Making a home safe from intruders is definitely on the top of most people’s priority lists. Unfortunately, not everyone realizes what it really takes to achieve this very important goal. Keep reading the tips and insights that follow below, and you will soon have what it takes to keep your most important investment secure.

You do not necessarily need an expensive home security system to protect your home. You can buy a dog. Dogs are great for home security. Not only will they protect your home while you are away, they are great additions to your family offering protection, companionship and additional security for your home.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This can be useful if you’ve got small children that are able to open doors.

Refrain from using candles in your house unless it is absolutely necessary. If you do burn a candle, make sure that you blow it out when you are completed. It is vital that no burning flame is left unattended because one slip can destroy your home and potential hurt your loved ones.

Don’t allow a complete stranger to come in your home. Burglars have many clever ways to convince householders to open the door. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

Make sure that you have smoke alarms in every sector of your home to stay safe at all times. This is important as you will need some sort of notification when you are sleeping and unable to notice that a fire is occurring. If you have a one level house, one smoke alarm will suffice.

If your home has glass doors, you need to install a sensor in order to be safe. In many areas, burglars seek out houses with glass doors since they are easy to break. Installing shatterproof glass is a very expensive option, so you should consider having a sensor put in.

Install timers on your indoor lights. If you are planning on being away from home after dark, timers can make your home look occupied. This is especially useful if you are planning a vacation or other extended stay away from home. Make sure the timer is set differently in each room, as all the lights turning on at once does not look natural.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. If you haven’t got any plates that are unused, simply install a false switch plate.

There is no denying the critical nature of keeping your home protected from outside intruders. The key to doing this successfully, though, is arming yourself with solid information and guidance. Hopefully the preceding article has offered you precisely the type of advice you needed to get your home security plan off the ground.