Don’t turn a blind eye to the security of your home. Take stock of the reality of your situation and make an informed decision. There are a lot of options to choose from when developing a home security system. The following article should be very beneficial as you begin.

Have your dog protect the spare key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

Put your spare key on your dog. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Security systems are more than just an alarm. The majority of systems will give an audible alert when someone enters the house. Parents of children can track their kids this way.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You’re not aware of any copies that have been made by the previous owners of the house. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Do not give the key to your home to your cleaning person unless you are certain they are worthy of your trust. You should not let cleaners have your keys if you feel like you cannot trust them, or if they will be working in your home while you are away. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

If there are people you don’t know that have access to your social media sites, then you don’t want to let all of them know you’re on vacation. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. This give your home an extra protection layer. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. Due to the heat, these items in your yard are more likely to catch on fire. As a result, your home could be caught on fire. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some maintain that rural dwellers have greater risk since their neighbors live farther away. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.

Never open the door for a stranger. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

When securing your home, don’t forget about skylights. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.

Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. Has a roommate or ex-lover moved out recently? If so, then you need to change out the locks in order to keep you and your home safe. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Walls are great for hiding things. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Having a safe home helps you have a peaceful mind. There is no doubt about this. It may not be apparent at first until you study the subject. This article should have helped you start that.

Don’t put your spare key in an obvious place near your front door. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. A better solution is to give your key to a neighbor you trust.