You never know who might know you have valuable items in your home. Guard against burglaries by bolstering your security strategy. Review these ideas for making your home safer.

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. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.

Have your dog protect the spare key. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

When you’re going away, turn off your phone ringers. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

Spare Key

Go with your instincts when choosing a security system company. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. The purpose of using the company is to calm your uneasiness, not worsen it.

Is your dog outside when you are away? If so, the dog can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. Attach your spare key inside the collar of your dog. This works especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.

Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. Why not take the guts out of an electrical socket you’re not using? You can convert it into a convenient and covert little wall safe.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. Parents of children can track their kids this way.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. These are the first places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.

Do not tell anyone that you are going on vacation out of your friend circle. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This can keep your family much safer.

Ask your friends for advice before you choose a home security system or company. They have likely had interactions with home security providers that they can tell you about, saving you time and stress. Keep asking to get the advice that will help you make the right choice.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. While you may trust those who lived there before you, you have no idea who lived there before them. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

Make sure your attached garage is secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. Using a C-clamp on the garage door will prevent it from opening by staying on the door’s track.

Before you give a security company employee access to your home, make sure they’re in uniform and that they present acceptable identification. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Be careful to avoid any potential dangers.

See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. Many programs include how to use some engraving tools to create code numbers for identifying valuables that are stolen, home inspection, and advice on protective measures. Get in touch today.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Make sure that the doors and windows to your home are not covered by trees, fences, shrubs or any other type of thing. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. This will give your home additional safety.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. You might not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. Any business with multiple years of history has a proven record in being reliable. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

You should not be shy. Get to know other people who live next door and others in your neighborhood. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Listen for gossip too. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.

Your home’s exterior needs to be well lit. Criminals love darkness to help mask their crimes. Put a light anywhere where an intruder can enter your home. Don’t forget that this includes ground-level windows as well as doors, garages, and porches.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. 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. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

Whenever you purchase some expensive item, don’t place the empty boxes right outside your home. Burglars will see these boxes and recognize that there are new valubles in your house. Cut up the boxes completely instead.

You have a choice on who installs your security system, don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. After all, you’re investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.

When standing in the street, can you see your house numbers? If your house numbers are not easy to see, the police may have difficulty finding you in an emergency. This is easy and inexpensive to fix if you believe there could be a problem.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Some people think burglaries are less prevalent in rural parts.

Don’t have spring latch locks installed. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. If your locks are spring latch, either replace them or put in a deadbolt to protect yourself.

You can hide your valuable items inside your walls. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

When you’re not in your house, all of the window coverings (blinds, curtains, shades, or what have you) should be tightly shut. You do not want any part of your home visible to the public. If they notice something valuable, they’re more likely to invade your home. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

When it comes to home security, it is best to err on the side of caution. You should not become paranoid about home invasions, but keep in mind that you can avoid dangerous situations by protecting yourself. Keep these tips in mind if you want to improve your home’s security in order to protect your family.

If you use a door lock with a numeric keypad, do not use your birthday as the pass code. Anyone can get personal information online which they can use to access your home. Rather, use a number that can be determined through an equation that you can remember instead.