Your home needs to be the safest place for your family to be at all times. Your family must know that when they return home from being out it will be to a place that is safe and secure. The best way to start out in protecting your home and its contents is by reading this article for the best advice available.

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. If a burglar enters your home, he or she will have a hard time making off with your possessions. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.

Is your dog outside even if you are away? Your pet might just be the perfect place to stash a spare key to your home. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Above doors or under doormats are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. Try to find somewhere less obvious.

When looking to buy a security system, shop around. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Try to get two or three quotes before making a decision.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. Therefore, you need to regularly clean your yard so that your home is protected.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. Whether you have a roommate who is about to move out, or a relationship that has run its course, it is a good idea change your locks. It doesn’t cost much and they can usually show up within a day.

Store your car in the garage if you have it. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. Hiding your car away from plain view is a good way to keep intruders from knowing when you are at home or not.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

Walls are the perfect place to hide. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you have no unused plates, you can put in a fake one.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. Any thief knows all the typical hiding spots. You should have a trusted neighbor keep a spare key.

Get a custom-designed plan that fits your needs by having the security company do a site visit in your home. Different people require different plans. Doing this helps you get the best security you can get from the company, helping you to relax.

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. They show the world you have money and lots of valuables inside.

Consider your own personal safety needs and security risks before exploring home security systems. Generic systems aren’t for everyone. It may be better for you to take a self-defense class or buy a dog. The neighborhood you live in makes a difference. Understanding your neighborhood, risks and budget constraints can help you to make the best choices.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.

A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves can use this information to figure out your schedule and determine the best time to break in. If a shredder is too expensive, at least tear relevant paperwork into small bits.

One effective home security trick you can use is by installing outdoor motion sensor lights. Burglars tend to commit crimes at night. Install a light in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.

If you’re planning to be out of your home for a period of time, have a neighbor remove any fliers placed on your door. Often burglars will place these at homes and wait to see if people take them down. If their fliers are not moved, the crook knows the home is unattended.

A great security system for your home is a dog. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. You will get good results even if you do not have a large or vicious dog. Even the barking of a tiny dog can repel potential burglars, who want to avoid noises as they carry out their crimes.

Install a home surveillance system. Setting up hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. If a burglar can see them, they are likely to go away. A lot of surveillance cameras could be accessed through your phone, giving you the chance to check it even when you’re away.

Steer clear of locks with spring latches. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card. A thief only needs to skip the credit card in between the lock to make it open. If you are already using locks that operate on spring latches, improve your security by adding a deadbolt.

When you purchase an expensive item such as a computer or TV, be sure to take the cardboard box to the recycling center rather than leaving it on your curb for all the world to see. When burglars see these boxes, they will know you have them inside your home, making it more likely for them to break in. Remember to cut up or break down those boxes and take them to the recycling center.

If you aren’t at the house, keep the windows and curtains closed. You don’t want potential thieves knowing you are gone. If you leave them open, potential burglars can look in and case the joint. If something desirable is visible, you can expect a break in. Your window dressing should also be closed while you sleep.

A great protection against burglars is owning a dog. Dogs are quite protective of their masters and home, and they can display quite a bark if someone comes near the house. You don’t even need a huge, vicious dog. Any dog who barks, small or large, can scare off a burglar.

The glove compartment is bad place to store important documents like your car’s registration. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. Hide them somewhere else in the car, or carry them with you. Remember that you have to have access to them in case you’re stopped by the police.

Here you have been given an abundance of good advice. How can you use it to protect your home? Keep learning about home security. Technology is rapidly advancing, changing the industry along with it. Stay up to date, and everyone stays safe.

Choose an out of the way place to hide your spare key, not the obvious ones. Fake rocks are easy to spot. Doormats are the first place people look at. A friend or neighbor can be a much better key holder than an inanimate object. If that option isn’t available to you, be creative with your hiding spots.