Establishing a sound home security plan should be a priority for every homeowner. Research the subject before you make any decisions about what to do about your home’s security situation. Read on to learn what it takes to come up with a home security plan.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This is a great idea if your dog is outside all the time, or they can get out through a doggy door. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.

After you purchase a new home, change the locks. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. This is a good way to know if your small child has opened a door or closed it.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

Valuable Items

Does your dog stay outside while you are gone? Your dog is an excellent place to hide your spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. This is an especially good idea if your dog doesn’t like strangers, and gives you easy access to get in your home.

Purchase a safe to lock all of the extremely valuable items in your home in one place. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

Don’t open your door when strangers are knocking. You never know who they might be, despite their story. Be sure that everyone in your home knows not to open the door to strangers and unexpected visitors.

Check around for prices, reputation, and reliability when choosing a home security provider. Prices vary quite a bit. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. These items have a higher chance of catching fire during the hot months. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.

Purchase ceiling, flooring and roofing that is fire resistant. This will give your home added security. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. It won’t be vandalized or stolen this way. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. There are some people who will just come in to see if you have a home security system, and if you do not, they could come back later when you are not home.

Keep valuables out of sight of windows. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. These are vulnerable to fires and put your home in danger. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

When choosing an alarm system, consider one that offers protection for more than just your doors. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. They are the most effective.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. There are many that offer programs that include items, such as home inspection, how to use engraving tools to mark code numbers to identify valuables if yours are stolen, and protective measures advice. Get in touch today.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

It will not benefit you to be shy. Meet your neighbors. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. You never want to ignore gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Check out reviews you find on the web. You can then make three solid selections and make appointments with them.

You need to change our locks as your first step to ensuring your safety. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. It doesn’t cost much and they can usually show up within a day.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

Rural Areas

Consider your security risk and safety needs before purchasing home security systems. A home security system is a good idea; however, it is not the perfect solution for every home. It may be better for you to take a self-defense class or buy a dog. The neighborhood you live in makes a difference. Think about your risk factor when making a decision.

Those living in rural areas often don’t worry as much about intruders compared to city dwellers. On a different note, some people believe homeowners in more rural areas are more likely to experience robberies because of the lack of nearby neighbors. Not everyone believes this, though.

Your pup is a great crime deterrent. Dogs naturally protect their homes and they make lots of noise when things go wrong. Keeping a huge and ferocious canine is not necessary. Even tiny dogs that make a ton of noise will deter a potential crime.

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Having these type of boxes hanging around will give robbers a good idea of what type of merchandise you have inside of your home.

Ask about the various contract lengths offered by a home security company. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, but you you could maintain those monthly expenses if you discontinue service or sell the home. A shorter contract gives you more freedom, but it may cost you more per month.

Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. It may seem as if the former owners of the home are honest, but really you don’t know much about them. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

You should not keep your auto registration papers in the glove compartment. These valuable documents provide criminals with information about your home location. Hide them somewhere else in the car, or carry them with you. Remember that you have to have access to them in case you’re stopped by the police.

Replace any wood surrounding your door frame that is rotting. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Replace dead wood with thick, firm pieces to maintain a high level of security.

If the cost of maintenance is a concern, a hard-wired system may be your best choice. A wireless system is a good option but you will have to replace batteries regularly. If you neglect to switch out the batteries regularly, your security system won’t function properly. Replacing all of those batteries will cost a lot, too.

Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. They give you and your family the opportunity to move around should the electricity go out. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.

Do you turn the lights on and off during the same time period? If so, consider a timer. This makes your life a bit easier, and it means that your lights will still be lit even if you are away from long periods of time.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. A company that has been in business for several years has shown that they can sustain in this industry and proven they provide reliable services that people recommend. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

Be sure to close your curtains at night in rooms that face the street. You don’t need to have an invitation to people through your window. Burglars may see something valuable, which will tempt them to steal. Lock everything up and shade your windows to stay discreet.

Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t for everyone. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. See to it that you understand the risks involved in making these purchasing decisions.

It can be tough to provide the proper level of security in a home equipped with sliding glass doors. These can become unlocked very easy by burglars. If you haven’t hooked them up to your security system, you can install some pipe to fit within your door channel. Doing this will help keep your door closed tighter, making it more difficult for burglars to break in.

Even though it’s a vitally important subject for virtually any homeowner, many of them don’t know as much about home security as they should. Understanding how to protect your valuables with better home security techniques can end up really paying off in the long run. If this article has conveyed just a few useful security ideas, it will have served its purpose.

Deadbolt locks offer the best security, and those with captive keylocks are even better. This makes it impossible to open the lock from the outside because of the thumb latch. When you are at home, leave the key in the lock so that you can get out in case of a fire.