You have every right to worry about your home’s safety. How will you know when someone is targeting your home? Keep reading to find out how you can make your home much more safe.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This gives off the appearance that someone is home. This will help to deter burglars.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Fasten the key to your dog’s collar to hide it from view. 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.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. You need to ensure that they are honest and reputable according to references before you have handed over the key. It is best to do a reference check on them. If it is a known company, check with your local BBB.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

Do you have an outdoor dog? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Talk to the people who live in your neighborhood. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

You should mute your land line phone if you are going on a vacation. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. You need to feel secure with the entire process.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

If you reside in a small town or rural area, then you might not be as worried about someone breaking into your home as city dwellers may be. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. Some people, though, believe that you will not be at risk for a burglary.

The alarm system you choose should protect more than just the doors to your home. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Get an alarm that will trigger if either the doors or windows are opened. This is great for keeping the family secure.

Walls are great for hiding items. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. Just take advantage of the phone jack, electrical outlet or unused switch plate. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.

If you purchase big-ticket items, don’t throw their boxes in the trash before trash day. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

It is important that you do not put expensive valuables in plain sight. Though it is nice to have big windows to get a great view of the outdoors, it is also easier for burglars to look into your home. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.

Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Intruders could disguise themselves to inspect your home. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Be careful to avoid this sort of danger.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. Many burglaries happen because the intruders can just walk right inside. Thieves can steal a lot of valuable stuff in mere minutes.

Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.

Replace all locks in a new house. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Remember that different families might have dwelt there before this person.

If you need to make the outside of your home secure, you can achieve this relatively inexpensively by installing lights with motion detectors. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. If strategically placed, motion detectors ensure that it’s difficult for intruders to break into your home sight unseen.

Are you aware that the wires located on the exterior of your house have value? Many people do not realize this until a crook steals it off of their home. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. To protect this expensive asset, hide your wires or make them hard to get to.

You want to know what is included in a contract if you’re signing up with a security company. There are sometimes fees if you break a contract or need additional equipment. You should avoid these fees as much as you can; therefore, you need to know of their existence.

Don’t just hope and pray that your home is never invaded, take steps to reduce the chance of it happening. Things happen all the time, so preparation is key. Keep these tips in mind so that you can properly create a safer environment for your family.

Inquire with your home security service as to how long they’ve been in business. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable. Realizing you at involved with a stable firm will give you a sense of calm that is important.