You need a home that is always safe for you and your loved ones. It should be a safe place for them to return to after going out. This article will advise you on the best ways to keep your home secure from robbery.

Be sure your home always looks occupied. You can purchase inexpensive timers that will control different electronics and lights in your home. This makes people think you’re home. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.

Make your home look occupied at all times. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This makes people think you’re home. It is also another way to secure your home.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Make sure you verify all references. If they work for a firm, call the local Better Business Bureau to find out that firm’s reputation.

Your dog can safeguard an extra key. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.

You should only provide a house cleaner your key if you completely trust them. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Make sure you check references. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Store the spare key with them. Stash the key on the pup’s collar to keep it out of sight. Especially if pets don’t like strangers, this can be a useful way for having easy access to your house.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

It’s important to shop around before you settle on the right security system for your home. Prices can be very different from one product to another. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

Don’t talk about your vacations on social media. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. Besides, intruders will have a hard time determining whether or not you are home if you keep your car inside your garage.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. There are many reason why a home security system can have problems, and it might be the weather or wild animals that cause it to malfunction. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

Be outgoing. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Keep your eye on their houses, and ask for help to keep yours safe too. You never want to ignore gossip. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.

Hide your valuables in the walls. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. All you have to do is place them behind any unused phone jack, electrical outlet or switch plate. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Make certain no one can see your valuable belongings through windows and doors. A big front window gives you a good view; however, it also gives burglars a good view of the interior of your house. Blinds are a great way to allow the light in, without allowing people to see in at the same time.

Any time you let a stranger into your home that is doing some kind of work, it is best to ask for references. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.

Replace rotted wood around any door frames. Rotted wood causes a serious weakness in your home’s security because it makes it easy to pry open doors. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

If you are looking for expert advice, this article provides lots of it. The next step is to put it into practice and make your home secure. Implement the ideas discussed here and continue learning all you can about home security, so you can always feel secure that your home and loved ones are protected.

Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.