Most people think securing their home is going to be a real hassle. However, the process does not have to be so inconvenient. Here are some ways that you can make your house more secure, starting today.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. Buy timers so that lights, radios, TVs and all other electronics turn on and off at various times. It’ll make it seem like someone is home. That means burglars will pass right by.

Make sure that you hide your spare key in a good spot. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. Rather, think about putting a key on your outside dog’s collar.

Spare Key

Home protection program details may be available at your police station. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. These programs can make a big difference to the security of your home, and they may just be a phone call away.

Man’s best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. These kinds of lights will pop right on when they detect motion near your home. They will signal movement to you but will also serve as deterrents to the thieves. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

Buy a small home safe that you can use to keep your valuables in. If an intruder breaks into your home, at least these valuables will be secure. The safe should be situated in an inconspicuous area of your home.

Find a home security company you can trust. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. Make sure that the installer has experience installing your type of security system. After all, the point of the system itself is to help you feel more at ease.

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. This can help your home be safer. Fire prevention is paramount.

Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. Small items of value can be hidden for safety in your home’s walls. You could use a phone jack, electrical outlet or a switch plate. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Some will come to your door just to determine how secure it is, and they may return later if they think they can easily enter your home.

Lock the house, even if just going away for a short time. Surprisingly, lots of burglaries occur because the burglar was able to simply walk in without having to actually break in. Thieves can steal thousands worth of your belongings very quickly.

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. There are differences between large cities and homes located in the countryside. Not everyone believes this, though.

Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. A burglar can easily strip away wood that has rotted. As a result, this will assist them in breaking into your home. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

It is important that your valuables are not visible from anywhere outside your house. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.

Prior to allowing access to anyone, make sure you are shown proper identification. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. Anyone you bring into your home to work could be your worst enemy.

Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. Most break-ins and burglaries occur because a door is left open and an intruder just walks in. A thief can take plenty of valuables in minutes.

If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. You’ll want to avoid any surprises so be sure and read your contract carefully.

If you are moving into a new home, change the locks right away. Although other tenants might not have a key anymore, they could have copied it. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. Don’t provide burglars with cover by planting big shrubs in front of your doors and windows. If criminals know you can see them, they are less likely to break in. If you want to have a garden around your home, keep trees and shrubs away from your house.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. They do not desire to be seen. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. Keep those lights shining brightly at night.

Ask the home security companies to visit your home and design a system tailored to your needs. Everyone has specific needs and wants when dealing with the security of their house, belongings and family. If you find a company that will tailor the plan you choose to your needs, you can get the highest level of security that makes you feel comfortable.

Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. This includes doorways and porches, the garage, and windows on ground floors which may invite intruders.

Buy a paper shredder. Thieves may look through your garbage for information. You could also simply take care to tear up your discarded papers.

There are many ways to make your home safer, both with and without home security systems. You have many alternative, from purchasing a firearm, installing extra locks or putting up additional fencing. Do not forget this advice in order to increase security in your home.

Equip your home with a system designed for home surveillance. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home safe. A visible video camera acts as a warning to an intruder. If the intruder disables the visible camera, the hidden camera will document it! You can often view these feeds over the Internet, too.