Home security is something you need to know more about so you can keep your family safe. The best thing that you can do in order to protect the contents of your house is to know this subject very well. The tips you’ll find below can help you go a long way towards living a safer life.

Put your spare key on your dog. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. You can attach a copy of your key to the dog’s collar, so when you need that spare, you’ve got one handy!

Make your house look occupied all the time. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. This way it will always look as if someone is home, even when you are away. This helps you keep your house burglar-free.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Always change the locks after moving into a new home. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. In addition, replace your locks if your keys ever get lost.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.

Is your dog kept outside when you are away? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Find a place to securely fasten the key to your pet’s collar where it’s not visible. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

See if your area police department has any home security programs. These programs may include engraving identification codes on your valuables, home inspections, and advice about home security. Call them up to find out more.

Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Home security also includes taking steps to prevent a fire from completely destroying your home.

There’s no security system so durable that it can go without regular maintenance and inspections. Have yours checked out once a year. The security company should have a specialist come to look at it. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. Stay true to your safety, even if it appears the person has legitimate reasons for wanting entry. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

Avoid being shy. Converse with those living in your area. Ask them to watch your home if you are on vacation. Pay attention to gossip. You may stumble across valuable security information, like if someone has noticed a stranger lurking around the neighborhood.

Don’t open your door if a stranger is on the other side. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Find a home security company you can trust. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. It’s your home, and you are free to hire any company you like. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.

Talk to the police department in your area to see what safety programs they have. Many programs include how to use some engraving tools to create code numbers for identifying valuables that are stolen, home inspection, and advice on protective measures. Discuss the possibility of this sort of program with your police department.

If you do not reside in a big city, you may not worry as much about home burglaries. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

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. People who live in the country may even be more vulnerable because they do not have nearby neighbors. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. Instead of letting you into your home in the event you are locked out, you are providing criminals with easy access to your home. Thieves know about all these hiding spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

When allowing a representative from any security company to enter your home, look for someone in uniform and ask to see an identification. Thieves may say they are from a certain company to get into your home. This can put your family and possessions in danger. Act cautiously to avoid potential dangers.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. It should protect the windows too. Get an alarm that will trigger if either the doors or windows are opened. This is the pinnacle of safety.

Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. It will make you feel better knowing that the company you choose is not fly by night.

Hide the wires of your home security system. If the wires are exposed, an intruder can bypass the system by cutting its wires. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. This makes it much less likely that your system will be compromised.

If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Thieves often find the trash cans to be a gold mine of pertinent information about potential victims. You could also simply take care to tear up your discarded papers.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. They lights will light up your property at night and they are cost-effective and efficient. If strategically placed, motion detectors ensure that it’s difficult for intruders to break into your home sight unseen.

The concept of home security is important to most people. Many don’t know how to go about protecting their homes. Consider the information that has been given to you as a resource for making sure your home is safe.

When you landscape your house, make it safe. You should have a clear view out of all your windows and an unobstructed path to any doors. If they can be seen, potential burglars will not be able to use them as hiding places before breaking in. Keep this in mind as you design.