Any homeowner should be doing everything they can to ensure their family’s safety. Sadly, burglaries in people’s homes are becoming increasingly common, in addition to the extensive risks posed by floods or fires. The article below has the home security information you need to keep your family safe.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.

It is crucial that you change the locks as soon as you move into a new residence. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Changing the locks will give you peace of mind that you and your family are the only ones who have access to your home. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. This is essential, because you would never want valuable jewelry and other items to be seen by intruders. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. This is important if you have small kids.

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. Having your home built with fire resistant materials will help safeguard your home in case it catches fire. It’s best to prevent a fire before it starts.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.

When you’re going away, turn off your phone ringers. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

Don’t let strangers enter your home. There are some people who are very convincing and good at getting you to let them into your house. 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.

Even if you have a great security system, it must be checked annually. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.

The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get new locks. Maybe you’ve had a roommate leave or a bitter ex-lover, so changing the locks can keep you safer. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

End your shyness. Be friendly with people that live in the 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. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.

Do you have skylights? If so, you should keep them in mind when protecting your home. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

Homeowners should do everything under their power to make their home safe. You should know more about home security after going over this article. Make the most of these great tips for the best in home security.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. It is unnecessary cut space into your wall. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.