As a homeowner, you want to make sure that your house is protected. Installing an alarm is great, but there is so much more. Read on for some excellent ideas on keeping your home secure.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.

Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. Be sure any home cleaner you give your key to is trustworthy and reputable. Check their references fully. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. Instead, try hiding a key on the collar of an outside dog.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. Be sure to put curtains on your front-facing windows so people can’t see your valuable belongings.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. Your windows are also points of entry for burglars. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. With this method, your family will be safer.

Use your garage for your car, not just storage. It won’t be vandalized or stolen this way. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

Security System

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. Don’t hesitate to request a different technician or to hire a new company altogether. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.

You want all wires of an installed security system to be hidden. An intruder can easily disable your security system by cutting the wires. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. It will keep your family safer.

If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Make sure you have several flashlights that are charged and ready to go in the event of a power outage. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Be sure everyone in your family is aware of the location of emergency flashlights.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. You can also put the locks on yourself so you can be sure no one else has a key.

Before letting a home security representative inside, ask for identification. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.

Before you let anyone go into your home, look at their references thoroughly. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and this could be a very bad mistake.

Keeping your home well lit at night can help keep the burglars away. This will deter crooks from trying your home. If you have your home lit up, then you have made it hard for burglars to hide and rob your home. Keep lights on during the night.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. They do not desire to be seen. Ample lighting makes it difficult for would-be burglars to approach undetected, and this turns your home into a less attractive target. That’s why it’s a good idea to light your home well for optimum safety.

You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. Different people require different plans. A good company will tailor your security plan to the needs of you and your family.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. This makes it where people can’t hide in different nooks and crevices. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

Consider your own personal safety needs and security risks before exploring home security systems. Though such systems can be terrific for many, not everyone really needs one. You could, for instance, invest in an alarm system, some outside lights, adopt a dog or take some self-defense classes. Understand completely the risks and rewards in order to make an informed purchase decision.

Now that you’ve finished reading this article, you know what you need to do to keep your home safe. While it may seem like this is all complicated and a bit of a hassle, it is absolutely necessary if you want to keep your family safe from harm. You can do this by applying what you’ve learned here.

Consider a surveillance system for your home and property. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home safe. Visible cameras are a deterrent to most intruders, and should they decide to disable them, a hidden camera will continue to capture footage. It is possible to use your cell phone to look at your surveillance camera, meaning you can see your house when you’re gone.