Home security may be a major concern for you if you’re a female that lives alone. You don’t have to live in fear. You can do some easy things to make you feel more comfortable. Continue reading to learn some excellent home security ideas.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. This way, your house will always look occupied. This is an excellent method for avoiding burglary and keeping your home secure.

Your dog can actually safeguard a spare key. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Home security systems are able to do more than just sounding the alarm whenever you have an intruder. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

Spare Key

Only allow maids and cleaning services to have a key to the house if they are known to be trustworthy. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Check references thoroughly. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. If a burglar keeps hearing your phone ring, they’ll know the home is not occupied, making it more likely for a break-in to occur.

Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. Using a C-clamp on the garage door will prevent it from opening by staying on the door’s track.

Keep your car in the garage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Keeping your car out of sight is also a good way to prevent intruders from determining whether or not you are home.

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. The risk is still there, so a home security system is vital. Some people think burglaries are less prevalent in rural parts.

Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. It doesn’t cost much and they can usually show up within a day.

A wall is a great hiding place. Jewelry and other small items can be protected very well when placed in hiding places in your walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.

Do not hide your spare key under your doormat or in a nearby planter. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.

Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

If you move to a dwelling that has had prior occupants, make sure you get the locks changed. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

Always check references before letting anyone work on your home. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. 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.

Make sure your home’s exterior is well lit. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. Some examples include first story windows, garages, doorways and porches.

The wiring on your house is valuable to burglars. The majority of people aren’t aware of this fact until a burglar steals these wires. Copper wiring is very valuable and susceptible to being stripped from the outside of your home. To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

Security System

Prior to purchasing a security system, think about what you need it for. Although they can be very helpful, security systems aren’t always necessary. In some cases the security system is your best investment, in others you well-served with an alert dog or reinforced locking systems. Think about your risk factor when making a decision.

Check each spring for any rotting frames on your doors and windows. Replace them immediately if you spot any problems. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

Securing your house doesn’t mean you’ve got to go through pricey installs and waiting on slow companies to get the work done right. There are alternatives out there that are much cheaper and they can really help keep criminals away. Use all the tips from this article and you will notice a difference.