No one is safe from burglaries and other dangerous situations. This crime is increasing, so you need to make an effort to keep your home secure. Regardless of who you are, break-ins can happen to you. In the article that follows, you’ll find some great home security tips that can increase your safety and reduce your risk.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. This is vital if you don’t want diamonds, gold or other personal items exposed to a home intruder. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. If you plan on giving them the key so that they can work in your home for over an hour, make sure that they’re reputable, hardworking, and honest. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. It’s great to see new places and take a lot of photos, but posting them while still overseas lets thieves know your home is empty.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. Try to find somewhere less obvious.

When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Ask a number of people to get a several different opinions.

Security System

Your flooring and roofing should be fire resistant. This can help your home be safer. Fire is such a destructive force that it makes excellent sense to reduce fire hazards in your home whenever possible.

You need to have your security system checked once a year. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Many different things can make problems for your security system. You may not even know there is a problem if it is not visible.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. These lights will come on if someone walks near your home. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Just remember to change out the bulbs every so often so the lights remain in working order.

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. 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. If your garage lifts up on a track, try using a C-clamp. This will prevent your door from opening up if the clamp is close to its roller.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. Use heavy-duty hardware to secure your skylights to the roof.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

Install lights that have motion sensors. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. Just do not forget to replace the bulbs periodically to keep them functioning at all times.

Criminals often pick houses where they can see the valuables inside. Having large windows in front of your home may be a great way to see what is happening outside, but it can also give crooks a view inside your home. If you have windows that face the street, always keep them covered and keep your valuables safe.

A good home security system monitors all entry points to your home. Each window represents a possible entry for your thief. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. This could be an ex-spouse or roommate you got into a fight with. Most locksmiths can accomplish the job within 24 hours.

Remove and replace any wood that is not up to par. An intruder can simply pry away that rotted wood and enter your home. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.

Check references before giving anyone access to your home. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

If you get home and see the door is slightly open, don’t go inside by yourself to investigate. This can be dangerous since the intruder might still be on the property. The best thing to do is call the police and wait for them to arrive before doing anything else.

A wireless home security system could be just the option you are looking for. While the wired systems are less expensive, they usually mean rather intrusive wiring for your house, which can also go out during power outages. Wireless systems are easier to install and maintain, and they do not rely on the power in your home to work correctly.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. You needn’t tear down your walls to do this. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?

If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes them down. Intruders can get a good idea of what your schedule is like or figure out that you are on vacation if the flyer stays on your door for a long time.

Do not use locks with spring latches. These type of locks can actually be opened by using a credit card. All they have to do is wedge the card between the latch and door, then wiggle it. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. If the wires are exposed, an intruder can bypass the system by cutting its wires. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. This makes it much less likely that your system will be compromised.

Always close your curtains, especially if a passerby can easily look in your windows. You wouldn’t want strangers leering into your home. If possible burglars see your valuables, they may see your home as the next target. Be careful about how much others can see.

Don’t make the mistake of believing that break-ins only occur in pricey areas. Any home which is simple to get into can be a target. Make your home a safer place for your family by following the advice presented here and making your home unappealing to burglars.

Purchase flashlights that have good batteries, and keep them in every room in your home in case the power goes out. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.