Read on to learn more about the interesting and important topic of home security. This is not the time to just pick the cheapest or easiest option. Educating yourself will help you make the right decisions. Keep reading to discover the options available to you.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Just hide a spare house key on the inside of your dog’s collar. Then when you need an extra key, you will be able to access this one.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. You can attach a copy of your key to the dog’s collar, so when you need that spare, you’ve got one handy!

Any time you buy a new home, have the locks changed. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Put it on their collar. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.

Hiding places for spare keys must be chosen with extreme care and caution. 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. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. You can enhance home safety with excellent fire precautions.

Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Spending a few days asking for reviews is useful in helping you choose correctly.

Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. These people might want to actually do you harm or could be casing out your house for a future break-in.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. Hiding it will help to deter people from tracking the times you aren’t there.

You should never open your door to someone you do not know. 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. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

Use motion sensor lights. These are lights that turn on whenever any living thing gets too close to your home. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Just remember to change out the bulbs every so often so the lights remain in working order.

If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.

When dealing with companies that install home security systems, it’s important to trust your gut. If you don’t feel comfortable with the technician, don’t allow them access to your home. You don’t want to refrain from choosing a different company or technician. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

Use your wall spaces to hide your valuables. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

Be sure to secure the skylights to your home. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.

Rotted Wood

Don’t let any service people into your home without checking their references completely. Conduct background checks if necessary. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.

Replace rotted wood around entryways. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Replace rotting wood with new wood to stay safe.

A great way to achieve extra security is to install exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. Intruders will not be able to sneak into your home if you place your motion detector in the right spot.

It is important to always have fresh batteries and flashlights handy around the house. Flashlights are key because they allow you to move around if an emergency should arise. If you have kids, teach them how to properly use the flashlights so everyone in the family can help out during a power outage.

When you are trying to hire a home security contractor, read all the small print on your contract before signing it. There may be hidden costs to doing business with them, including early termination fees and surprising equipment costs. You can easily avoid these fees if you do your research.

For maximum safety, your home needs bright exterior lighting. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

Having a well-lit home that’s bight in the evening can really deter crooks. They don’t want anyone to see them. A well-lit home will make it hard for intruders to hide and take your valuables without being detected. So keep those lights on at night for a secure home.

If you buy a new, expensive electronic, such as a television or computer, do not leave the empty boxes on your curb. If a burglar sees your empty box, he or she will know that valuable item is inside your house. That’s good motivation for a break-in. Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put it out.

Purchase a paper shredder to prevent your discarded papers from providing burglars with valuable information. Thieves can get lots of information simply by looking through your trash. If you don’t have a paper shredder, tear the papers up.

Dogs make a great security system. Usually, dogs protect their homes and when they sense something is wrong, they bark. A big, vicious guard dog isn’t necessary. Even small dogs can deter criminals just by making noise when something is afoot.

If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. Cut up the boxes completely instead.

Credit Card

Don’t use spring-latch locks. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. Wedging the card into the door crack can cause the lock to release. If you’ve already got spring latch locks, you can put in a deadbolt for additional security.

Do not use locks with spring latches. These locks are easy to break into since they may be opened up with a credit card. Intruders simply wedge a credit card between the door and latch, triggering the lock to open. If you’ve already got spring latch locks, you can put in a deadbolt for additional security.

If your door has a numeric lock, make sure the combination isn’t your birthday. Your birth date is pretty easy to come by, especially for seasoned thieves. Use a random number instead.

Keep curtains closed when you aren’t at home. Leaving your windows unguarded exposes the interior of your home to everyone, including criminals looking for tempting targets. You may have things inside that will tempt them to break into your house. Curtains and blinds should be drawn shut while you are asleep.

Purchase a timer to put your lights on and off during the day. This will ensure that they turn on and off when you can’t be at home.

Talk to your home-security company to see if they provide buy and lease options for your equipment. Buying the equipment might cost more up front, but it means a one time cost that does not continue every month. Leasing is often less expensive, but it may involve contracts and higher monthly fees. Look at both of these to see what works for you.

When the windows in your family room are facing the street, it is best to close your curtains every night before you go to bed. You do not want to invite people peeking in through your window. If thieves can see your things, they might think about paying you a visit. Be discreet when showing off what everyone can see, and you can be more likely to avoid burglaries.

Using a timer on lights is a great idea. This makes it easier for you as you won’t have to flip the switch, but it also ensures the lights continue to go on and off, even if you’re not at home for a long period of time.

Make friends with a talkative neighbor who is home a lot. Busybodies may be quick to notice when someone odd is checking out your house. As a friend, they will be sure to notify you.

Any priceless items need to be secured. It is best to keep items such as passports, legal documents, photos and financial records in a spot that is secure. You can keep these things in a floor safe placed in a secure area of your home. A better idea is storing them inside a type of safe deposit box that’s outside your home.

Although locks sealed inside are okay, they are useless if they can’t be locked from the outside. A deadbolt with keys on both the inside and outside of the door is best.

Armed with this information, it should be easier for you to secure your home with the best possible outcome. Installing the right type of service and system as well as having the right type of knowledge is very important. The tips you’ve just received can start making a difference in your family’s safety immediately.

Try not to leave any toys in the yard when your children are not out there playing with them. This makes thieves think women live there. This will make the home a target, as thieves assume women will have valuable jewelry and will be less able to defend themselves.