Homeowners must assume the serious responsibility of home safety. While an alarm is a good place to start, there are other steps that can be equally effective. Read the following article for more detailed information about making your home secure.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. But, this is only effective if your home has a pet door or your dog stays outdoors when you are not home. Keep a spare key around the dog’s collar.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.

Beware giving keys to your maid unless the service has your absolute trust. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key. It is best to do a reference check on them. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. While these platforms are there for sharing, this is announcing to the world that your home is an open target.

Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. If an intruder breaks into your home, at least these valuables will be secure. Hide your safe in a place that is hard to get to, like a basement closet or an attic.

Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. It is probable that you will hear some great stories about some companies as well as some not so great stories about others. This can save you the hassle of having to research everything on your own. Ask around so that you can have the advice that you need to make a good choice.

If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Try hiding your key somewhere more unique, like your outside dog’s collar.

Don’t allow anyone you don’t know to look into your house. Even if the person has a compelling story, needs help or has something to sell, they should not be given access. Some people will knock on your door simply to see whether you have a security system.

Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. They probably have both positive and negative things to tell you, and those comments will help you make your own decision. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

Eliminate dead vegetation and wood in the yard in the summer. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. Regularly clear away your yard to keep your home in good standing and safe for your family.

Never open up your door to a stranger. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Create the rule that you just open a door to people that you expect to arrive.

Find a home security company you can trust. This is very true when you feel uneasy about the person installing the system. Ask the company to send a different installer or simply change companies. After all, you’re investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.

Clear away all the dead and dried out vegetation around your home in the summer. As things heat up in the summer, items may catch on fire and threaten your home. Regularly clear away your yard to keep your home in good standing and safe for your family.

If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. Others think that rural places have less of a chance of being targets for burglars.

Use your garage for what it was intended: your car. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. Storing your car in the garage will also make it difficult for anyone casing your home to figure out when no one is going to be there.

This information can help put you in the safest position possible. Although all this may seem complicated and tedious, it’s totally necessary in order to keep your whole family safe. Apply what you’ve just learned, and you should be golden.

Install lights that use a motion-sensor. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Replace bulbs regularly and check the sensors once a month.