As a homeowner, your priority should be to keep your family safe. Home damage can be devastating. Your home is not only your largest investment, it is also a place to live your life and build memories. You can do more to protect your home and its occupants by checking out the advice presented below.

Do you have an outside dog? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.

Have your home always look occupied. Invest in timers to automatically turn on and off any electronics at various times. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

Security systems are more than just an alarm. Most security systems can facilitate alarm sounds anyone enters. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. Try hiding your key somewhere more unique, like your outside dog’s collar.

Protect your spare key by using 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. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!

You should talk to your friends and family about advice concerning certain home security companies. 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. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Always go with your gut when it comes to choosing a security firm. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. You need to feel secure with the entire process.

After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. The person who previously owned the home may have made copies of keys. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. Remove the wires from an electric socket you do not use so you can hide your valuable jewelry.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. Keep yourself safe.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Do a background check on them. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

You should change all the locks if you just bought or rented a new home. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Rotten Wood

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Rotten wood on door and window frames needs to be repaired. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

Make sure you have several flashlights that are charged and ready to go in the event of a power outage. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Keep in mind that your family might be separated during a power outage, and make sure you children know where to find and how to use your flashlights.

Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they’re available in your area.

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. It is possible to purchase and put in locks on your own so you can be assured you have the only keys.

As discussed, protecting your home is not that hard. You simply need to understand how home security works. Put the ideas mentioned here into practice for a safer future. Do not neglect even one of these tips, because they all help ensure your home is safe.

You should not be shy. Meet your neighbors. Watch their homes for suspicious activity and get their word that they will do the same thing for you. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You might hear helpful information, for instance if strangers have been hanging around.