Read on to learn more about the interesting and important topic of home security. You don’t have to make home security decisions blindly. You should have access to the best information and have control over your decisions. Continue reading to learn more about what options you have.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? You could let your dog carry a spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. Especially if pets don’t like strangers, this can be a useful way for having easy access to your house.

Have your dog protect the spare key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

Get advice from your friends before selecting a provider for home security. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Is your dog outside when you are away? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. Your local police department will help you with preventive measures, inspect your home and show you how to mark your valuables so they can easily be found. Get in touch today.

You should mute your land line phone if you are going on a vacation. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

It will not benefit you to be shy. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Also consider listening in on some of the neighborhood gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

Get rid of all of the dead wood and vegetation in your yard during the summer months. They are a potential fire hazard during warmer months. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.

Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. This doesn’t usually cost much, and it can be accomplished in less than a day.

Try not to have a shy attitude. Speak with your neighbors. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. Never neglect gossip. You may hear valuable information regarding security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

Motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home is a great idea. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

Walls are a good place to hide things. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Repurpose phone jacks and electrical outlets as tiny wall safes. You can also just put in a false plate to cover a hiding place.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. On a different note, some people believe homeowners in more rural areas are more likely to experience robberies because of the lack of nearby neighbors. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.

It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. An intruder can cut the wires if he can find them. This makes it much easier for a thief to get inside your home. Keep the wires protected. That will make you safer.

Be sure to replace rotten wood in the frame of your front door. Anyone can gain access to our home by prying away the rotted wood. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. Although the person you purchased the house from might seem good, you really have no clue as to who they really are. 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.

Keep flashlights in your rooms. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.

Rotten Wood

Moving into an apartment or home that you’ve lived in should involve changing the locks first to maker them safer. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. You can change the locks yourself if you’re feeling really industrious.

Be on the lookout for rotten wood anywhere near your doors or windows. Rotten wood can be removed in order to get inside your home. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Make sure that there is nothing obstructing your doors and windows. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. Thieves can pass themselves as workers, which can end up in a robbery of your home. This could be quite dangerous. You want to use caution to prevent danger.

A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves might go through your trash bags to find bills for valuables or personal information. If you don’t want a shredder, rip the papers up manually.

Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. There could be hidden costs if you were to quit your service prior to the expiration date of the contract, or you decide to add additional equipment later. Try avoiding these fees when you can so that you know about them.

If a friend picks up your mail while you’re away, have them check for fliers on your door. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed. If the flier is not removed, they will know you are not home.

Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. A company that has been in business for several years has shown that they can sustain in this industry and proven they provide reliable services that people recommend. It’s good to know that the company won’t disappear overnight and leave your home unprotected.

Make sure that your garage is not visible from the outside in. Frost your windows with film bought at a hardware store. Don’t let your door hang open for lengthy periods of time.

If you get home and the door is open, don’t go in. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.

When you aren’t home, make sure your windows are covered. You don’t want potential intruders to be able to look inside. If they notice this, they may break in. Your window dressing should also be closed while you sleep.

Wireless security systems are the next generation in protection. A wired system should be less expensive but you might have to spend your money on getting your home rewired. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.

Make sure that your valuables are kept in a secure location. This may include things like pictures of your children, heirloom jewelry or birth certificates. Floor safes are great for keeping items secure in your home. A better idea is storing them inside a type of safe deposit box that’s outside your home.

You should be able to take the information you’ve read here to propel yourself forward into the home security realm. Now that you know what you’re doing, you can choose a good system. Protect your home and your family by applying what you’ve learned from this article.

Women have a greater likelihood of being the targets of home invasion, particularly if they live alone or with children. Set out oversized muddy boots on the front step to make it look like a large and active man lives there. This will help keep criminals away.