Take care to protect pricey valuables, such as jewelry, fine art or cash. Upgrading your home security gives you protection from burglars. Continue reading to learn excellent strategies on keeping your home safe.

Your home should looked occupied all the time. You can purchase inexpensive timers that will control different electronics and lights in your home. This will give your home the appearance of someone being there. This will keep people from breaking in.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!

Home security systems have different kinds of features that can sound an alarm when someone breaks into your house. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This is important if you have small kids.

Never open up your door to a stranger. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. Although it’s fun to talk about, posting it online makes it more possible for criminals to find out when you’re gone.

Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. Due to the heat, these items in your yard are more likely to catch on fire. As a result, your home could be caught on fire. Keeping your plants and bushes trimmed will benefit your family’s safety as well as the appearance of your home.

Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.

See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. Burglars like using darkness to hide. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. Having these outdoor lights installed can really work as a deterrent to criminals who are considering your house.

From the road, are your house numbers visible? If you have an emergency, it will be hard for the police to find your house quickly if your numbers are hidden or too small to read. Fortunately, the solution to this is quick, easy and rather cheap once you are aware of the need.

Avoid placing spare keys under door mats or in plant boxes. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Thieves know about all these hiding spots. You should have a trusted neighbor keep a spare key.

Man’s best friend can be one of the most effective anti-burglary systems. These pets are usually territorial and want to protect their masters. You don’t have to have a huge, violent guard dog, though. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.

Find out if the company you choose will give you the option of buying or leasing home security systems. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. Leasing is often less expensive, but it may involve contracts and higher monthly fees. Look into both choices to know which one is better for your personal circumstances.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. These types of items are appealing to thieves, and you may as well put a sign in your yard inviting them to steal yours.

If you’ve got a keypad to lock your door, do not make a password which is obvious. Anyone can get personal information online which they can use to access your home. Use a password that you can remember but that no one else will be able to guess.

Batteries Regularly

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

Think about getting a hard-wired system if you have concerns about maintenance issues. Wireless systems are of course convenient, but unfortunately you have to change numerous sets of batteries regularly. If you neglect to switch out the batteries regularly, your security system won’t function properly. Also, frequent battery replacements can be costly.

A timer can help you regulate when you turn the lights off or on in the evening. This can simplify your life, but it also makes your home appear lived in if you are away.

Flashlights in your home should always have newer batteries if your power goes out. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

Any priceless items need to be secured. Items like passports, family photos, financial records, expensive jewelry and legal documents are best kept in a secure location. A floor safe is a great place to keep these items within the home. You may even choose to store them outside your home in safety deposit box.

If your door is not made out of solid wood or metal, you should replace it. Doors such as these stand their ground. Burglars would have a hard time kicking such doors down. Replace outside doors as quickly as possible.

If you are searching for ways to make your home more secure, one inexpensive way to accomplish this is to purchase exterior lights that have motion detectors. At night, the lights will keep things bright round the house, but they are also efficient and cost-effective ways to help your security. If you position motion detectors properly, it is very hard for someone to sneak onto the property.

It is best to protect your home against any kind of dangers. Don’t live in fear all the time, but try taking precautionary steps. Keep these tips in mind, and set out to protect your home and family.