Homeowners must secure their homes. There are many different ways that you can make your home more secure without having to buy an expensive home security system. This article will offer you several different options to consider.

Spare Key

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. This will only be ideal if you have a dog door or an outdoor dog. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

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. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.

Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Check their references very carefully. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This can provide additional safety to the home, particularly in dry regions. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. It is probable that you will hear some great stories about some companies as well as some not so great stories about others. This can save you the hassle of having to research everything on your own. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. To make sure your home is safer, clear your yard periodically.

See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. There are lots of different programs, like home inspections, that will help you take the proper steps to make sure your home adequately protected. Call and see what is available.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Therefore, only allow people you know and are expecting to enter your home.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. It is generally cheap and may be done in a little under a day.

Whenever you are selecting a home security company, make sure you go with your gut feelings. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. Make sure that the installer has experience installing your type of security system. Security is supposed to give you peace of mind after all!

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. It is possible for an intruder to get in the garage and then gain access to the house; however, you can do something about it. 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.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. That said, stranger things have happened.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. These lights will come on if someone walks near your house. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

Even if you’re not going to be gone long, keep your home locked. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. It does not take long for thieves to steal your expensive stuff.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

The first thing to do is get your locks changed out. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. It shouldn’t cost too much, and the process can be completed very quickly.

Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. Do not hesitate to hire someone to run a background check if you have doubts. You can’t know for sure about the integrity of people you hire, and blindly giving them access to your home can be a huge mistake.

If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. If a burglar sees your empty box, he or she will know that valuable item is inside your house. That’s good motivation for a break-in. Cut the boxes and wait until the garbage truck comes to put them outside.

Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This leads to danger. Be cautious to stay safe.

Spring Latch Locks

Do not use spring latch locks on your doors. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. Intruders can just wedge the credit card in between the latch and the door, causing it to open. IF spring latch locks are already in place, add a deadbolt for that extra layer of security.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. These lights are not only handy when you get home late, they also help deter criminals from entering your home. They also help to keep intruders away, because an intruder does not want to come close to your property if they know they might be spotted.

If you’ve got a keypad to lock your door, do not make a password which is obvious. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. Instead, come up with a trickier password that only you will know the answer to.

Devote extra security to your irreplaceable possessions. Passports, financial records, jewelry, photos or legal documents should be locked away. Floor safes are excellent locations for keeping these particular items safe inside your home. You may even choose to store them outside your home in safety deposit box.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. They sometimes have hidden costs if you let go of them prior to the contract expiring. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.

If you have a door that isn’t solid wood or metal, change it for either one. This sort of door will deter intruders. It would be very hard for a burglar to kick it and go inside. It shouldn’t be too costly to replace your exterior doors, so go do it.

Deadbolt locks offer the best security, and those with captive keylocks are even better. They include thumb latches that prevent anyone from breaking a window and reaching around to unlock the door. If you are home, have a key inside the lock so you can easily exit if a fire breaks out.

Checking out security firms online is a great idea. You can check out their packages and rates and also read some customer reviews. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

You’re ready to secure your home. Although all this may seem complicated and tedious, it’s totally necessary in order to keep your whole family safe. Apply what you’ve just learned, and you should be golden.