Home security solutions often conjure up visions of technicians roaming through your house installing a myriad of wires, cables and sensors. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Read the following article for some great tips on how to properly secure your home.

You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. You will want to have a unique combination to stay secure. Have a locksmith install a brand new lock. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. Your safe should be placed somewhere it is not readily noticeable.

Is your dog kept outside when you are away? Store the spare key with them. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. Especially if pets don’t like strangers, this can be a useful way for having easy access to your house.

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. A constantly ringing phone lets thieves know that you are not home and could increase the chances of you getting robbed.

It is not a good idea to hide a spare key on your property. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Instead, have a trustworthy neighbor hold on to your spare key.

No matter how good your security system is, it should be checked annually. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. If you don’t see the problem, you may remain unaware of it.

If you bought any big or expensive things, wait until trash day to throw away the boxes. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

Are you aware that your home’s wires are worth something? People often don’t think about this until they have it stolen from their home. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! Be sure to hide your wires or make sure they are hard to get to.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

Whenever you sign with a home-security company, it is important that you thoroughly read the contract. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. Try avoiding these fees when you can so that you know about them.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. This way, no one can hide there if they are attempting to break into your house. Have your landscape several feet away from your house for better safety.

Hide your valuables in the walls. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. You could utilize an electrical outlet, phone jack, or unused switch plate. If you use all of them, you can always have fake ones installed.

It might be time to get yourself a paper shredder if you haven’t already gotten one. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. If you can’t afford to buy a paper shredder, tear your papers up into tiny bits before throwing them away.

It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. This will allow you to see who is around your house. Visible cameras deter many intruders, but if they disable the cameras that they can see, your hidden camera can record the action. Some security systems can be accessed with cell phones, so you can check on your house while you are away.

When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Windows need to be monitored too. Be certain they are also alarmed and monitored. They are the most effective.

If there are areas of your home you want to keep locked off, you do not need keys. Get key-less locks that need a code. Install them yourself or get a local home security company to do that.

When you are out of the house, your drapes and blinds should be fully closed. When they’re open, it would be easy to see no one is there. If they spot something desirable, they will seek access. You ought to turn the curtains down if you are sleeping as well.

When you purchase big, expensive items be sure to break down the boxes and take them to the recycling center yourself. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.

When you’re dealing with a security company that provides you with significant equipment to install, ask about the benefits and drawbacks of buying versus leasing. Buying the equipment might cost more up front, but it means a one time cost that does not continue every month. Although leasing is usually cheaper, you may have to fill out contracts and you will have higher monthly costs. You must review both options carefully to determine which will best suit your needs.

If you’ve got a type of numeric keypad on the front door, don’t use your birthday as the password. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. You should choose a number no one else will be able to guess and change it regularly.

Replace rotten wood on your door frame. Anybody wanting to break into your house can just pry off rotted wood and get inside. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

Rather than getting a security system put in, there are lots of other things you can do to add protection. Between purchasing a firearm, installing more locks or putting a fence up, you have many choices. Put these tips to use and enhance your home security today.