Mark Lowry

Making an effort to have better home security is the first step to a safer house and a happier life.

The safest house employs home security best practices.

> Here's a state-by-state look at burglary crime rate numbers. Some states were surprisingly low, and other states were shockingly high. The national average in the United States for burglaries is 723 per 100,000 people. So, how are the crime rates stack up where you live?

Don't return from vacation to an empty house.

There are a lot of things you want to do to help keep your home and family safe, but there are just as many things you want to avoid doing as well. There are certain simple things you don't want to do because these are the things that attract burglars.

Many burglars aren't very smart, which could lead to unforeseen conditions. Have you seen some of these security headlines and stories lately?

The value of motion sensors is often overlooked and misunderstood.

Look at the numbers first. What does it cost and how much could it save to get a security system? You better look before you do but don't forget to consider the additional contributing factors of an alarm, your neighborhood, your children and oddly enough, the efficiency of your parenting.

Man wins money at casino then loses it in house fire.

As snowcaps melt around the country, water levels rise. In many areas this can lead to flooding, which is why if you live in an area that may be prone to flooding your house should be equipped with a flood monitoring system.