Something bad or tragic can and will happen when you least expect it. Don’t risk your home and family’s safety by being negligent. Read this article to learn more about home security and find out how you can make your home safer.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so it is always handy.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You simply do not know how many keys to the old locks are floating around. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. If they will be there over an hour and you are thinking of giving them your home key, be certain they are honest, reputable and hard-working. Carefully check their references. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

There are more features to a home alarm system besides making sounds when people break in. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. The majority of systems will give an audible alert when someone enters the house. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

It can be a good idea to only leave one ringer on in your home when you are away. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.

Get advice from loved ones about home security systems. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

End your shyness. Engage your neighbors in conversation. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. Listen for gossip too. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. If your police department does not offer these programs, find a private security company.

Security Company

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. Wild animals or plain old nature can wreak havoc on your home security system. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. If you are unsure, contact the security company to make sure that the installer was actually sent by them. After all, the point of the system itself is to help you feel more at ease.

Always change the locks if you have someone move out of your home. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It is pretty cheap and the job won’t take more than a few hours.

Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Due to the distance between neighbors, some think rural areas are more likely to have intruders. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.

If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.

Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.

When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Your windows should also be protected because burglars can also break into them. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. Do this to keep you and your family safe.

You should always lock up your house, even if you’re only planning to be gone for a short time. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. Thieves can make off with large amounts of valuable merchandise very quickly.

The wiring outside of your home can be valuable. Many people do not realize this until a crook steals it off of their home. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.

When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all windows and entry points. With this method, your family will be safer.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. Intruders can easy pass themselves off as an employee of a security company just to get inside your house. This proves rather dangerous for both your family and also your valuables. Act cautiously to avoid potential dangers.

Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. If you have them visible, people can’t hide in those areas while they try to break in. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.

It is important to always have fresh batteries and flashlights handy around the house. It is extremely important that you have flashlights because they allow you to move around easier in the dark, which is especially useful in an emergency. Train your kids how to use flashlights so that all members of the family can contribute.

Consider a wireless home security system. A wired system should be less expensive but you might have to spend your money on getting your home rewired. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. All of your windows and doors should be unobstructed by plants, shrubs, trees or fences. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. Plan these features for further away from your home.

Invest in a high quality paper shredder. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.

If you come to your home and discover that your door has been left open, avoid investigating by yourself. You have no way of knowing whether the thieves are still inside. Call the authorities and let them take care of the situation.

It is a good idea to invest in video surveillance for your home security system. Placing hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. Cameras that can be clearly seen have a powerful deterrent effect, while concealed cameras are difficult or impossible for intruders to disable. A lot of surveillance systems are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.

Invest in a good paper shredder. Unshredded documents can offer up a wealth of valuable personal information to thieves, including enough of your schedule to allow them to pinpoint the best time for a burglary. If you don’t have a paper shredder, tear the papers up.

If you’ve got guests that you don’t want in particular areas of the home, close the area off so it is not accessible. It is possible to have locks that require just codes, not keys. You can have your home security company install it for you, or you can do it yourself.

You can’t know when you might become the victim of a robbery. Home burglaries happen more often then you would probably like to think, so it is a good idea to be prepared. Remember these guidelines, and do a lot of research to protect yourself.

Find out more about the different contracts your security company offers. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Long contracts may cost less each month, but it could leave you with a larger bill if you decide to end your service. Short contracts leave you with freedom, but also a larger bill.