Do you want to know how to protect your house? That’s smart because it’s always a good idea to play it safe in terms of home security. You have to use all the information you can find. Read this article to learn more about home security.

Man’s best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Every company offers different pricing. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

Hiding places for spare keys must be chosen with extreme care and caution. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. Rather, think about putting a key on your outside dog’s collar.

Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. Be sure any home cleaner you give your key to is trustworthy and reputable. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This works especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Keep a hard, fast rule that says you only open the door for invited guests in order to keep your family safe.

Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection. Make sure you get quotes from at least three companies before you decide on which one you think is the best option.

Be sure to secure your attached garage. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. Although your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.

In the summer, remove vegetation and dead wood from your yard. As things heat up in the summer, items may catch on fire and threaten your home. Make sure your yard is clean for the sake of your safety – and that of your family!

Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Take advantage of any and all security resources your local police force makes available to homeowners. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Call and see what is available.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders from vandalizing or stealing it. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

Don’t be shy. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. Listen to gossip also. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. 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. Changing locks is not very expensive and should be done within a few hours.

Install lights that have motion sensors. These are lights that turn on whenever any living thing gets too close to your home. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Skylights are commonly used by thieves to enter a home. Skylights need to be installed correctly and safely, with hardware that will keep intruders out.

Skylights need to be secure, too. Although a skylight can bring light into one’s home and look good, it’s also a common entrance way for burglars. Be certain that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. In a lot of cases, home intruders enter through unlocked doors. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

There is a lot of value in copper wiring. Most people are unaware of this fact until a burglar takes it from their house. Copper is expensive and most wiring is composed of it, so stripping it is a great way for crooks to make a quick buck. Be sure that you keep all your wiring hidden and make it hard to access.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.

If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This helps ensure your family stays safe.

Get your home security system custom built for your needs. All homeowners and homes differ. If you have found a company that could cater to your needs, then it is easy to get the security that will make you and your loved ones comfortable.

Sadly, there is no such thing as a 100% safe home. You can do all you can to make your home as safe as possible. The information in this article can help you fortify your home against the those who would want to invade it, Use all these tips to protect your family and your home.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars love to operate in the dark. Add lights to any areas you believe are potential entry points for burglars. Some examples include first story windows, garages, doorways and porches.