How valuable is home security in your book? Are the costs of most home security services more than you can afford? Are you longing for less expensive options? They are out there, and they’re waiting for you to notice them. The following paragraphs have home security ideas and options to fit any budget.

Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog. You can purchase a special collar that will hold your spare key, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. 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.

Be smart about where you decide to hide spare keys. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Buy housing materials that are fire resistant. Your home will get added protection, especially if your environment is dry and has power lines. Fire prevention is paramount.

Social networking sites are great for keeping in touch, but post information sparingly. For example, you might avoid broadcasting when you are going out of town, especially if your friends list contains casual acquaintances. It’s exciting going to new places and enjoying your time, but you could alert thieves to an empty home that they can easily break into.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Get advice from your friends before selecting a provider for home security. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Ask a few different people to help you make the best choice.

You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed. Simply attach a C-clamp near the roller on the door track.

When you’re going away, turn off your phone ringers. This is because a phone that is ringing and ringing can tip of a burglar that nobody is currently home.

Is your garage used for storage? Consider removing those items and keeping your car there instead. It will be far more secure against thieves. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. Storing your car in the garage will also make it difficult for anyone casing your home to figure out when no one is going to be there.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn’t, they may target you later when you’re away.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

End your shyness. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Agree to watch each other’s homes while you are away. Pay attention to gossip. This might provide you with some valuable information, at times related to security, including information about potential strangers who you might not want near your home.

Be bold. Talk to the people who live in your neighborhood. Ask them to watch your home if you are on vacation. Don’t ignore any gossip either. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.

Any program to improve the security of your home should begin with complete replacement of your door locks. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

When securing your home, don’t forget about skylights. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

Rotten wood on door and window frames needs to be repaired. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home’s security.

After moving into a pre-owned apartment or home, change the locks. Although it’s normal for owners / tenants to surrender their keys when they leave, there’s no way of knowing who else might have copies. It is possible to purchase and put in locks on your own so you can be assured you have the only keys.

If the home you are moving into is not brand new, you should change the locks on all the doors. The person who used to live there may still have a key. It’s easy to install locks, so you can just purchase them at the home improvement store and swap them out to be sure you have the only keys.

Before you let a security company representative enter your home, make sure they are in uniform, and don’t hesitate to ask them for identification. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. Take care to steer clear of danger.

Home security installation technicians should always be in uniform and wearing identification. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This can be extremely dangerous to your home and loved ones. Act cautiously to avoid potential dangers.

Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. You need to do background checks in order to find out about their criminal history. You can never be too sure about anyone you hire to enter your home, and giving them access can work against you.

Check someone’s references carefully before letting them come into your home. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. Nighttime security lights are affordable and effective in terms of security and handy in terms of visibility and safety. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

For improved security, put your home under video surveillance. This will allow you to see who is around your house. Cameras that can be seen are an excellent tool for preventing most burglars from breaking into your home. However, if they are brave enough to try to disable your cameras, hidden cameras will capture them. A lot of surveillance cameras could be accessed through your phone, giving you the chance to check it even when you’re away.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. It doesn’t take long for a quality company to prove itself in the security business, and you should look for a track record of satisfied customers and successful work. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

Break down the boxes from your new TV or computer rather than leaving them on the side of the road. If the burglars see the empty boxes, then they will realize you have the items in your home. As a result, they’ll be more likely to break in so they can steal it. Cut the boxes and wait until the garbage truck comes to put them outside.

Consider your security risk and safety needs before purchasing home security systems. A home security system is a good idea; however, it is not the perfect solution for every home. In some particular neighborhoods, classes for self defense or acquiring a dog may be the best option. However, the newest home security technology may be the best protection in other regions. Make sure you understand your risks so you can make wise purchasing decisions.

Don’t use spring-latch locks. These type of locks can actually be opened by using a credit card. All they have to do is wedge the card between the latch and door, then wiggle it. If you have spring latches already installed, consider adding deadbolts too.

Anytime you come home and notice that the door is open whenever you are quite certain you closed it, don’t enter on your own to investigate. This is dangerous since the thief may still be on your property. Your best bet is to call the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.

If you must hide a key, hide it somewhere unusual. Is anybody really fooled by those fake rocks? Not likely. Doormats and rocks in front of the house are too obvious. It’s best to ask a trusted friend or even a neighbor to hold the extra key. If you must keep it elsewhere, be creative with your hiding spot.

If you will be away from your home, arrange to have whoever is collecting your mail to also pick up fliers placed inside your door. It isn’t uncommon for burglars to put up fliers to see whether or not they’re removed. Fliers that are left behind signal to the burglar that there is no one at home.

Install a hard-wired system if you want to minimize maintenance costs. Sure, wireless options are easier to use, but they consume battery power quickly. If you don’t replace the batteries, you’ll find that your system stops working correctly. What you spend on batteries, additionally, can really add up!

Can you read your house numbers clearly from the street? The police will find it difficult to locate your home quickly if your address numbers are difficult to see. This is easy and inexpensive to fix if you believe there could be a problem.

Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. They will go on when you need them, plus they’ll also go on when you’re not home.

Home security is largely based on what you are able to afford. If you cannot afford an expensive system, you should adopt better habits to keep your home safe. This article should have inspired you to think about your options. An inexpensive solution is still better than no protection at all.

Make sure your valuables, or things that can’t be replaced, are safe. Passports, jewelry and expensive electronics must be secured at all times. You can buy a cheap floor safe to put these items in. If you want to be very secure, you can put it in safety deposit boxes at your bank.