It is the job of every homeowner to do everything possible to keep their home properly secured. Installing an alarm is great, but there is so much more. Continue to read to learn what other options you have to boost your home’s security.

Buy fire resistant flooring, roofing and ceiling. This will give your home added security. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.

Have your dog protect the spare key. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

Ask friend for any advice they have prior to purchasing a security system or service. Your loved ones likely have dealt with this situation before. Make broad inquiries so that you are able to make a well-informed decision.

Before leaving for vacation, turn off the ringers in your house. 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 you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. Also, you can contact a locksmith if you ever misplace your keys.

Garage Doors

Secure your garage. It is possible for an intruder to get in the garage and then gain access to the house; however, you can do something about it. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.

Keep your jewelry, vital documents and other expensive items in a safe. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.

Meet with representatives from the security company you are considering to determine if they are trustworthy. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. Don’t hesitate asking for another technician or get another company. You need to feel secure with the entire process.

Always lock your home, regardless of how short your trip out is. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. They can get a ton of stuff quickly and be long gone before you return.

Buy fire resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling materials. This will help ensure the safety of your home, particularly if your home is located in a dry area. Keeping fire hazards away is a great safety precaution since fire can cause lots of destruction.

If you want to make your house even more secure, a cheap way to do that is to buy outside lights with motion detectors. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. This is a great way to deter prowlers and potential intruders at night.

Before signing up for a particular home-security company, find out how long they’ve been around. A long-standing company has a track record in the industry that people can attest to. Being in the hands of a good company helps you have peace about your decision.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

Have home-security companies come to your home so they can design the best possible system for it. Each homeowner has different priorities in terms of home security. A custom set-up will make sure you’re as safe as can be.

Make sure that whoever is getting your mail while you are on vacation also retrieves any fliers left on the door. Burglars often put fliers on the door to see if the owner removes them. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.

Don’t let any person you don’t completely know into your house. Even if their story is compelling, they need assistance or want to sell you something. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Frosted windows will keep a burglar from being able to see inside. The material needed to do this can be found at home improvement stores. Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when you are working in the garage or yard.

Can someone standing in the middle of the street see clearly your house numbers? Small or obscured numbers can make it difficult for emergency personnel to locate your home. This is a very easy issue to have rectified.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. The security company should have a specialist come to look at 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. There are always ways your home is vulnerable, even if you don’t know it.

Ask about the various contract lengths offered by a home security company. Compare the pros and cons of different options. A contract that is longer might offer lower monthly payments, but you may have to continue with these if you decide to sell the house or discontinue services. If you want more freedom, it is best to purchase a more expensive but shorter contract.

Credit Card

You need to change our locks as your first step to ensuring your safety. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. Changing locks is not very expensive and should be done within a few hours.

Steer clear of locks with spring latches. These type of locks can actually be opened by using a credit card. Intruders simply use a credit card inside the latch, making the lock open. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.

You want your blinds and curtains closed if you’re away from your home. Keeping them up can let intruders see directly inside your home. If burglars see items in your home that appear valuable, they’ll likely break in to steal them. Keep them down when you’re asleep, too.

If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

Your security company might give you the option to lease and eventually buy your security equipment. You’ll spend less money in the long-run if you buy the equipment outright. The initial cost of leasing may seem low, but you may be required to sign a long term contract and it may carry a higher monthly fee. Investigate each option and determine which makes more sense.

Don’t hide your key somewhere obvious. The classic fake rock is too common and too easy to detect. Under your doormat is also a common place burglars will look. It’s better to have a friend, neighbor or relative keep a spare set of keys for you. Otherwise, you should be more creative when it comes to hiding your key.

Hide any valuables in wall spaces. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

You should be able to put the suggestions provided above to good use in your quest to improve the security of your home. As inconvenient and confusing as this appears, it’s crucial for securing your home and family. The tips you’ve just read can help make this a reality.