Are you extremely concerned about home security? Are you finding out that the price tags on major home security systems out of your range? Are you interested in a cheaper solution? There are some great alternatives that you can use. The following article has some cheap ways to increase your home security.

Comparison shop when you are ready to buy a home security system. The prices can vary a great deal for the same level of protection from company to company. Be certain to obtain multiple quotes prior to making your choice.

Providing a key to the person cleaning your home can be acceptable, but you must be sure they are honest and worthy of your confidence. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Check references thoroughly. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. Intruders might be attracted by a phone that rings constantly without anyone picking up.

Do you keep your dog outside when you aren’t home? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog is suspicious of strangers, you have found a good hiding place for your key.

Never open the door for a stranger. Nowadays, people invent many stories of why they should come in. For instance, they may say they need to call a mechanic or the police. However, their true intent is to rob you. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Security systems are more than just an alarm. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. This is great for parents that have small children so that they know when their kids open or close doors.

If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. Intruders can enter your home through an unlocked garage door. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This is important, since you don’t want your valuables exposed to a potential intruder. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.

Trust your instincts when it comes to hiring a home security company. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn’t give you a bad vibe. Don’t hesitate to request a different technician or to hire a new company altogether. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

Check around for prices, reputation, and reliability when choosing a home security provider. Every company offers different pricing. Look at a number of different companies and get at least three quotes before selecting what you feel is the ideal plan for your home.

Don’t forget skylights when doing a security sweep for your home. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.

If you’ve got lots of people you don’t know on your social networks, don’t let them know that you’re going to be on vacation. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

Walls are a good place to hide things. If you have valuables that are small in size, you may want to hide them within your walls. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. If you haven’t got any plates that are unused, simply install a false switch plate.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

Hide valuables in spaces in your walls. No need to damage your walls. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. You may believe you are making life easier for yourself, but you may just be giving thieves simple access to your house. Thieves are tricky, diabolical, and familiar with any and every hiding place. Rather, give your key to a neighbor you find trustworthy.

Your garage should be as secure as your home. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. Place a C-Clamp on the door track near the roller. This will prevent the door from lifting.

Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. You always want to make sure you keep your valuables covered if they are by a window.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. They turn on only if someone is nearby. You will receive advance warning of any potential issues, and a would-be intruder will probably be scared off. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs when they burn out.

Always lock your home, regardless of how short your trip out is. 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. They can get a ton of stuff quickly and be long gone before you return.

Do that put spare keys above door frames or under door mats. While it may seem like a convenient way to give you access to your home, intruders are aware of this practice. Thieves are aware of the best hiding spots. Rather, give your key to a neighbor you find trustworthy.

Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Thieves often pose as security company representatives in order to enter homes and look for valuables. This can lead to harm befalling your family and possessions. Be careful if you want to avoid danger.

Believe it or not, the wires on your house are worth stealing. Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. Copper wiring can easily be removed. Be sure that you keep all your wiring hidden and make it hard to access.

Always get references from anyone you are considering hiring to do work inside your home. You should do a background check as well to find out their criminal history. There is no way of knowing whether or not service people are honest, so you should not give them keys to your home.

Rotten Wood

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. Whenever you properly position these lights, they will make it almost impossible for burglars to sneak in.

Replace rotten wood on your door frame. The rotten wood will be simple to remove, allowing a thief access to your home. Replace it as soon as possible.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.

Unless you’re moving into a brand-new apartment or home, changing the locks should be one of your top priorities. Even if the tenants turned their keys in, they may have made copies. If you own, you can have the locks replaced and only you will have had the key.

Install a home surveillance system. Setting up hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. Intruders will stay away from your home if they notice cameras and hidden cameras can help identify intruders if they disable the most visible cameras. As an added security bonus, most modern systems will allow you to monitor your cameras remotely (via cell phone) for round-the-clock protection.

As the company that is doing your home security how long they’ve been providing this service. Look for a security company that is well-established and has extensive experience in the industry. You’ll find it a lot easier to put your faith in the professionals if you take the time to verify their trustworthiness.

Never hide keys in obvious locations. It’s easy to see fake rocks. Many people will look under your doormat. It is best to simply ask a neighbor or trusted friend to hold on to an extra key for you. If that isn’t possible, think outside the box when you hide it.

Have your home security company inspect your home and suggest safety improvements. Every homeowner has specific needs for their home and their family. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.

If your door has a numeric keypad, don’t use your birthday as the password. 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. Use a random number instead.

Never enter your house if the door is open or something doesn’t feel right. You have no way of knowing whether the thieves are still inside. You should call the cops and then wait for them before you do anything else.

If you want to minimize the maintenance required by your security system, go with one that’s hard-wired. Although wireless security equipment is easy to install, it relies on battery power, necessitating constant battery swaps. If you forget to change the batteries, your system will not work correctly. Replacing several batteries will quickly add up.

It all depends on what you are able to afford when it comes to home security. If you don’t have a large budget, there are inexpensive methods you can try. This piece has offered lots of good home security ideas. They may be the best defense and worth the cost.

Buy your alarm system straight from the manufacturer. Resellers just want to make money off your purchase, but they don’t give guarantees. If you get your product from the company, you will avoid a ton of fees.