Home Safety: Be Safe In Your House

by Michael Ertem

Take care to protect pricey valuables, such as jewelry, fine art or cash. Guard against burglaries by increasing the security of your home. The following article will give you some great home security tips to help make your home a more secure place.

Man's best friend can also be trusted to secure a spare key. This is a great idea if your dog is outside all the time, or they can get out through a doggy door. You could simply put a key onto your dog's collar, so it is always handy.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. It's important to know everyone who has a key to your home. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

The best home security systems do much more than sound the alarm (literally). They can actually be set to chime whenever a monitored door is opened. This is useful for parents who have small kids, as it helps keep them from leaving the house.

Buy a safe for very valuable items in the house so you can keep them inside a single location. This will help to keep your jewelry and other valuables secured in the event of a break in. The safe should be kept hidden in a basement or attic.

Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Prices vary quite a bit. Be sure and get a minimum of three quotes from different companies prior to choosing one.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.

Never let a stranger inside. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn't, they may target you later when you're away.

Get rid of all of the dead wood and vegetation in your yard during the summer months. When summer heats up, such debris can catch fire. To make sure your home is safer, clear your yard periodically.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. It's quite possible for there to be a fault in your system even if you can't see it.

The walls are a perfect hiding place. If you own smaller things that need protection, think about keeping them hidden in the walls. All you need is a wall opening you're not using (something like a phone jack, electrical box, or switch plate). If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.

You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. The best systems are those that cover windows as well. If you have an alarm attached to each of your windows and doors, you can keep track of all the entry points for your home. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

Don't assume you'll never be the victim of a crime; be proactive about securing your home. Take steps so that you won't have to be afraid. Keep this advice in mind to provide you and your family with protection.