Most people know home security is important, but many people do not understand it. It is important to research home security in order to keep your home protected. Keep reading to learn some valuable pointers on securing your home.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This can be a terrific method of securing your home and keeping burglars at bay.

Put your spare key on your dog. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. You can attach a copy of your key to the dog’s collar, so when you need that spare, you’ve got one handy!

Use your dog as the protector of your spare key. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. When giving your house cleaner the key to your home, you need to be sure that they are reputable and honest. One way to do this is to check their references. If they work for a firm, call the local Better Business Bureau to find out that firm’s reputation.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. They are a potential fire hazard during warmer months. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

Purchase ceiling, flooring and roofing that is fire resistant. This can help your home be safer. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.

If you have a lot of unfamiliar people on you social networking accounts, avoid letting everyone know you will be going on vacation. It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

Avoid being shy. Engage your neighbors in conversation. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You may stumble across valuable security information, like if someone has noticed a stranger lurking around the neighborhood.

Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. Some police departments offer things like code numbers to help find your valuables should they get stolen. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. This type of light will come on when they detect motion within a certain distance of your home. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.

Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. Perhaps you aren’t sure who owned the home before you or maybe an old roommate has a key and never returned it. Regardless, changing the locks will ensure your security. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. Empty boxes for expensive new gear serve as advertisements to potentials thieves; don’t make it easy for them to spot such tempting targets.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

Before allowing any security company reps to come into your home, make sure they have on a uniform and they have valid ID. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. This can be risky for you and your belongings. Be careful to avoid any potential dangers.

Use your walls as hiding spaces. This doesn’t necessarily involve chopping up your walls, either. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

Make sure your home’s exterior is well lit. Darkness allows for all sorts of nefarious activities. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.

In the event you find your door open upon arriving home, you should never enter and investigate yourself. This can be very dangerous because the thief could still be inside. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

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. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.

Shred any documents and junk mail that contains identifying information. Thieves often find the trash cans to be a gold mine of pertinent information about potential victims. If a paper shredder is not in your budget, consider tearing your documents into tiny pieces or even burning them.

Whenever you are landscaping your home, you should consider safety. Don’t provide burglars with cover by planting big shrubs in front of your doors and windows. No one can easily break into a window which everyone can see. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

Consider installing a surveillance system. Video cameras are an excellent way to keep your home safe. Most intruders are discouraged by visible cameras. But, if they attempt to disable the camera, you will still be able to see them if you have a hidden camera. A lot of surveillance systems are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Criminals love darkness to help mask their crimes. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

The best way to keep a burglar out of your garage is to ensure no one can see inside. Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

It might be time to get yourself a paper shredder if you haven’t already gotten one. Your trash contains so much personal information a thief would love to have. If you cannot afford a paper shredder, rip papers up into small pieces.

Keeping a dog provides a great way to boost your home’s defense. Dogs can be extremely protective of their space and are great at barking when something is afoot. A dog with a vicious attitude and large size isn’t necessary. Any size dog will drive criminals away, as the barking will be too much noise for them to be stealthy.

The number on your house should be easy to find. If there’s an emergency, it will take longer for the police to locate your home if the numbers are concealed in any way or too small. Luckily, this is an issue that can be fixed quickly.

Most people are aware of the important role that home security has in our daily lives. You might not know how to provide your home with the proper protection. It is hoped that this information has helped you to know how to take charge of your home security.

Spring latch locks are not a good option. They are simple to open if you have a credit card. Intruders simply wedge a credit card between the door and latch, triggering the lock to open. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.