Whether you rent or own, your safety is paramount. There are many ways to add to the security of your living space. Go over this article for more information on home security.

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Put timers on the TV, lights and radios. This will give your home the appearance of someone being there. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.

Change the locks after buying a new house. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Hire a locksmith so that you can be sure you are the only person who can access your home. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. Speak with a locksmith to get a unique lock for your home. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. It is best to do a reference check on them. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if their firm is well-reviewed.

Does your dog stay outside while you are gone? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Attach the key to the dog’s collar so that it is hidden from view. This works especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.

Spare Key

If you retain a space key for when you get locked out, consider the place you hide it carefully. People will check your doormat and frame first. You should hide it in your dog’s collar.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. Instead, try hiding a key on the collar of an outside dog.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. They pose a fire risk. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This will give your home added security. Investing in fire-resistant materials will help you save a lot since a fire can cause extensive damage.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Ask the security company to send a technician out to give your system a thorough inspection. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

Avoid opening the door if you don’t know who is standing on the other side. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Don’t be shy. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. Don’t disregard gossip either. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.

Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. If your garage lifts up on a track, try using a C-clamp. This will prevent your door from opening up if the clamp is close to its roller.

Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. These lights will come on if someone walks near your house. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Just do not forget to replace the bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.

Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Call them up to find out more.

The first step in making your home more secure is to change out your locks. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. These lights will come on if someone walks near your house. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Just remember to change out the bulbs every so often so the lights remain in working order.

Consider hiding valuables within your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. Your home should have a few pre-cut areas that can be used. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

Keep your home security system’s wires under cover. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. Keep yourself safe.

Rotting Wood

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Empty boxes might draw the attention of robbers and let everyone know you own new and expensive goods.

Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. It is simple for a robber to pry away rotting wood and enter your home. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

Your first priority when you move to an apartment or house where others have lived in before is to replace all the locks. They previous occupants may have made copies of the keys. You can also put the locks on yourself so you can be sure no one else has a key.

Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. Don’t be afraid of conducting background checks to determine if they have a criminal history. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.

Whenever you sign with a home-security company, it is important that you thoroughly read the contract. There could be fees for terminating the contract early or acquiring additional equipment down the road. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

Criminals are much less likely to target your home if it’s well lit. They do not desire to be seen. When you have a well-lit home, crooks won’t be able to hide and it will be hard for them to break in undetected. Keep the lights on if you want your home to be secure.

You want the security company to actually come to your house and install the system according to your needs. Each homeowner has different priorities in terms of home security. If you have found a company that could cater to your needs, then it is easy to get the security that will make you and your loved ones comfortable.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. Different people require different plans. If you are able to secure a company willing to tailor a system to your needs, there is a good chance that you will be satisfied.

Now after taking in the above information you should have some great tips to begin securing your home. Don’t hesitate so you can keep the ideas learned here fresh in your mind. They can help you put into effect your good intentions to make your home secure. You can now feel safer sleep better at night.

If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. Burglars can see these and they know that you have them in your home, increasing your chances of a break-in. Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.