If you are a homeowner, you should know the importance of being safe. There aren’t many feelings worse than your home being severely damaged or destroyed. Your home is a giant investment and a place to build the memories of life. Continue reading to learn tips that can keep your home and family safe.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. There may be a thief within this list and you would have been inviting him straight through your front door!

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. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Make sure you check references. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. The problem might not be obvious to you, though.

Does your dog like to play in your yard? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. This is quite effective if your pet does not respond well to strangers.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. You will be alerted when there is activity outside, and any potential burglars will be deterred because they do not want to be seen. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. Nonetheless, people in the country may be at greater risk due to being far away from neighbors. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Ask someone who works at the security company to do a maintenance check. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. If you don’t see the problem, you may remain unaware of it.

Use your wall spaces to hide your valuables. You don’t have to damage the walls to do so. There are many locales that are already around your home. 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.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. This lets you know something is moving and also drives off criminals. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

The alarm system you choose should protect more than just the doors to your home. Intruders can enter through your windows too. Get an alarm that will trigger if either the doors or windows are opened. This can keep your family much safer.

Keeping your house safe is not a difficult feat. All you need is some reliable home security advice. Use these excellent ideas to really up the security around your house. Don’t neglect these tips because you could use them to ensure your house’s safety.

You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. They do not desire to be seen. Good lighting in your home means that crooks have no hiding places. Keep lights on in the evening for a safer home.