Anytime you’re looking to keep your home secure with a security system, you must gather up as much relevant information as you can. You shouldn’t just make a blind decision. Think long and hard about creating a safe home for your family.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Each company has different rates for their security system. You really owe it to yourself to solicit firm quotes from three different providers before you sit down to pick one.

Your dog can actually safeguard a spare key. If your dog lives outside or is able to come and go through a dog door, this is a viable idea. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Does your dog remain outside while you’re gone? Your pet might just be the perfect place to stash a spare key to your home. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Aim to purchase fire-resistant ceilings, roofs and floors. This will help you protect your home under all circumstances. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.

Before selecting a security firm, ask for recommendations. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.

In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. These programs may include engraving identification codes on your valuables, home inspections, and advice about home security. Get in touch today.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Stay true to your safety, even if it appears the person has legitimate reasons for wanting entry. Some people may simply be trying to determine whether or not you have a home security installed; if you don’t, they may plan to return later if you are away from your home.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. Hiding it will help to deter people from tracking the times you aren’t there.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. These lights will come on if someone walks near your house. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.

Security starts with new locks. Maybe you had a roommate move out or have a disgruntled ex-lover, changing the locks is the best way to keep yourself safe. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. While you may need to prepare if you have a spare key, it is wise to choose ways that do not increase the risk of a criminal gaining entrance to your home. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. You should have them equipped with strong, sturdy hardware.

Hide your security system’s wiring. Easily-accessible security wiring is a definite weak point in your home’s protection; the best alarm system in the world is useless if it’s easily disabled. Don’t let this happen; bury or hide the wires. This will make you much safer.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Replace rotten wood on your door frame. Rotted wood can be easily removed by thieves. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. Surprisingly, lots of burglaries occur because the burglar was able to simply walk in without having to actually break in. It does not take long for thieves to steal your expensive stuff.

If your home isn’t new, replace the locks. The previous owners or tenants might have made some copies of the key. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

If you have a home security system installed, make sure the wires are hidden. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Make sure the wires are installed inside the walls of your home. Keep yourself safe.

When you are away on vacation have a house sitter bring in your mail and any flyers and newspapers that accumulate in front of your house. Some intruders will place a flyer at your home to see if the flyer is removed immediately or not. Fliers that are not removed let the burglar know that the home is vacant.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. A burglar may see the box and decide to target you as a result. You should cut up the boxes once you empty them.

When you hire a type of home security company, read the contract’s fine print before signing. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. You’ll definitely want to avoid these types of fees if you can, so read carefully.

Are your house numbers visible from the street? If your house numbers are not easy to see, the police may have difficulty finding you in an emergency. There is a cheap and quick fix if you see an issue.

The most useful tool for finding home security is the Internet. Review the websites of several companies and play close attention to the types of services offered and the customer reviews. Then, you can set appointments to make price and service comparisons before you choose.

Ask about the various contract lengths offered by a home security company. There are going to be ups and downs for each one. While your monthly rates may be lower with a lengthy contract, you have no recourse should you list your home for sale or terminate your contract. Shorter contracts likely allow you more flexibility with exiting the plan; however, you will probably have a larger monthly bill.

Make sure the inside of your garage isn’t visible. Frosted windows will keep a burglar from being able to see inside. The material needed to do this can be found at home improvement stores. Never leave the front door open for very long.

Ask whether companies offer options to lease or buy your security equipment. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. By leasing equipment, you can get the protection you want for less, but you may be paying for it over and over as time goes on. Investigate each option and determine which makes more sense.

Stand out in your street, and look toward your home. Are you able to see the numbers of your home? In the event of an emergency, police officers may have trouble finding your house if they cannot read your address numbers. Just replace them if you need to.

Do not store your vehicle registration documents in your car’s glove compartment. It is not smart, because anyone can know your address. Hold these documents in person so you know where they are at all times. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.

Does your security company offer leasing and buying? Buying it may cost more, but this means there are no monthly charges. Leasing is cheaper, but it can involve contracts and pricier monthly fees. Check out both options and determine which is best for you.

If the door isn’t solid wood or metal, then replace it with a door that is. These doors are much more sturdy. It would be very hard for a burglar to kick it and go inside. You should replace each exterior door in the home before doing the minimal amount, as soon as you can.

Never keep the registration papers for your vehicle in your glove compartment. It is not smart, because anyone can know your address. Keep them with you or hide them elsewhere. They have to be available if the cops pull you over.

Keep the windows on the second floor of your home locked. This is most often overlooked by a lot of people due to the fact that they don’t think a burglar will check them. This may not be what happens. Experienced criminals know exactly where the majority of homeowners let their guards down, and they won’t fail to check for weaknesses like an open window on the second story.

Think about hard-wired security systems if you’re worried about long term maintenance costs. A wireless system is handy, but the frequent battery changes can really amount to a large expense. Your home security system will not function properly if you do not change the batteries. Replacing several batteries will quickly add up.

Big, scary dogs are great security. What burglar wants to deal with that? A good big dog will protect your home and provide companionship for your family.

Having read the article above, you should now have a better idea about home security. Don’t make an uninformed decision about home security. Knowing that your family is safe is key. Remember these things as you go about securing your home.

Make sure your children bring in all of their toys from the yard when they are done playing. This makes the burglars realize that women are on the premises. Thieves assume that women are more apt to have valuables like jewelry inside.