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Do you want to buy a security system for your home? Lots of people do so without taking the time to determine whether or not one is really necessary. Locking your doors at all times and other simple ideas can make a huge difference.

Man's best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. This will come in handy if your dog is outdoors most of the time or if it can go outside through a pet door. Attach the spare key to your dog's collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.

Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they're trustworthy and reliable. Read through their references very carefully, and don't hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. Placing a key above a door or under a doormat is quite obvious! You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

A secure hiding place can be created in a wall. Concealing small valuables in your walls is an easy and highly effective way to protect them. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. A security store will sell fake plates you can install anywhere.

Don't post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. Potential intruders could get a good idea of when you will be gone by monitoring what you share on social networks.

If you are entering a house that has already been occupied, you should first change your locks. Even if the tenants turned their keys in, they may have made copies. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

You could hide some valuables within your walls. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. Many areas in your house are already accessible for this purpose. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

Think about safety when designing your home. Keep your doors and windows clear of any shrubbery. This makes it where people can't hide in different nooks and crevices. Plan your greenery and shrubbery for areas away from the direct path to your home to add beauty while still keeping your house safe.

Are you aware that the wires located on the exterior of your house have value? Many folks are not aware of this until a thief steals it. A skilled intruder could remove all the copper from your home within less than an hour. To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.

Think about what you need to feel safe before considering security systems. You might find that an alarm isn't necessary at all. Sometimes you may just want to invest in a dog or self-defense classes. You need to assess risks and choose a system adapted to the kind of situations you are likely to run into.

This article provides a starting point for your research. Don't make an uninformed decision about home security. You want to make your family's safety your priority. Keep these tips on hand as you search for the right home security solutions.