Homeowners are often daunted by the topic of home security. That said, it can be affordable and simple. Keep reading for some cost-effective methods for securing your home.

Put your spare key on your dog. This is only true if yours in an outdoor dog, or your house is equipped with a doggie door. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

Place the spare key that you make on your dog. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. You can attach a copy of your key to the dog’s collar, so when you need that spare, you’ve got one handy!

Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Prices vary significantly, even for similar levels of protection. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

When looking to buy a security system, shop around. Prices for home security systems can vary and they do not all offer the same services. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. You should only open the door to people you were expecting.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, this warning remains true. Some criminals will use any reason to gain access to look for security systems and easy entryways into your house.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. Some people think that the people out in the country without neighbors are actually at a much greater risk. That said, stranger things have happened.

Be outgoing. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Look out for their property, and see if they will look out for yours. Don’t ignore any gossip either. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. Concealing small valuables in your walls is an easy and highly effective way to protect them. You could use a phone jack, electrical outlet or a switch plate. If you don’t have unused plates, it’s easy to put in a fake one.

Consider changing your locks as a part of your home security program. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. Most locksmiths can accomplish the job within 24 hours.

It is important that you do not put expensive valuables in plain sight. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. Keep your curtains drawn to keep your valuable items safe.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. As nice as they look, they’re a prime target for thieves. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.

Regardless of how long you plan on being away from your home, always lock all the doors and windows whenever you leave. In a lot of cases, home intruders enter through unlocked doors. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

If your home security system is installed, be sure its wires are well-hidden. You do not want the wires exposed for easy manipulation. Do not make entry into your home easy. Make sure the wires are not exposed either inside or outside your home. You will be much safer.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. You’ll find it easy to narrow your choice down to three top contenders; your next step is to arrange to meet each of them to discuss your specific security needs.

Are you aware of the value present in the wiring in your home? Many people have their wires stripped each year. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Hide your wiring to secure it.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. This is dangerous because the thief may be right inside. It is best to call the police right away and go to a safe place until the police check your home.

Rotted Wood

Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Burglars sometimes place fliers as a means to see if anyone is home to remove them. If the flier is not taken down, the burglar assumes the homeowner is not in town.

If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Replace rotted wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.

If you purchase a new, pricey electronic like a TV or computer, don’t leave the empty box near your curb. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target. Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. Having the name of the technician coming to your house ahead of time can help to ensure you are allowing someone who really works for the company into your home. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Be careful to avoid any potential dangers.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. It is not necessary to have an aggressive dog. Little dogs can also make big noise, which is the main thing that burglars care about.

Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable. Whenever you know you aren’t doing business with a fly-by-night company, you will be more assured your home is protected.

You don’t need to rely on keys to prevent entry to certain areas of your home. It is possible to have locks that require just codes, not keys. Either you can install them or home security companies can.

Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. Light up the dark spots around your home. Make sure your porch, garage, doorways and windows are well lit.

Inquire whether a security company offers variable contract lengths. There are usually pros and cons in each contract. Longer contracts may offer more affordable monthly payments; however, it may be hard to cancel that contract should you decide to change services or sell your house. Shorter contracts allow your greater freedom, however they usually cost more each month.

Make sure you have weighed the costs and risks when you are considering your security needs. They can really protect your family, but they’re not something that everybody needs. In some neighborhoods, it may be better for you to have a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself. Be sure to assess the risk level you face before making big decisions.

If you have a numeric keypad on your door as your lock, don’t make the password your birthday. Personal information, such as a birthday can be acquired on the Internet. If you use this as your password, you may make it easy for a burglar to rob you. Try making the number one that can be remembered by doing a match equation in order to remember that equation instead.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, it would be a good idea for you to buy one. Unshredded documents can offer up a wealth of valuable personal information to thieves, including enough of your schedule to allow them to pinpoint the best time for a burglary. If a shredder is too expensive, at least tear relevant paperwork into small bits.

Hard-wired security systems can be a sound choice. Wireless systems are convenient, but they require multiple sets of batteries that have to be changed out on a regular basis. You might forget to change out the batteries, which will result in your system not operating as it should. Additionally, it can cost a pretty penny to buy batteries again and again.

Whenever you purchase some expensive item, don’t place the empty boxes right outside your home. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! When you have emptied the boxes, make sure you cut them up.

An alarm system can be a powerful way to make your home more secure, as long as it actually notifies the authorities when it’s tripped. Purchase a centrally monitored alarm to reap all the security benefits possible. You can’t rely on your neighbors to call.

A dog is a great alarm system. Dogs become extremely protective of their families and bark when uneasy. It doesn’t even have to be a big tough dog. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.

It can be tough to provide the proper level of security in a home equipped with sliding glass doors. By simply lifting the door and shaking it, it can be easily unlocked. You have to secure them, so use a piece of pipe in the track. This will keep the door closed tight and harder to force open.

Don’t hide your keys in obvious places. Fake rocks are very easy to spot. Doormats are generally the first spot a person would look. Talk to a neighbor or someone that you know to hold your key. If that option isn’t available to you, be creative with your hiding spots.

Captive keylock deadbolts are your best bet. The devices are equipped with thumb latches that prevent people from reaching around to open the lock via a an adjacent broken window. Leave a key inside the lock in case there’s an emergency.

Keep your most valuable possessions secure. Important legal documents and passports, family photos, expensive jewelry and financial records should always be protected. Keeping such valuables under lock and key (in a floor safe, for example) is a good way to provide the extra protection they need. A better idea could be to store these inside a box outside of your house.

Regardless of how pleasant the previous tenants of your home are, it is important to replace the locks in your new home. Regardless of whether you are renting or buying, you should either re-key the locks yourself, or request that your landlord take care of it for you.

A home alarm investment is well worth the money, provided someone contacts 911 when it is set off. The only way to ensure this is to use a system that calls the police for you. Don’t rely solely on your neighbors to notify the police.

Make sure you clean carbon monoxide and smoke detectors often. Lint and dust can build up and make them less sensitive. Your detectors will be much less effective at protecting the home from carbon monoxide and smoke.

With these quality tips for home security, you can do a better job of securing your house. Alter your home for maximum security. The end result will be a comfortable home that offers your family peace of mind from morning until night. Then you will find it easy to relax and feel comfortable.

If your home uses through-window air conditioning, don’t let your AC units be a weak point. Screw them in securely or surround them with security bars. If not, a thief can remove the air conditioner and gain easy entry to your home. In the wintertime, remove the air conditioner from the window to ensure security.