As a homeowner, your know how crucial it is to keep your home secure. Nothing is worse than having your house harmed or ruined. Not only is your home a large investment, there are often precious memories tied to it. You can do more to protect your home and its occupants by checking out the advice presented below.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Just hide a spare house key on the inside of your dog’s collar. Then when you need an extra key, you will be able to access this one.

Always make your house appear to be occupied. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This is just one of the many precautions you can take to secure your home.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Check references thoroughly. Contact your local Better Business Bureau to find out more about the reputation of the cleaner you hired.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

Do you have an outdoor dog? Store the spare key with them. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

When looking to buy a security system, shop around. Prices vary greatly in regards to the same protection for each company. Get a quote from several companies before making a final decision.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. A common concern expressed among homeowners is that someone might enter their garage and use that as an entrance to their home. There is a solution, however. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Don’t overlook your garage as a potential access point for thieves. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.

It will not benefit you to be shy. Meet your neighbors. Ask them to look after your home, and in return, look out for theirs. Don’t disregard gossip either. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. Protect your car from vandals by keeping it in the garage. Hiding your car from plain view will also keep potential intruders from tracking when you are home and when you aren’t.

Be certain your wires are hidden, if you have installed a security system in your home. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. Do not make entry into your home easy. Make sure the wires are not exposed either inside or outside your home. This can make you safer.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. 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.

This article has shown that home security can be easy. Take the time to learn as much as you can about home security. Use these home security tips wisely. Be sure to follow all of the advice presented here for optimum security.

It’s a good idea to have motion sensor lights installed. They turn on only if someone is nearby. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.