It is up to you to keep your home safe and secure and you should do everything you can to protect it. While you may think the only thing you have to do is get an alarm system put into your home, there are a lot of other things that can be done. Read on for some excellent ideas on keeping your home secure.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so it is always handy.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Carefully check their references. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Check their references very carefully. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? They can help you with your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. 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.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. A ringing phone that goes unanswered may signal to a burglar that nobody is home.

Buy ceiling, roofing and flooring which is resistant to fire. This helps protect your home when you dwell in a more dry climate. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

You should clean your yard of vegetation and dead wood. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.

Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

Security System

Check with the police department in your town for home security tips and advice. Many police departments will offer expert advice, arrange inspections, sponsor neighborhood watches, and help you mark and register your valuables. Discuss the possibility of this sort of program with your police department.

Your home security system ought to be checked each year. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. The lights will notify you of motion and also deter would be burglars. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. They turn on only if someone is nearby. These lights will make you aware of, and can also scare off, potential burglars. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs when they burn out.

Switch your locks. 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. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t forget about it when it comes to home security. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

After having read these tips, you should now feel much safer. You must realize that these precautions are necessary in order to protect your family. Apply what you’ve just learned, and you should be golden.

Keep valuables out of sight of windows. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.