If your personal possessions include high-value items like jewelry, artwork or significant amounts of cash, you can’t assume that their existence is secret. Protect yourself and your valuables by educating yourself on home security. Continue reading to learn excellent strategies on keeping your home safe.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.

Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Make sure you verify all references. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.

Do not open your door for strangers. You never know who they might be, despite their story. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Avoid being shy. Talk to your neighbors. Keep your eye on their houses, and ask for help to keep yours safe too. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. You will not have to worry about thieves taking your car if it is inside your garage. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

Rural Areas

Go with your instincts when choosing a security system company. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. Remember that every aspect of your home security system should support you in feeling more secure.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. Remember that you are not the only one who is aware of these sorts of hiding places. Burglars always know just where to look. Rather, give your spare key to a neighbor or friend that you trust.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. While they are nice and help with lighting, they also provide the burglars help with access to your home. Be certain that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

The wiring outside of your home can be valuable. Some intruders could strip your home of every bit of copper. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. Be sure that your wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep your wires safe.

Always lock your house, even if you are only going to be away for a few minutes. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. Thieves can steal thousands worth of your belongings very quickly.

Obtain flashlights with solid batteries, and ensure they are kept in all the rooms of your home in the event of a power outage. Flashlights are important for letting you navigate your home in the dark. Be sure everyone in your family is aware of the location of emergency flashlights.

When choosing an alarm system, consider one that offers protection for more than just your doors. It should protect the windows too. Be sure your home alarm covers all entry points into your home. This will help to keep your family safe.

Screen the references of anyone who would have access to your house. Don’t be afraid of conducting background checks to determine if they have a criminal history. It is impossible to know if the newly hired maid or one time repairman might be a crook unless you check them out. Providing them with your key might be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Check out reviews you find on the web. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. Burglars seek darkness so that they can stay hidden. Be sure and have a light next to any entry point in your home. All doors, porches, garages and windows should be well lit.

If you come home and see your door ajar, never investigate it alone. Your home and the area surrounding it may still be in danger. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

If you are going to be out of town for more than a day or so, have someone check your mailbox and door for mail and fliers. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes them down. By your neighbor taking the flyer, it appears as if you got it yourself.

Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. Cutting the papers into small pieces with a pair of scissors is another option.

If you purchase pricey, new electronics, don’t place empty boxes on the curb. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! Cut the boxes up when they are empty.

Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If the flier is not moved, they know that the occupant is not around or on vacation.

Don’t use locks of the spring latch variety. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. This isn’t a difficult maneuver either. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.

Rather than living in blissful ignorance, assume that you may be targeted by criminals. There’s no need to live in fear, but addressing some basic security concerns is always the prudent course of action. Remember the guidelines in this guide in order to improve your home’s security, so you can protect both you and your family.

Never hide keys in obvious locations. Is anybody really fooled by those fake rocks? Not likely. The first place a person will look is a doormat. It is best to simply ask a neighbor or trusted friend to hold on to an extra key for you. If you can’t, be creative where you put the key.