Many people want to secure their home. No matter where you live, there is no shortage of burglaries. Thieves pick houses that appear to be easy targets. If you want to protect your home, read this article to find out more about home security.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You don’t know who might have a key. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

Have your dog protect the spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. 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 do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

Spare Key

Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.

Is your dog outside even if you are away? If so, the dog can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. Attach the key to the dog’s collar so that it is hidden from view. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. Parents of children can track their kids this way.

Don’t forget about the skylights when securing your home. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Use heavy-duty hardware to secure your skylights to the roof.

If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. If an intruder breaks into your home, at least these valuables will be secure. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.

Walls are a good place to hide things. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. All you need is a wall opening you’re not using (something like a phone jack, electrical box, or switch plate). A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.

Don’t ever put your spare key under your doormat or in a planter. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Intruders know about the usual hiding spots. A better solution is to give your key to a neighbor you trust.

A secure hiding place can be created in a wall. Concealing small valuables in your walls is an easy and highly effective way to protect them. Simply take advantage of an unused switch plate, electrical outlet, or phone jack. You can also install a fake one.

If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. It’s not necessary to cut out parts of your wall to do this. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?

When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. The old owners may seem nice, but you don’t know everything about them. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Be certain to read the entire contract when you hire a home security firm. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.

The security of your home is essential for you and for your family’s safety. Crime always strikes whenever it is least expected. Keep this advice handy, and work to make your home more secure. Wait no longer. Following the advice from this article can really end up saving you a major headache in the future.

When seeking out home security firms, the Internet is an indispensable tool. Check out different websites, and read through package details and customer testimonials. Then you can schedule an appointment for a home visit to discuss which package is best for you and what it will cost.