Every homeowner has the responsibility of doing his best in keeping his house safe. Alarm systems are not the only way to keep your home safe and secure. Continue reading to learn more about how you can keep your home safe.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Use timers to make electronic devices and lights turn on and off at intervals. This way it will always look as if someone is home, even when you are away. This is a simple way to improve your home’s safety and make it less attractive to criminals.

Always change the locks after moving into a new home. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. This is also a good idea in the event that you misplace your keys.

Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Be sure to put your safe in an out of the way place like the basement, attic or under the floorboards.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

You should invest in fire-resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling. This will help you protect your home under all circumstances. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

Consider the advice of your friends when selecting your home security company. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Keep asking to get the advice that will help you make the right choice.

Do not open your door for strangers. Burglars have many clever ways to convince householders to open the door. You should make sure you only open the door to your home for people that you know and are expecting.

Rid the outside of your home from dead wood, vegetation and overgrowth during the summertime. This can be a fire hazard, especially if you live in an area with high heat. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. The lights will notify you of motion and also deter would be burglars. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. Surprisingly, lots of burglaries occur because the burglar was able to simply walk in without having to actually break in. A thief can take plenty of valuables in minutes.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. These boxes sitting outside your home serve as a flag for thieves to target your home.

Keep flashlights in your rooms. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.

After reading these tips, your home should be safe. Perhaps this seems to be very complicated and troublesome; however, you must proceed to secure your home and provide safety for your family. The tips here should make this possible.