Something bad can happen at any time, and you’ll never expect it. Never risk putting you and your family in danger due to neglecting your safety. This article has advice to help protect your home.

Man’s best friend can also be trusted to secure a 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. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

It’s important to shop around before you settle on the right security system for your home. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Get quotes from no less than three companies before choosing the best one.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. One way to do this is to check their references. If you hire a cleaner from a company, then you should check the company with the BBB.

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. Preventing a fire is important since it can cause a lot of damage.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. Find a place to securely fasten the key to your pet’s collar where it’s not visible. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

If you’re going on a trip for an extended period of time, switch the ringer off on all home phones. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.

Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

Never open up your door to a stranger. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

You should invest in fire-resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Get rid of all of the dead wood and vegetation in your yard during the summer months. They pose a fire risk. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.

Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Get to know other people who live next door and others in your neighborhood. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. Don’t disregard gossip either. You might hear helpful information, for instance if strangers have been hanging around.

Switch your locks. Whether an old roommate left or a relationship ended, changing your locks is a good idea. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get new locks. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Use the spaces in your home’s walls to store valuables. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. These seem like great places for you when you misplace your key. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

Your valuables should not be easily seen from outside your home. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. Keep your curtains drawn to keep your valuable items safe.

Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. These lights are not only handy when you get home late, they also help deter criminals from entering your home. If positioned correctly on the exterior of your home, the motion detectors make it virtually impossible for an intruder to sneak onto your property.

Previous Owner

Keeping your house bright and lit at night will deter many crooks. Most burglars rely on concealment to approach a home. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

If you are moving into a home that had a previous owner, then you should immediately change the locks. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. You can even buy and install the locks yourself so you know that you are the only one with a key.

Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Nothing is as attractive to a burglar as a dark, deeply-shadowed house. Make sure to have lights anywhere an intruder might enter. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. At night, not only will these lights be handy to light up areas around your home,they are also a cost-effective and efficient security addition. Intruders will not be able to sneak into your home if you place your motion detector in the right spot.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. Some neighborhoods may do better with self-defense classes or having a dog, while others may require the best home security technology you can get. Before you sink a lot of money into your home’s security, make sure that you’re properly addressing your particular risks.

When you hire a security firm, be certain to review all contracts carefully. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.

If you will be away from your home, arrange to have whoever is collecting your mail to also pick up fliers placed inside your door. Some intruders will place a flyer at your home to see if the flyer is removed immediately or not. If a flier remains on a front door for a number of days, the burglar knows the homeowner is away.

A bright home is a safe home. They wish to avoid detection. It makes it look like you are home and makes it difficult for thieves to hide. Keep the lights on when it’s dark.

Make sure no one can look inside your garage. Use frosting to cover the garage window, so people cannot peer inside. Never leave the front door open for very long.

Feel Safe

Break down the boxes from your new TV or computer rather than leaving them on the side of the road. Burglars will see these boxes and recognize that there are new valubles in your house. Break the boxes down, or take a scissors to them to help them fit in your trash can.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. A home security system is a good idea; however, it is not the perfect solution for every home. In some situations, having a good dog and/or learning some self defense may be all that you really need to feel safe. Know what you want and make your decisions based on that.

There’s an easy way to secure interior doors (if there are areas you want to keep housemates and children out of) without obliging you to carry a key-ring around at all times. You can instead get key-less locks that work using a code. Install them yourself or get a local home security company to do that.

If you think something looks odd when you get back home, don’t go inside. This is a delicate situation as the burglar might still be in your home. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

Find out more about the different contracts your security company offers. You will probably find there are many pros and cons associated with each different contract. Your bill may be lower with a long-term contract, but you could wind up paying for a service you’re not using if you decide to move. While the monthly rates may be higher for a short-term contract, this option is more flexible.

A wireless security system for your home is a great option. Systems that are wired can be a little cheaper, but may need significant reworking of your home’s electrical wiring and can fail in a power outage. Wireless systems are much more simple to install and upkeep, and the power inside your home will not affect them.

Don’t have spring latch locks installed. Defeating a spring latch lock is a trivial endeavor; experienced burglars can get through one using nothing more than a credit card. Wedging the card into the door crack can cause the lock to release. IF spring latch locks are already in place, add a deadbolt for that extra layer of security.

Anytime you make a new electronics purchase, keep the boxes off the curb until the very last minute. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.

Establish some good relations with your neighbors. The nosy neighbor may not make for good company, but he or she is likely to notice suspicious individuals near your house. Maintaining cordial relations can put you in the loop and give you access to potentially critical security info.

When you’re not in your house, all of the window coverings (blinds, curtains, shades, or what have you) should be tightly shut. If you leave them open, potential burglars can look in and case the joint. You may have things inside that will tempt them to break into your house. You should also have them down when you are sleeping.

The most secure sort of lock is a deadbolt that includes a captive keylock. These devices include a thumb latch so that no one can reach around and open the lock through a broken window nearby. When you’re at home, you can leave your key in the keyhole so you’re able to leave in the event of an emergency.

Ask whether companies offer options to lease or buy your security equipment. Although purchasing the equipment will likely cost you more money initially, this cost will only occur one time. It won’t be a cost you have to pay for every month. Leasing usually proves cheaper at first, but it comes with strings attached through contracts or continuing fees and charges. Explore both options to see which works best for you.

Women are much more likely to be targeted for a home invasion, especially if they live by themselves or with children. One way to throw off would-be assailants is to put a large pair of muddy boots on the front porch, to suggest the presence of a big man. This is sure to scare criminals off from your house.

It’s hard to know what might make your home attractive to burglars since criminals are often quite haphazard. Don’t leave things up to fate; be proactive. Let this article be your inspiration to secure your home better.

Owning a big, scary dog has many benefits. Anyone who breaks into your home wouldn’t want to be attacked. A good big dog will protect your home and provide companionship for your family.