Home security may be a major concern for you if you’re a female that lives alone. Rather than living in fear, you can take some steps to help protect you and your family. Read all of these home security tips.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for 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. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. A safe is the best way to protect your diamonds, gold and important documents. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. You have no way of knowing how many folks might have keys to your house. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. Prices vary greatly in regards to the same protection for each company. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. The majority of systems will give an audible alert when someone enters the house. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. A constantly ringing phone lets thieves know that you are not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

Don’t announce your vacation agenda on your social networks. This is especially true if you have lots of unfamiliar “friends”. It’s exciting going to new places and enjoying your time, but you could alert thieves to an empty home that they can easily break into.

Request information from your local law enforcement agencies about home protection packages. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you. Call and see what is available.

Before leaving for vacation, turn off the ringers in your house. If your phone is ringing while you are out, burglars will realize that no one is home, making your home very vulnerable to an attack during your time away.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. This will keep thieves from stealing it or harming it. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

Don’t let people into your house that you don’t know. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

Don’t forget about the skylights when securing your home. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Skylights need to be installed correctly and safely, with hardware that will keep intruders out.

Attached Garage

Check each spring for any rotting frames on your doors and windows. Replace them immediately if you spot any problems. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Wood that is beginning to rot should always be replaced to make sure your home stays safe.

If you have an attached garage, don’t forget to secure it as well. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Speak with the police in your area to see if they have these things.

If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. Burglars are creative, and they often pose as a member of the security team to get inside. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. You want to use caution to prevent danger.

Security System

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. It doesn’t take long for a quality company to prove itself in the security business, and you should look for a track record of satisfied customers and successful work. When you know that you’re dealing with a company of some repute, you can feel more at ease making that decision.

You need to have your security system checked once a year. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. Many different things can make problems for your security system. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Dark houses invite burglars who prefer to operate under cover of darkness. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

If you think something looks odd when you get back home, don’t go inside. This is a delicate situation as the burglar might still be in your home. You should call the cops and then wait for them before you do anything else.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. If the wires are exposed, an intruder can bypass the system by cutting its wires. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. You will be much safer.

The best method to maintain a thief from going into the garage is making sure nobody can see inside. Cover windows using frosting, which you can buy at large hardware stores, to keep people from peeking in your window. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

Be on the lookout for rotten wood anywhere near your doors or windows. Anybody wanting to break into your house can just pry off rotted wood and get inside. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

Never place empty boxes for expensive items out on the curb. When burglars see these boxes, they will know you have them inside your home, making it more likely for them to break in. Break the boxes down, or take a scissors to them to help them fit in your trash can.

Alter the locks and the keys when you change homes. The person who used to live there may still have a key. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

There’s an easy way to secure interior doors (if there are areas you want to keep housemates and children out of) without obliging you to carry a key-ring around at all times. Install key-less locks instead. These locks use codes instead of keys. You can have keyless locks installed by a security company or you can do it yourself.

Before letting a home security representative inside, ask for identification. They might not be who you think they are. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. You want to use caution to prevent danger.

Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. A contract that is longer might offer lower monthly payments, but you may have to continue with these if you decide to sell the house or discontinue services. While a short contract provides you with extra freedom, it can cost you more for each month.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. If windows and doors can be easily seen from all areas, then burglars cannot hide as well, which will hinder their plans. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.

Avoid common hiding places for your spare key. Fake rocks are very easy to spot. Someone is going to look under your doormat. A safer option is entrusting a neighbor or one of your most trusted friends to keep your spare key. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

You don’t have to break the bank on security equipment in order to protect your family. There are some things that can be done cheaply. Remember the tips in this article if you would like to feel more safe at home.

Secure valuables that are truly irreplaceable. Items like family photos, passports, legal documents and expensive jewelry should be kept in a safe place. Floor safes may come in handy for this purpose. What is even better is the safe deposit box at your bank.