Every homeowner should do everything possible to protect their homes. Sadly, homes are broken into every day. Read on to learn some useful advice to keep your family and home safe from nearly any threat.

Is your dog outside even if you are away? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. This is a good way to ensure easy home access, especially if your pet does not associate well with strangers.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. It’s important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

Home security systems have different kinds of features that can sound an alarm when someone breaks into your house. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Prices vary quite a bit. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.

Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Consider the advice of your friends when selecting your home security company. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. You can prevent this from happening easily. Use a C-clamp to secure the door if it’s off track.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping your car secured will prevent people from vandalizing it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

It’s a good idea to have motion sensor lights installed. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

Make sure to clear your yard of brush and dead wood in the summertime. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. Regularly clear away your yard to keep your home in good standing and safe for your family.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Security System

Do that put spare keys above door frames or under door mats. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. The problem might not be obvious to you, though.

Anytime a security installer comes to the house, make sure they display proper identification. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. This can put your family and possessions in danger. Be deliberate in preventing hazards.

There are lots of things that can go wrong with home security, so homeowners should be very vigilant. The article below has some great ideas with regards to home security. Use the above tips to make your home more secure.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. It is impossible to know if the newly hired maid or one time repairman might be a crook unless you check them out. Providing them with your key might be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.