Homeowners must assume the serious responsibility of home safety. Alarm systems are not the only way to keep your home safe and secure. Read on for some tips to boost your home’s security.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

Buy a small home safe that you can use to keep your valuables in. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

When in the process of purchasing a home-security system, be sure to comparison shop. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Ensure you talk to a minimum of three companies to obtain quotes before deciding the one that you believe is best for you.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Above doors or under doormats are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. Try hiding the key in your outside dog’s collar.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

Don’t announce your vacation agenda on your social networks. This is especially true if you have lots of unfamiliar “friends”. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

If your social networking accounts are filled with folks you do not really know, do not announce vacations on the sites. 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.

Your garage should be as secure as your home. A lot of garage owners fret over burglars entering this way, but there are answers. Place a C-Clamp on the door track near the roller. This will prevent the door from lifting.

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. If the garage door lifts via a track, you can use a C-clamp to stop your door from opening at the hands of intruders.

Don’t be afraid to know the people who live near you. Meet your neighbors. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You might actually learn a thing or two concerning people that have been hanging around.

In the summer, remove vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. If you need to protect expensive items in your home, put them inside the walls. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

Be sure to keep your car in your garage rather than filling your garage with stored belongings. In this way, your car will be safer. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. Be sure to put curtains on your front-facing windows so people can’t see your valuable belongings.

Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Speak to your neighbors. Watch their homes and ask them if they’ll watch yours as well. Pay attention to gossip as well. You may stumble across valuable security information, like if someone has noticed a stranger lurking around the neighborhood.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. These lights turn on if someone walks closely to your house. Not only will they notify you of movement, they will also deter potential burglars, as thieves want to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. They show the world you have money and lots of valuables inside.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. Your home should have a few pre-cut areas that can be used. What about un-wiring an electrical socket which isn’t used to utilize as a cover to hide your jewelry?

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. In the evening, lights will help keep your home safe, and will add little in the way of extra expense. 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.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. Do this to keep you and your family safe.

If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. There may be some hidden fees, or a need to buy more equipment later. Avoid nasty charges or fees regarding early termination, contract expiration and additional features or equipment.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. This makes it much less likely that your system will be compromised.

Think about having a wireless security system for the home installed. Systems that are wired are cheaper, but they need unattractive wiring inside your home and may malfunction when you have a power outage. Wireless systems tend to be easier for installation and maintenance, and they will not go out if your power does.

Remove and replace any wood that is not up to par. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace wood that is starting to rot with fresh new wood to keep your home as safe as possible.

Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Burglars sometimes tack these up and watch to see whether or not they are removed. If the flier is not moved, they know that the occupant is not around or on vacation.

Before you let any strangers enter your home, be sure you look over their references. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. It is not a good idea to give anyone a key to your home, even contractors or repairmen.

Can you read your house numbers while in the street? If you need assistance, emergency vehicles may not locate your home in a timely manner if the numbers don’t stand out. Fortunately, this is something that can be corrected quickly and cheaply.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. Make sure that there is nothing obstructing your doors and windows. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. Keeping the areas around your windows free of plants can help to deter criminals from lurking too close to your home, without you noticing.

Spring latch locks are not a good option. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. Rip your important papers up before throwing them away if you can’t get a shredder.

Find out if the company you choose will give you the option of buying or leasing home security systems. Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. On the other hand, while leasing is more expensive overall, it can get you a better system if you don’t have funds available immediately. Compare both avenues to see which one is better suited for your needs.

When you will be away from home, keep the curtains and blinds shut. If you don’t, others can look in and see that the property is currently unoccupied. They’re going to want to get in your house if they can see items they want. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

If you must hide a key, hide it somewhere unusual. It is easy to find fake rocks. Doormats are the first place people look at. Just leave your key with someone you trust. If that isn’t an option, be creative with a hiding spot.

Does your security firm offer lights with motion sensors? Lots of companies will provide this feature. Motion sensitive lighting causes your home’s outside lights to turn on whenever anyone gets too close. This further protects you from having unwanted guests enter your home.

Program your lights to turn on and off at random intervals with a timer. You will not have to expend as much energy taking care of the lights, but you will still be able to make sure your house is illuminated when you want it to be.

Women who live alone or along with children are the most likely targets for burglary. Put large, muddy boots on the porch to give the illusion of having a man at home. This can discourage burglars from choosing your home for a robbery.

Deadbolts featuring captive keylocks are usually your wisest choice. This is a great type of lock, because it cannot be opened from the inside without a key. Leave a key inside the lock in case there’s an emergency.

You should be able to put the suggestions provided above to good use in your quest to improve the security of your home. As inconvenient and confusing as this appears, it’s crucial for securing your home and family. These tips can help.

Criminals really don’t like surveillance cameras. Burglars with masks like you see in movies are not really the norm. Burglars seldom cover their faces and very few expect anyone to see them. That means that they will avoid cameras at all costs.