It’s important to do your homework in order to make an informed decision with regards to home security. This is not a decision to make casually. It is important to review your options and do what you can to protect your family.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie 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.

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. You can attach a copy of your key to the dog’s collar, so when you need that spare, you’ve got one handy!

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Some give offer the option to monitor all entries into the house. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. Check their references fully. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

If you retain a space key for when you get locked out, consider the place you hide it carefully. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. An example would be to attach a key to your dog’s collar, if he stays outdoors.

Keep your jewelry, vital documents and other expensive items in a safe. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

Don’t talk about your vacations on social media. Although it’s fun to talk about, posting it online makes it more possible for criminals to find out when you’re gone.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.

Your garage should be as secure as your home. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. A C-clamp can prevent a garage door from even opening if the clamp is tightened on the door track near the roller.

Shut off the ringer for all of the telephones in your home if you are planning to go on vacation for a long time. A constantly ringing phone lets thieves know that you are not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

Remove old plants and debris from your yard. 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. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

Don’t forget about the skylights when securing your home. Although a skylight can bring light into one’s home and look good, it’s also a common entrance way for burglars. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. The police can offer you some great advice, help you engrave valuables and even come check out your home. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.

Get creative and hide valuables inside your walls. It’s not necessary to cut out parts of your wall to do this. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

Motion sensor lights are a great investment. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. They will notify you of any movement and can deter any possible burglars since they like remaining inconspicuous. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.

No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. Blinds are a great way to allow the light in, without allowing people to see in at the same time.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. Perhaps you could deactivate a few unused electrical sockets to use as a place to store stuff.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

Rotted Wood

Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. Anyone can gain access to our home by prying away the rotted wood. Keep your home secure by replacing rotted wood with fresh timber.

Replace rotten wood near door frames. Anybody wanting to break into your house can just pry off rotted wood and get inside. Therefore, replace rotted wood with fresh wood to ensure your home’s safety.

Obtain flashlights with solid batteries, and ensure they are kept in all the rooms of your home in the event of a power outage. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.

If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. You want to avoid as many of these fees as you can, so read everything.

Whenever you are landscaping your home, you should consider safety. Don’t obstruct windows or doors with shrubs, plants, fences or trees. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

Keep lights on at all times if you want to prevent break-ins from happening. Thieves don’t want to be visible. When your house is well lit, intruders have no place to hide. This makes it hard for them to get things from you. If you want to stay secure, keep your house brightly lit.

Ask your home security company about coming to your residence and creating a system that is tailored to your personal needs. The needs and wants of each family and the configuration of each home are quite individual. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a new home security company. The sites of the companies themselves will provide you with details about their services, testimonials from their customers, and pricing information. After reading about these services, you can narrow down the results and use appointments for price comparisons.

Think about getting a home security system that is wireless. It may cost less to get a wired system; however, rewiring to accommodate the system may be difficult. Additionally, power outages may negatively impact your system. Systems that operate in a wireless environment can be easier to manage and are not as likely to cause extensive rewiring issues.

Get some professional assistance by asking a home security company to come to your house and work up a plan for a customized security system. Every house and every family will produce a unique set of security concerns that are best addressed with tailor-made security arrangements. By locating the company that will create the best plan for you, you will be assured you are receiving the best possible home security.

Make sure that your garage is not visible from the outside in. Cover windows using frosting, which you can buy at large hardware stores, to keep people from peeking in your window. It’s also a good idea to avoid leaving your garage door open for any longer than absolutely necessary, even if you’re at home.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. Use frosting to cover the garage window, so people cannot peer inside. Keep your garage door closed as often as possible, too.

Your dog is a great tool for protecting your home from intruders. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. There is no need for a guard dog. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.

A dog is a great home security alarm. These pets are usually territorial and want to protect their masters. Keeping a huge and ferocious canine is not necessary. Small dogs also have the ability to scare away burglars who definitely don’t want lots of ruckus when they appear.

If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. If you place it under a rock, a good robber will find it. The doormat is the first place someone will look. It is probably best to find someone you trust to hold a key for you. If you have no trustworthy neighbors, try to be more creative.

When you aren’t home, be sure to close your blinds, curtains or shades. Leaving the curtains up invites people to peer into your living room. They may break in if they see things they like. You should keep them closed while you are asleep.

You should think about a wired system if maintenance is a concern. Although wireless security equipment is easy to install, it relies on battery power, necessitating constant battery swaps. Also, your home will not be protected if you neglect to use fresh batteries. Buying new batteries to replace the old ones can get expensive.

Ask if your company offers options to both buy and lease your security equipment. Buying the equipment might cost more up front, but it means a one time cost that does not continue every month. Leasing is cheaper, but it can involve contracts and pricier monthly fees. You need to think about each option to think about what is right for your home.

Find out if you can get motion sensitive lighting from your security company. This is a common offering from most companies. These lights, affixed to your home’s exterior, illuminate whenever anyone comes within range. This makes your home safer because it warns intruders away.

Now that you’ve read this article, you are surely more knowledgeable about the given subject. You don’t want to walk into your decisions blindly. You need to be comfortable that you have taken your family’s security seriously. Keep all this information available when it is time to make a decision.

Try not to get sliding glass doors in your home if security is a serious issue. They can be easily opened if someone lifts and shakes the door frame. Place a pipe in the door crevice to keep the door secure. This will keep the door closed tight and harder to force open.