If you have questions about home security, read on for some excellent answers. Home security is a complex and costly topic that requires a great deal of thought. To make a wise choice, you need solid information.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Attach your spare key inside the collar of your dog. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. You really owe it to yourself to solicit firm quotes from three different providers before you sit down to pick one.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Try hiding the key in your outside dog’s collar.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This ensures your home won’t be a tinderbox. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.

If you live in a rural area, you may not be as concerned about home break-ins as people who live in the city. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. Not everyone believes this, though.

Don’t talk about your vacations on social media. It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. Make sure you keep your blinds closed or arrange your possessions in such a way that they can’t be seen from outside.

Never let a stranger inside. There are some people who are very convincing and good at getting you to let them into your house. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

Door Frame

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. It is simple for a robber to pry away rotting wood and enter your home. Replace the rotting door frame with a new one and keep your home much safer.

Install motion-sensor lights. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. This lets you know something is moving and also drives off criminals. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. You might even install new locks yourself so that you know you have the only keys.

Stashing your most precious possession right inside the walls of your home can be a great idea. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. Consider unwiring an electrical socket that isn’t used and storing your valuable jewelry.

If you have studied the above material, you should be prepared to begin. You should not neglect the safety of your family. Use the information in this article to make the best decision possible.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home. Thieves are aware of all these spots. Rather, keep your spare keys with a neighbor you trust.