How valuable is home security in your book? Have you come to believe that you simply cannot afford the services of a security company? 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.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Many systems can alert you whenever anyone has entered your home. This is important to parents who have small children, because they will want to know if the children have opened a door.

Protect your spare key by using your dog. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!

Your flooring and roofing should be fire resistant. Your home will get added protection, especially if your environment is dry and has power lines. Because of the amount of damage fires can cause, it is important to protect your home from them.

Get advice from your friends before selecting a provider for home security. You can benefit from the experience of others that have gone before you by paying attention to their recommendations and warnings. Keep asking to get the advice that will help you make the right choice.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Fasten the key to your dog’s collar to hide it from view. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

Security System

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. If the phone rings when you are away, burglars will know there’s nobody home, making the house vulnerable to a break-in when you are out.

Get in the habit of checking your security system regularly. Ask the security company to send a technician out to give your system a thorough inspection. Wild animals, domestic pets, and weather are all factors that can affect the reliability of your home security system. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.

See if your area police department has any home security programs. The police can offer you some great advice, help you engrave valuables and even come check out your home. Get in touch today.

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. You may be surprised to know that many burglars simply turn the doorknob and walk right in. Thieves can steal thousands worth of your belongings very quickly.

When installing your home security system, make sure to hide the wires. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. Keep yourself safe.

Use your garage for your car, not just storage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. When it is in hiding, people won’t know if you’re home.

Whenever you move to a new dwelling, make certain to get each lock replaced. As nice as the previous person may seem, you don’t really know them. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

Door Frame

Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. As nice as they look, they’re a prime target for thieves. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

Replace rotten wood on your door frame. An intruder could pry the rotten wood easily to open the door. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. It is extremely important that you have flashlights because they allow you to move around easier in the dark, which is especially useful in an emergency. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.

Always lock your home, even if you plan on coming back within a few minutes. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it’s unlocked. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

Ask for ID before letting anyone into your home. Many thieves use this tactic to enter a house. Don’t allow this to happen, as it is a direct threat to your house and its contents. Proceed with caution.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. They sometimes have hidden costs if you let go of them prior to the contract expiring. You are going to want to avoid these kinds of hidden fees, so know about them up front.

Make sure the wires of your home security system are completely hidden. If the wires are exposed, an intruder can bypass the system by cutting its wires. Don’t make it easier for them, so have wires hidden in the house’s walls or buried. This will make you much safer.

The outside of your house should be well lit. Criminals like to blend into the shadows, so do your best not to provide too many for them. Install lights in areas where intruders might come. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.

You should not enter your home if you find the door ajar. You have no way of knowing whether the thieves are still inside. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.

Buy flashlights with strong batteries and make sure there is one in each room in case of power outages. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.

Spring Latches

Steer clear of locks with spring latches. These locks are very easy to pick with something as common as a credit card. Wedging the card into the door crack can cause the lock to release. If you have spring latches already installed, consider adding deadbolts too.

When moving into a previously owned home, change the locks. Even if you’ve gotten a key from the previous owner or tenant, there could still be a lot of people out there who have keys to your home. You can purchase locks and install them yourself to ascertain that only you have a key.

Make sure that your key is in a hidden place. Fake rocks are particularly simple to spot. Many people will look under your doormat. A safer option is entrusting a neighbor or one of your most trusted friends to keep your spare key. If you can’t, be creative where you put the key.

Always keep your valuables secure. Items like passports, family photos, financial records, expensive jewelry and legal documents are best kept in a secure location. You may want to invest in a floor safe for these. A better choice is storing them outside your home in a deposit box at the bank.

The Internet is great for searching for home security companies, so use it to your advantage. Go through different websites and investigate testimonials about different companies and packages. With that information, you can make your appointments with the top three companies you’ve chosen so that you can compare pricing and look at specific monitoring and plans.

The best defenses you can afford are what home security is all about. There are plenty of methods available, despite how much you can spend. Apply all the tips you read in this article to keep your family safe. They may be your greatest defense and cost effective too.