Every home should have a good home security system, but not everyone does this. In order to learn all you can about protecting your home, it is important that you do some research on the matter. Read on to learn how you can set up an effective home security plan.

Have your dog protect the spare key. This works with a dog that stays outside or a dog with a pet door. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. An example would be to attach a key to your dog’s collar, if he stays outdoors.

The only time you should give out house keys to house cleaners is if you absolutely trust them. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. It is best to do a reference check on them. Call the Better Business Bureau to see if their firm is well-reviewed.

A good security system has many more features than sounding the alarm during a break-in. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.

Never open the door for a stranger. There are many different tactics that crooks use to enter homes, and a common way is simply to walk up to the door and ask for help. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. 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.

Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. These lights will make you aware of, and can also scare off, potential burglars. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

The police department in your area may offer a home protection program. The police can offer you some great advice, help you engrave valuables and even come check out your home. Get in touch today.

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. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Others hold 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. Others think that living in the country is more risky than other areas because houses are so far apart. However, understand that regardless of where you live, a theft can occur anywhere. Therefore, you need to be prepared.

Skylights need to be secure, too. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. Concealing small valuables in your walls is an easy and highly effective way to protect them. You can use phone jacks or electric outlets as hiding spots. You put in a fake plate if there aren’t any unused in your home.

Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. The safety of your family will be ensured.

Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Don’t ever put your spare key under your doormat or in a planter. Keeping a spare key is convenient but intruders will have access to your home if your key is too easy to find. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.

Having a bright and lit-up home at night deters crooks. Burglars don’t want to be visible. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. That’s why it’s a good idea to light your home well for optimum safety.

Don’t limit security to the inside of your home; the outside needs attention too. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Windows need to be monitored too. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. Doing this will help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.

Home security is a topic of vital importance but one about which not everybody knows a great deal. However, if you are a homeowner and you want to keep your family safe, you need to educate yourself on the topic. Keep this article handy and refer to it as necessary.