Do you know someone who has been the victim of a break-in? Paying a little extra attention to home security is never a bad idea. A home break in can happen in any location. In the article that follows, you’ll find some great home security tips that can increase your safety and reduce your risk.

When you decide to purchase a home alarm system, make sure you comparison shop. Prices vary quite a bit. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

Is your dog outside when you are away? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

Is your ceiling resistant to fire? What about your flooring or roofing? This will help ensure the safety of your home, particularly if your home is located in a dry area. Avoiding fire hazards is a great way to keep things safe.

If you’ve got lots of people you don’t know on your social networks, don’t let them know that you’re going to be on vacation. Although your first instinct is to share the news about an upcoming trip that excites you, the info may well fall into the hands of people who’d be interested in burglarizing your home while you’re away.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. If the phone rings when you are away, burglars will know there’s nobody home, making the house vulnerable to a break-in when you are out.

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. If your phone is ringing while you are out, burglars will realize that no one is home, making your home very vulnerable to an attack during your time away.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. They are a potential fire hazard during warmer months. Clear yard regularly to maintain your house safe.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. They often offer home inspections, seminars and even the ability to purchase items. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

Always have your security system checked each year. Call the company and have them send someone to check it out. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. You may not be able to tell there is an issue by yourself.

Regardless of the quality of your home security system, you need to have it checked each year. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. 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.

Go with your gut when you invite a home security company representative into your house. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you’re uneasy. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.

Go with your instincts when choosing a security system company. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. You should not hesitate to ask if you can work with a different representative or find a different company if you are not comfortable. Do some background research on the company you select, and look for people who make you feel safe.

No one should be able to see your valuables from outside. While having huge windows may be good for letting in light and viewing what is outside, it also gives potential thieves a good look in your own home. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.

It is important that you do not put expensive valuables in plain sight. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. Always keep your windows covered and do not tempt others by displaying your possessions.

It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. Keep yourself safe.

If you’ve recently moved into a house, get any locks changed out. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Bear in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous owner.

After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. Having these type of boxes hanging around will give robbers a good idea of what type of merchandise you have inside of your home.

Replace rotten wood near door frames. An intruder can simply pry away that rotted wood and enter your home. Replace any wood that has begun to rot with new wood so that your house stays safe.

When moving into your new house, change every lock. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

Flashlights in your home should always have newer batteries if your power goes out. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

Check references before giving anyone access to your home. Don’t be afraid of conducting background checks to determine if they have a criminal history. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.

You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. Each customer wants certain things as far as home security goes. If you’ve found a company that can tailor a system to you, you can receive the greatest amount of security to make you feel much more comfortable.

Light up your home’s exterior. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. So it’s smart to put a light in typically darker corners around your home. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.

Burglaries happen in middle and lower class neighborhoods, too. Any home that looks easy to break in is a target. By utilizing the advice in this piece, you can increase your home’s security level and keep burglars at bay.

A dog is a great home security alarm. Dogs protect your home by barking if something is wrong. You don’t even need a huge, vicious dog. As long as he is noisy when strangers approach, he’s a great addition to the security of your home.