How much is home security worth to you? Do you think that most major security companies are too costly? Is it your hope to find something more affordable? They are out there, and they’re waiting for you to notice them. This article has some cheap tips for home security.

Use your dog as the protector of your spare key. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. Just hide a spare house key on the inside of your dog’s collar. Then when you need an extra key, you will be able to access this one.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Make sure you check references. If this professional is from a company, it’s best to check with the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of reputation they have.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. This works especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.

Do you have an outdoor dog? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. Parents riding herd on small children will be thankful for this feature which makes it harder for kids to sneak outside without supervision.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm in case of a break in. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.

Buy fire-resistant building materials. This will give your home added security. Keeping fire hazards away is a great safety precaution since fire can cause lots of destruction.

The materials of your home should be fire resistant. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Stopping fire hazards is a key precaution to take since the damage it causes can be considerable.

Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Don’t make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Remember that intruders have a lot of experience with tricking people. Some people just want to know if there is a security system so they can plan on coming back later or not.

Install lights that have motion sensors. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

Remove all of the vegetation outside in the hotter months. They pose a fire risk. Make sure your yard is clean for the sake of your safety – and that of your family!

People who live rurally often don’t think about home security. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Some people think burglaries are less prevalent in rural parts.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Your security company should send a representative to check your system. Many different things can make problems for your security system. If the problem isn’t visible, you may be unaware of it.

Always lock your home, even if you plan on coming back within a few minutes. It may be a little surprising, but most burglaries and break-ins happen because the intruder just walks right through an open door. A burglar can steal a lot of expensive stuff in a short amount of time.

Skylights should be secure. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Skylights need to be installed correctly and safely, with hardware that will keep intruders out.

If you have any boxes to discard from large, expensive items, wait until the evening before the trash is scheduled for collection. If you leave the boxes out all week, it lets people know what type of items you have in your home.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Find a place where there is already a hole to get in through. For example, you might remove the cover of an electrical outlet, disconnect the wires, and use the space to hide small valuables.

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.

When choosing between security companies, read everything on the contract. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. You can easily avoid these fees if you do your research.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. Flashlights are very important, as they will give you the ability to move around in the event of an emergency. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a new home security company. You can check out their packages and rates and also read some customer reviews. From there, you can make appointments with your top three selections to compare final package pricing and specific details about plans and monitoring.

If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. The person who used to live there may still have a key. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.

Be sure to get a home security service that will inspect your home and tailor a home security system just for you. Each customer wants certain things as far as home security goes. 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.

It all depends on what you are able to afford when it comes to home security. If you aren’t able to spend too much, there are cheaper alternatives that are equally effective at keeping you safe. This article was full of tips that can be used as home security alternatives. They may be the best defense you could use and could also be the best thing you could buy.

Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. Burglars like using darkness to hide. Install a light in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.