How much do you know when it comes to home security systems? If you are having trouble making the decision on home security, you should do some more research. This could be a costly addition to your home, so you need to be well informed. The article below will help.

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. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. If a burglar enters your home, he or she will have a hard time making off with your possessions. Your safe should be placed somewhere it is not readily noticeable.

Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Carefully check their references. If the cleaner has been sent by a company, call the Better Business Bureau to check on the company’s reputation.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. This works very well if you have a pet that is not very fond of strangers. You will get the access you need without having to worry about your safety.

Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.

If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This can help your home be safer. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. Make sure you keep your blinds closed or arrange your possessions in such a way that they can’t be seen from outside.

A good home security system monitors all entry points to your home. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. This is vital to keeping your family safe.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, do not let them in. Some people just want to know if there is a security system so they can plan on coming back later or not.

After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. Having these boxes outside of your house will give robbers the temptation of robbing your house.

Are you aware of the value present in the wiring in your home? Some intruders could strip your home of every bit of copper. The copper wiring can be stripped and be turned in for money. Be sure to hide your wires or make sure they are hard to get to.

Be sure to secure your attached garage. Often people are concerned that burglars can enter the home via the attached garage . Happily, there is a solution to this problem. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. Even if the tenants turned their keys in, they may have made copies. You might even install new locks yourself so that you know you have the only keys.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

Don’t be shy. Engage your neighbors in conversation. 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 can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.

When you consider a security company, be certain you read the details and fine print of the contract you’re about to sign. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. It is best to know all you can about a service you sign up for.

Keep safety at the forefront as you landscape. Shrubs, trees, fences, etc. should not obstruct the view of your doors and windows. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. Keep this in mind as you design.

When in the process of selecting an alarm system, you should select a system that protects more than simply the doors of your home. Your windows are easy entry points for crooks too. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. Do this to keep you and your family safe.

Keeping thieves from the contents of your garage can be as simple as making sure they can’t easily look inside. Use frosted, adhesive backed plastic to cover the windows. You can purchase this at a home improvement store. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

If you’ve got guests that you don’t want in particular areas of the home, close the area off so it is not accessible. There are key-less locks that open with a push-button security code. You can have keyless locks installed by a security company or you can do it yourself.

Are you aware of the value of your home’s wires? A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and may be stripped off the exterior of the house in a short time span. Make sure the wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep this valuable item safe.

If you want to hide your house key, find a spot that is not obvious. Fake rocks are particularly simple to spot. Under your doormat is also a common place burglars will look. You should just give a spare key to a trusted neighbor instead. If you can’t, be creative where you put the key.

Store those items you can’t bear to lose in a very secure area. It is best to keep items such as passports, legal documents, photos and financial records in a spot that is secure. Purchase a safe with a lock to store all of these items. For added safety, place them in a safety deposit box at your bank.

Obtain flashlights with solid batteries, and ensure they are kept in all the rooms of your home in the event of a power outage. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.

You should lock all your windows, even on the second floor. This is most often overlooked by a lot of people due to the fact that they don’t think a burglar will check them. Oh, but they will. Criminals know very well that people think this way, and they will take advantage of that.

Are you more confident, given your new knowledge base about security systems for the home? It is important to learn as much as possible about home security before investing in a system. Keep the information above close as you consider the options.

Change the locks on any new place you move into. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. You might even install new locks yourself so that you know you have the only keys.