You never know when crime may strike close to home. Don’t neglect to prepare for unfortunate events. Read the below article to learn excellent ideas on keeping your home safe from all threats.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Spare Key

If you’ve got lots of people you don’t know on your social networks, don’t let them know that you’re going to be on vacation. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

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. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

Compare various home security systems when shopping. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Get quotes from several companies so that you can get the best price for your home security system.

Your valuables should not be easily seen from outside your home. Though it is nice to have big windows to get a great view of the outdoors, it is also easier for burglars to look into your home. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

You should not let anyone inside your home. This includes a salesperson or people looking for help. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.

Obtain flashlights with solid batteries, and ensure they are kept in all the rooms of your home in the event of a power outage. It is extremely important that you have flashlights because they allow you to move around easier in the dark, which is especially useful in an emergency. Your kids should know how to work the flashlights so that everyone can help.

Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. Criminals find ways to get people to open doors so they can commit crimes. Create a rule where you only allow those you’ve invited to your home inside.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. While you may trust those who lived there before you, you have no idea who lived there before them. You can change the locks yourself if you’re feeling really industrious.

Keep your car in your garage. You will not have to worry about thieves taking your car if it is inside your garage. Hiding your car away from plain view is a good way to keep intruders from knowing when you are at home or not.

Home security installation technicians should always be in uniform and wearing identification. Thieves may say they are from a certain company to get into your home. This can lead to harm befalling your family and possessions. Be very careful with who you let into your home.

If you are throwing away the box an expensive item came in, wait until trash day to put the box out. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

Keep safety at the forefront when landscaping your property. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

If you’ve recently moved into a house, get any locks changed out. You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. Even though these security systems can guard you and your family, that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. Some neighborhoods would feel be safe enough if you knew basic self defense or had a large dog. Be sure to assess the risk level you face before making big decisions.

Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. This is a delicate situation as the burglar might still be in your home. Call the police, then wait until they get there to do anything else.

If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Be deliberate in preventing hazards.

Make sure your address numbers are clearly visible from across the street. If there is need for cops to come to your home, it will be hard for them to find it if the numbers are not readable or are tiny. Thankfully, you can easily fix this problem very quickly and cheaply.

Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and this could be a very bad mistake.

Your dog is a great tool for protecting your home from intruders. Dogs protect your home by barking if something is wrong. It doesn’t need to be a huge dog either. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.

Whenever you sign with a home-security company, it is important that you thoroughly read the contract. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

Speak with your security company about contract lengths and any options available. There are sure to be both good points and bad points about each option. A longer contract might give you a lower monthly bill, but you could be stuck with those monthly costs if you sell your home or decide to discontinue services. Shorter contracts have more freedom, but the monthly costs could be higher.

The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Read through official websites for different companies and look for reviews written by customers. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

When you aren’t home, be sure to close your blinds, curtains or shades. When they’re open, it would be easy to see no one is there. If they see something they like, they will then break in. Always close your curtains and blinds while sleeping.

Landscape your home with safety in mind. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. If you have them visible, people can’t hide in those areas while they try to break in. Keep landscaping away from your house for safety reasons.

Ask if your company offers options to both buy and lease your security equipment. While you will pay more to buy, you don’t have to keep paying for it month after month. The cost of leasing is lower at first but adds up over time. Compare these two options before making your decision.

Be sure and keep the outside of your house well lit. Criminals love darkness to help mask their crimes. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.

Avoid keeping auto registration in your glove compartment. This will prevent anyone from knowing where you reside. Hide them somewhere else in the car, or carry them with you. You must have them on hand if the police stop you.

If you plan to go away and have asked someone to get the mail, see if they will also remove fliers that may have been left at the door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. The more flyers pile up or the longer they are there, the more likely it is that the house is empty.

The windows on the second floor of your house should always be locked. Many people think burglars can’t gain access to these windows; however, this is not true. This is not always the case. This is often a weak area that criminals know about.

Don’t give anyone an opportunity to see inside your garage in order to ward off robbers. Frost your windows with film bought at a hardware store. Avoid leaving the door open for extended periods of time.

The wiring on your home’s outside can make it a target for burglars or thieves. Electrical wires contain copper, which is extremely valuable. If you hide the wiring, thieves won’t be able to strip the copper.

If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. It is easy to spot a rock that is fake. Many people will look under your doormat. It is best to simply ask a neighbor or trusted friend to hold on to an extra key for you. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

Don’t let your children leave toys in your yard. This will inform potential burglars that women live in the home. Women tend to have more valuable jewelry than their male counterparts, and thieves know this.

Criminals are tough to predict, and you never know when you may be targeted. Rather than just counting on luck, do what is necessary to protect your own home. Keep this advice in mind to prevent burglars from getting into your home.

Many times, someone knocks on your door claiming to need assistance only to bust it wide open when you answer. Therefore, if a person approaches your door and says that they need assistance, tell them that you will call someone for them, but you won’t be letting them inside. Call the police if you feel uncomfortable or notice suspicious activity.