If you own a home, then you understand the importance of keeping it safe. Few feelings are worse than seeing your house damaged or, worse, destroyed. Therefore, it is important to protect your home at all costs. The article below has the tips you need to keep your home safe.

Man’s best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Put a key on the dog’s collar so you have access to it when necessary!

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. Hide a key inside the collar of your dog in case you need a spare.

If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Make sure you verify all references. If the cleaner is from a firm, try calling the local BBB to find out about the firm’s reputation.

Is your dog outside even if you are away? This is where you can put your spare key. Put the key on the dog’s collar. This works very well if you have a pet that is not very fond of strangers. You will get the access you need without having to worry about your safety.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. They can be programmed to alert the homeowner if a person enters the home. It’s a great feature for parents as they can tell if a child is potentially leaving the house.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. Burglars are getting creative, and they will do anything they can to gain access to your home. Make sure everyone in your house knows not to open the door unless they know the person standing outside.

When in the process of purchasing a home-security system, be sure to comparison shop. Prices can be very different from one product to another. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.

See what the local police offer when it comes to home protection programs. They may offer neighborhood watch programs, home inspections, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. Call and see what is available.

Get roofing, flooring and ceilings that are fire resistant. This will add an extra protection layer for your house, particularly if you live near power lines or in a dry location. It’s best to prevent a fire before it starts.

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Others feel rural residents have a lower risk of being burglarized.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. 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. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Any skylights in your home should be secured with strong hardware.

If you’ve got skylights, don’t neglect them when ensuring your home’s security. While they are nice and help with lighting, they also provide the burglars help with access to your home. Your skylights need durable and reliable hardware for true protection.

Ensure that valuables are stored in a hidden area that isn’t visible from outside your home. While it may be nice to look out, burglars will see your valuables inside. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

If you are new into a house, replace all the locks. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Also, there have likely been other owners of the home, and you don’t know them either.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This can mean the difference between a safe home and one that is an easy target.

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. These lights provide extra light for your home and are very cost efficient. Positioned correctly, these lights can make it impossible for intruders to get on your property undetected.

After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. Make sure the wires are installed inside the walls of your home. This will help to deter intruders that are looking to quickly disable your alarm system.

Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.

Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. Each customer wants certain things as far as home security goes. The right company will make you feel more safe and secure in your home.

Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. You should not trust a company that does not have a good record with your local Better Business Bureau or few years of experience.

If you get home and notice an open door, do not go in to see what has happened. This can be a dangerous scenario, as the criminal might still be present. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.

Keeping your house safe is not a difficult feat. It is important to do more research on home security before you decide what kind of system you want to invest in. Use what you’ve just learned to secure your home. Don’t neglect these tips since they can ensure your home’s safety.

Can you see the number of your house from the street? In an emergency situation, first responders won’t be able to locate your house quickly if the numbers are hidden or are too small to see clearly. Thankfully, you can easily fix this problem very quickly and cheaply.