Keep your most valuable possessions inside your walls. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. It will keep your family safer.

Try not to have a shy attitude. Meet your neighbors. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

Not too many people know exactly how to make their home more secure. For those who own a home and want to keep their home and belongings safe, it is crucial to learn about home security. Surely this article has provided some helpful information to get you thinking about security in your own place of residence.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.