If you are a homeowner, you should know the importance of being safe. Home damage can be devastating. Therefore, it is important to protect your home at all costs. This article shows you just how to be as safe as possible.

Buy a safe and use it to hold all of the valuables in your home. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. Give a key to someone you trust in case you get locked out.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. For a better solution, try tucking your spare key into your dog’s collar, provided you have an outside dog.

If someone comes to clean your home, only give them a key if they’re trustworthy. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Be sure to make sure their references check out. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. 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.

Is your dog kept outside when you are away? They can help you with your spare key. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is secure. Some people are concerned about burglars entering through an attached garage. A C clamp helps for garage doors on a track. The clamp actually keeps the door closed if tightened close to the track roller.

Think very carefully about where to hide your spare key. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. These are vulnerable to fires and put your home in danger. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Call and see what is available.

If you own a garage, be sure to use it to place your car, as opposed to using it as a storage. If your car is in your garage there is less of a chance to vandalize or steal it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.

You should always park your car inside your garage instead of using your garage to store some belongings. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. If you keep your car in the garage instead of in the driveway, it is harder for thieves to know whether you are at home or not.

Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.

Be bold. Get to know other people who live next door and others in your neighborhood. You’ll find that friendly neighbors make for a powerful support network. Keep an eye on their properties and they’ll respond in kind. Listen to gossip also. It is often a good way to find out about security issues, such as strangers in the neighborhood.

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

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. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. Some people think burglaries are less prevalent in rural parts.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Repurpose phone jacks and electrical outlets as tiny wall safes. You can also just put in a false plate to cover a hiding place.

Skylights need to be secure, too. Skylights are nice to bring extra light into your house, but they are also easy ways for burglars to enter your home. You should have them equipped with strong, sturdy hardware.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Burglars are well aware of such hiding places. Rather, give your key to a neighbor you find trustworthy.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. If the power goes out, you will be able to see everything. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.

Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. While having huge windows may be good for letting in light and viewing what is outside, it also gives potential thieves a good look in your own home. If you’ve got street facing windows, be sure and keep them covered.

Before letting a home security representative inside, ask for identification. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. Make sure you are as cautious as you can be.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Windows are all potential entry points for burglars. Have alarms installed for each window and any other entry point. The safety of your family will be ensured.

Before you let anyone go into your home, look at their references thoroughly. Perform a background check to learn about their criminal history, too. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.

Buy flashlights with strong batteries and make sure there is one in each room in case of power outages. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.

A good way to scare off intruders is to keep your house lit at nighttime. They don’t want visibility. Good lighting in your home means that crooks have no hiding places. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. You would be surprised how many thieves will impersonate security representatives to get into your house. This proves rather dangerous for both your family and also your valuables. Proceed with caution.

You should find out how many years of experience your home security service has. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

If the front door is open when you get home, resist the temptation to go in alone to find the reason. The thief might still be inside, and you don’t have any idea whether or not they are armed. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

You should find a home security company that will inspect your home and put together a customized system. There are always going to be unique things about your home as well as your specific needs, so make sure you think about these things. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.

Invest in a good paper shredder. Thieves can use this information to figure out your schedule and determine the best time to break in. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.

Install a home surveillance system. This will allow you to see who is around your house. Intruders will stay away from your home if they notice cameras and hidden cameras can help identify intruders if they disable the most visible cameras. A lot of surveillance systems are accessible using your cell phone, so you can monitor your home while you are out of town.

Does your security company offer leasing and buying? Buying your equipment may cost more initially, however it can actually save you money over time. By leasing equipment, you can get the protection you want for less, but you may be paying for it over and over as time goes on. You need to think about each option to think about what is right for your home.

As was proven in the article above, it doesn’t have to be all that hard to maintain a safe home. You simply need to understand how home security works. Make your home very secure with the help of these excellent ideas. Every single one of the tips you just read will improve your chances of keeping your home safe.

Put some extra thought into concealing your spare keys. Fake rocks are very easy to spot. Anyone looking for your key will look under your doormat. It’s best to ask a trusted friend or even a neighbor to hold the extra key. If none of these options are possible, try to think of an unusual hiding place.