Safety should be priority number one for a homeowner. Unfortunately, burglaries are becoming more and more common these days, and there are also other things to consider such as flood and fires. Read the tips in this article to make sure that you family is safe from outside threats.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. You can attach your key to your dog’s collar in order to keep the key hidden. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

Make sure your home appears occupied. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. It’ll make it seem like someone is home. This can be a terrific method of securing your home and keeping burglars at bay.

Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. Many systems can be used to go off whenever anyone enters your home. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

Install motion-sensor lights. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Do not forget to change a bulb when it burns out.

Hide Valuables

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. This can help your home be safer. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

Hide valuables in spaces in your walls. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. It might shock you to learn that most break-ins occur due to unlocked doors. Once a thief is inside, he can steal a lot of valuables in a short amount of time.

Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. People often think of ways to trick others into letting them in so they can steal from them. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. The best systems are those that cover windows as well. Attach an alarm to every one of them, and make sure all entry points are monitored. This helps ensure your family stays safe.

If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. Intruders can disable a system if they see the wires. Never make things easy for them. Ask the person installing it to bury the wires or hide them inside the walls. This way, you will be safer.

Store your car in the garage if you have it. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders from vandalizing or stealing it. 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.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. There are other people who have lived in the home as well.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. These items will help you remain safe when there is no electricity. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. These lights will make you aware of, and can also scare off, potential burglars. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. The doors and windows of your home should not be obstructed by trees, fences or shrubs. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

Before you go shopping for a home security system, take a moment to think about your specific situation and unique requirements. Security systems are a proven method of reducing your chance of break-ins, but it is not always the right choice. Sometimes you may just want to invest in a dog or self-defense classes. Be aware of your risks to make an intelligent purchasing decisions.

The walls of your home make for great hiding spots. Hide valuables inside of your walls. Just take advantage of the phone jack, electrical outlet or unused switch plate. You put in a fake plate if there aren’t any unused in your home.

Always request that your house or pet sitter remove fliers from your door. Thieves sometimes place fliers on front doors and then wait to see if anyone removes them. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.

A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. If your garage door has windows, make sure they have a frosted coating. This is easy to find at any major hardware store, and installation is a breeze. Do not keep your door open long enough for people to get an idea of what you own.

Stashing your most precious possession right inside the walls of your home can be a great idea. You needn’t tear down your walls to do this. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. Why not take the guts out of an electrical socket you’re not using? You can convert it into a convenient and covert little wall safe.

Your pup is a great crime deterrent. Dogs can be extremely protective of their space and are great at barking when something is afoot. You don’t even need a huge, vicious dog. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.

If there are areas of your home you want to keep locked off, you do not need keys. You may have locks without keys that need a code. You can either install these locks by yourself, or have them professionally installed if you are not that handy yourself.

If you bought any big or expensive things, wait until trash day to throw away the boxes. These types of items are appealing to thieves, and you may as well put a sign in your yard inviting them to steal yours.

Avoid keeping auto registration in your glove compartment. This isn’t smart because that information contains your home address. You should carry them with you or find some other hiding place inside your vehicle. Make sure you can easily and quickly access them in the event that a police officer pulls you over.

Homeowners should do everything under their power to make their home safe. The article below has some great ideas with regards to home security. Use all the tips you read and do more research on home security.

Just moved in? Time for new locks! Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Keep in mind that other families might have lived with them, too.