Home security is a huge priority for women living by themselves or single mothers not readily trained and able to defend themselves physically. Instead of living in fear, you can follow many simple procedures to make your feel safer. Keep reading to learn more about home security.

If you retain a space key for when you get locked out, consider the place you hide it carefully. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. Try hiding your key on a lawn statue or in a potted plant.

Buy a small home safe that you can use to keep your valuables in. You would hate for your expensive jewelry, personal family belongings, etc. to be stolen in case a burglar breaks into your home. Keep the safe hidden in a hard-to-find location like an attic or a basement closet.

Buy roofing, flooring and interior paneling that is flame resistant. This will give your home added security. Home security also includes taking steps to prevent a fire from completely destroying your home.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

Do not allow anyone you do not know into your home. Stay true to your safety, even if it appears the person has legitimate reasons for wanting entry. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Never allow str4angers to enter your house. While their story may seem legit, that doesn’t mean it is true. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. A security professional should visit to help with the testing process. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. You may not be able to tell there is an issue by yourself.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. Regularly clear away your yard to keep your home in good standing and safe for your family.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. Just remember to change out the bulbs every so often so the lights remain in working order.

Be more proactive when you are determining the safety of your neighborhood. Be friendly with people that live in the neighborhood. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. It does not necessarily pay to steer clear of gossip. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.

Hide your valuables in the walls. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. You could use a phone jack, electrical outlet or a switch plate. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.

Choose an alarm which monitors other areas outside your doors. Windows need to be monitored too. Be certain they are also alarmed and monitored. The safety of your family will be ensured.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. Windows are a way for thieves to enter your home as well. Be sure your home alarm covers all entry points into your home. Do this to keep you and your family safe.

If you’ve bought large or pricy items, avoid throwing out boxes until the day the trash is scheduled for pick-up. Having these boxes around will let thieves know the type of items that are inside your home.

Alter the locks and the keys when you change homes. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others. For maximum security, buy your own locks and install them yourself. This way you can be certain nobody else has a key.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. Intruders could disguise themselves to inspect your home. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. Be cautious to stay safe.

Motion-sensitive exterior lighting is a must. This is a fairly inexpensive way to provide light and security to your property. If you position motion detectors properly, it is very hard for someone to sneak onto the property.

When moving into a house, ensure that each lock has been replaced. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Aside from that, other people lived in the home even before the ones from whom you purchased the home.

The best method to maintain a thief from going into the garage is making sure nobody can see inside. Frosted windows prevent thieves from looking into your home and are inexpensive. Avoid leaving the door open for extended periods of time.

A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. Dogs are quite protective of their masters and home, and they can display quite a bark if someone comes near the house. It doesn’t need to be a huge dog either. Little dogs can also make big noise, which is the main thing that burglars care about.

Flashlights in your home should always have newer batteries if your power goes out. They give you and your family the opportunity to move around should the electricity go out. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

There’s an easy way to secure interior doors (if there are areas you want to keep housemates and children out of) without obliging you to carry a key-ring around at all times. You may have locks without keys that need a code. They are fairly simple to install, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing so yourself, you can ask your home security company about it.

Ask your home-security company about what contract lengths they provide to their customers. These lengths can be both good and bad. Longer contracts may offer more affordable monthly payments; however, it may be hard to cancel that contract should you decide to change services or sell your house. With a shorter contract, you will have a greater level of flexibility. The downside is you will also have larger monthly bills.

Make sure that the person analyzing your home for a home security system is who he says. Many thieves use this tactic to enter a house. This could be quite dangerous. Proceed with caution.

Keep curtains closed when you aren’t at home. If you don’t, others can look in and see that the property is currently unoccupied. They may break in if they see things they like. Your window dressing should also be closed while you sleep.

Make sure your valuables, or things that can’t be replaced, are safe. Photos, passports, important documents and heirlooms should be kept where they can’t be stolen or damaged. You can keep these things in a floor safe placed in a secure area of your home. Safety deposit boxes are another great idea.

Add motion detector lighting to the exterior of your home for increased security. These lights illuminate your home during the night. As an added bonus, they are affordable and quite efficient. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.

You don’t have to break the bank on security equipment in order to protect your family. There are alternatives out there that are much cheaper and they can really help keep criminals away. Keep this advice in mind as you strive to increase security around the home.