Your house must be a safe haven for you and your family at all times. People need to be able to come home to a safe place. The article below is a compilation of tips that can be used to keep your home secure.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Check out their references thoroughly. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

Don’t talk about your vacations on social media. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? If so, the dog can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. Put the key on the dog’s collar. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Turn the ringers off on all your phones if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.

Police Department

Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

Talk to the police department in your area to see what safety programs they have. Your local police department will help you with preventive measures, inspect your home and show you how to mark your valuables so they can easily be found. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. If your car is in your garage there is less of a chance to vandalize or steal it. Hiding your car away from plain view is a good way to keep intruders from knowing when you are at home or not.

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. People will check your doormat and frame first. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Those that live in rural area are not as concerned about having their home invaded as those who are located in the city. Some maintain that rural dwellers have greater risk since their neighbors live farther away. Some think rural areas see less burglary.

Skylights need to be secure, too. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Skylights need to be installed correctly and safely, with hardware that will keep intruders out.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Fire prevention is paramount.

Walls are a good place to hide things. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Now that you have read this article, you have the knowledge you need to protect your home. Make good use of what you have learned. Use some of the ideas shown here and continue to educate yourself on the options available to you so that you find the right system to meet your needs.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.