How secure is your home? I don't just mean from disasters or pests, but from thieves as well. You need to ensure nothing can hurt those you love, be it a fire or a foe. Optimum home safety article details many ways to ensure your home is completely protected, so read on to find out what you can do today.

If you are a female and living alone, it's understandable that you may feel afraid about home invasions. People are more likely to try to take advantage of women. Try placing a pair of big, muddy boots on your front step to give the appearance of a man staying in the house.

After you buy your new house, get new locks. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. To ensure that you are the only one who has access to your house, call a locksmith. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? This is where you can put your spare key. Hook your key to the dog's collar in a place that is shielded from view. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

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.

Secure your garage. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.

Get to know your neighbors. Your neighbors are a valuable resource that can help keep an eye on your home when you cannot. When neighbors watch out for each other, you can be alerted if anything suspicious is occurring. Keep an ear out for neighborhood gossip too! If you hear about houses in your area being broken into, it might be time to step up security.

If you have a door in your garage that leads to the inside of your home, make sure that you keep your garage door down when no one is out there. Having an open door gives a burglar a place to enter, which means you and your family may be in danger.

You can often find coupons to save on your Optimum home safety. This is a great way to save some money on the installation in your home. Many times a security company will install for free if you have a coupon. They make their money on the monitoring service and will give away the system for free.

Do not leave notes on your door for family members or people that are coming to service your home. You may think nothing of it, but it is letting everyone know that no one is inside. It is a good idea to give people a call ahead of time and give them instructions.

Purchase fire extinguishers for every room in your house in the event of an emergency. Also, make sure that you train everyone in the home on its usage, so that everyone in the family is capable. Putting out a fire as it is in its early stages can help save your home.

Always lock your home up tight. Even if you are just popping over to a neighbors house, you need to ensure your house is secure. Most break ins happen with no damage at all - the thief just walks through an open door or slips through an open window somewhere.

Ask a neighbor to watch your home and get your mail if you are going on a trip for a week or more. Burglars sometimes will check to see that the mail or newspapers are piling up on a driveway. If your neighbor gets these in advance, it looks as if you are home.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so put yourself to the task of protecting those you love. You've read this article, now put its advice to work. Once you have a secure, safe home, you'll be happy to have everyone you love there day after day.