How much are you willing to pay for home security? Do the large home security companies seem outside of your range price-wise? Do you want to know about cheaper solutions? There actually are some, and they are within reach. This article has some cheap home security tips.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You don’t know who might have a key. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. Also, if you ever lose your keys, do the same.

Your dog can keep your spare house key for you. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. You can attach a copy of your key to the dog’s collar, so when you need that spare, you’ve got one handy!

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.

If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

Don’t let any person you don’t completely know into your house. Do not give in, even if a person uses a convincing story, asks for help or says they are selling something. Some criminals will come in, case your house and then come back when you are away.

When you set out to purchase home security equipment, remember to comparison shop. You would be surprised to see that the prices are much different for each company, even though it’s for the same type of protection. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.

Put up motion activated lighting. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

If you like to have a key hidden in case you lose yours, place it in a safe place. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. This goes for the installer, too. Do not hesitate to ask for a different person to install the system or even consider hiring a different company. Your security system is supposed to help you, not cause you more stress.

Don’t use social media to announce that you will be gone for an extended period of time. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.

Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. Copper, found in many wires, can be removed in little time, and is worth quite a bit of money. Therefore, ensure you hide your wires so that burglars cannot see them, or make the wires extremely hard for the burglars to get to.

Do not allow anyone you do not know into your home. No matter how innocent a person may seem or how interesting the product he or she may be offering, you must not allow access. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. Having these in an easy to find place will allow you to see in the dark much quicker. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. Intruders will avoid being noticed. With a well lit home there is no place for burglars to conceal themselves. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. Motion-sensitive lights will alert you to movement and deter people who want to break into your home. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

You need to make sure you’re making use of the Internet when looking at different home security companies. Review different websites and review comments from previous customers. With this information, you can contact the companies you feel comfortable with and compare the rates to each other.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. Though you might think that you’re giving yourself something you could use to get into your house when you’ve lost your keys, you’re actually inviting intruders inside your house. Thieves are aware of all these spots. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.

Don’t limit security to the inside of your home; the outside needs attention too. There should be no plants or greenery in front of doors or windows. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. Keep this in mind as you design.

Believe it or not, the wires on your house are worth stealing. Many people have their wires stripped each year. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. This is why the wiring should be hidden or difficult to get to.

Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

If you have your home brightly lit, burglars are likely to avoid it. They don’t want anyone to see them. With a well-lit home, thieves cannot hide or break in unnoticed. If you want to stay secure, keep your house brightly lit.

Ask the home security companies to visit your home and design a system tailored to your needs. All homeowners and homes differ. If you’ve found a company that can tailor a system to you, you can receive the greatest amount of security to make you feel much more comfortable.

When you landscape your house, make it safe. Don’t obstruct windows or doors with shrubs, plants, fences or trees. If they can be seen, people will not hide there and attempt a break-in. For a beautiful yard that’s also safe, keep the landscaping separated from the house.

A wireless security system could be a good option. Although wired systems are usually more affordable, they usually involve changing out the wires of your home. As a result, if a power outage occurs, these wires will probably not be effective. The easy of installation and maintenance when it comes to wireless set-ups makes them the best bet.

Before looking at home security systems, consider your personal security risks and safety needs. While alarm systems are great, they aren’t necessary for every family. In some situations, having a good dog and/or learning some self defense may be all that you really need to feel safe. Understanding your needs will help you make a good purchase decision.

If you haven’t gotten a paper shredder, it may be time to purchase one. You will be astonished at how burglars find important information from loose paper that they could use to break into your house. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.

A wireless security system for your home is a great option. Wired systems might be a bit less expensive, but they often involve intrusive rewiring of your home, and can become faulty during a power outage. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.

Make sure no one can look inside your garage. Cover windows using frosting, which you can buy at large hardware stores, to keep people from peeking in your window. Also, don’t leave your door open for long periods of time when you work there.

The best defenses you can afford are what home security is all about. When you can’t install a major alarm system, you can do something smaller. This article was full of tips that can be used as home security alternatives. These might be an excellent value and a fine defense.

If you purchase a new, pricey electronic like a TV or computer, don’t leave the empty box near your curb. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. Remember to cut up or break down those boxes and take them to the recycling center.