How much do you value your home security? Do the large home security companies seem outside of your range price-wise? Do you often wish you had more inexpensive solutions? Thankfully, now there are! Read on for simple and effective ways to secure your house.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Most of them can be programmed to alert you to anyone entering your home. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. Other people will probably have personal experience with these companies that are either good or bad. They can share their experiences with you, which will greatly assist you in making the best decision. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Don’t post online when you’ll be away from your home. It’s natural to be excited about your trip, but this is as good as throwing out the welcome mat for people who know your home is unoccupied.

Don’t let any person you don’t completely know into your house. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. There are people that just want to go into your home to see if you’ve got a type of home security system, and if they see that you don’t, they’ll return when you’re not home.

Don’t open up your door for someone who is a stranger. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

If you’ve got a garage, boost home security just by using it for only a car instead of storage. Keeping your car in your house will deter intruders from vandalizing or stealing it. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

Always go with your gut when it comes to choosing a security firm. This is particularly true if you’re uneasy with those that install your actual system. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. Although you may trust the previous homeowner, you cannot be 100% sure of their character. Remember that other families may have lived there before that person as well.

One of the best things you can do to protect your home at night is to deter intruders with plenty of exterior lighting. They prefer not to be seen. With a well lit home there is no place for burglars to conceal themselves. Keep lights on during the night.

Switch your locks. Whether you just bought your home or someone just moved out that you were living with, this is an important step to any new situation. Changing locks is not very expensive and should be done within a few hours.

Stand out in your street, and look toward your home. Are you able to see the numbers of your home? The police will find it difficult to locate your home quickly if your address numbers are difficult to see. This is a project any homeowner can tackle.

There is no need to have keyed locks on interior doors. If you do have areas to lock, consider getting keyless locks that you can open using a code, rather than carrying a huge ring of keys around with you. These can be installed either by you, or a home security company.

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.

Your security company might give you the option to lease and eventually buy your security equipment. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. Leasing is often less expensive, but it may involve contracts and higher monthly fees. Compare both avenues to see which one is better suited for your needs.

Avoid keeping auto registration in your glove compartment. It is not smart, because anyone can know your address. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place in your car. Keep them close to you in case you get pulled over.

When selecting an alarm set-up, think about getting one that protects not just the doors in your home. Windows need to be monitored too. Make sure the alarm is attached to all of them, and that monitoring is offered for all possible entry points. This helps ensure your family stays safe.

If you always turn your lights on or off at the same time, use a timer. This makes it easy for you because you do not have to turn the switch. It also makes the lights go off and on even if you are not at home.

Take extra measures to keep valuables that cannot be replaced secure. Irreplaceable valuables, including financial records, family photos, legal documents, passports, etc., should be secured at all times. Floor safes may come in handy for this purpose. For added safety, place them in a safety deposit box at your bank.

There is a lot of value in copper wiring. Some intruders could strip your home of every bit of copper. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.

Motion Sensitive Lighting

Figure out if motion sensitive lighting is an option for your home by talking to your home-security company. This is often an option from a good company. Motion sensitive lighting turns on when a person approaches your home in the dark. Motion sensitive lighting can scare off an intruder and allow you to safely enter your home.

To increase your home’s security, buy some outdoor lights that are motion activated. These lights are not only handy when you get home late, they also help deter criminals from entering your home. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Having a burglar alarm is really good, but it is only good if the police is alerted when it sets off. The wiser investment is in centrally monitored security systems. These alarm services ensure that the police will be called whether anyone is home or not. You can’t always trust just the noise from the alarm to scare off the intruder.

Choose some deadbolts with captive keylocks for your home. This type of deadbolt is secured with an inside latch. Even if a thief reaches in, he cannot turn the lock. Only leave the key in the door when you are home, just in case of an emergency.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a new home security company. Review the websites of several companies and play close attention to the types of services offered and the customer reviews. With this information, you can contact the companies you feel comfortable with and compare the rates to each other.

Although locks sealed inside are okay, they are useless if they can’t be locked from the outside. Deadbolts that use keys on both sides are the most secure locks.

Having a dog that has a scary bark is helpful. A barking dog will keep most intruders away. Owning a dog not only offers a great companion, but a built in alarm system, too.

Talk to any companies you’re considering hiring to install a security system about how long the company has been around. Find a home security company that has a good reputation and many years of experience to get excellent service. Knowing you are not dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this important decision.

Home security is largely dependent on affordability. Use the inexpensive methods of securing your home if you cannot afford the more expensive ones. This article was full of tips that can be used as home security alternatives. Cheaper methods can still produce good results!