Securing your home can seem overwhelming and confusing, especially if you have never dealt with home security companies before. However, the process does not have to be so inconvenient. Read this article for great ways to secure your home.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. It is also another way to secure your home.

Your dog could carry a spare key for you. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

It is a good idea to replace all the locks on the new home you buy. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. This is also the thing to do if you lose the keys.

Does your canine stay in the yard while you go out? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Always change the locks after moving into a new home. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. You want to be sure that you’re the only one with a key. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

Avoid being shy. Build up a rapport with the people who own homes close to yours. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. You shouldn’t neglect gossip. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.

Shop around when looking for a good home security system. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. The doormat is too obvious of a place to hide it, as robbers will look there first. An example would be to attach a key to your dog’s collar, if he stays outdoors.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

Police Department

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. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

Hide the wires of your home security system. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Don’t let this happen; bury or hide the wires. This can make you safer.

Rather than getting a personal home security system, think about alternatives for protecting your family. Whether you are comfortable in purchasing a gun, placing a fence or even placing locks to the doors that you have, are all possible options. Put what you’ve learned in this article into practice!