What is a safe and secure home worth? Have you come to believe that you simply cannot afford the services of a security company? Do you need something more affordable? They are out there, and they’re waiting for you to notice them. Read on to uncover some great home security ideas to suit virtually any budget.

Make your house look like it’s always occupied. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This will help safeguard your house to the best of your ability.

Make sure that you change the locks once you’ve taken possession of the house. You have no way of knowing how many folks might have keys to your house. To make sure your home can only be accessed by you, enlist the help of a locksmith. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.

Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This approach is useful if your dog is a large breed that lives outdoor, or if your house has a doggy door. 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 the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Check references thoroughly. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. The person who previously owned the home may have made copies of keys. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.

Buy a safe to contain everything of great value. This is vital, as you want to safeguard your valuable items in case of home burglary. Keep your safe in a hard-to-get-to place, such as a basement closet or your attic.

Local Police

Compare different systems when looking into home security. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Before choosing which company to go with, ask for quotes from a minimum of three companies.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. There are lots of different programs, like home inspections, that will help you take the proper steps to make sure your home adequately protected. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they’re available in your area.

If you want to have a spare key hidden outside of your home, hide it carefully. Avoid cliched hiding places like over the door frame or beneath the doormat. Experienced criminals will check these places immediately. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Have lights that sense motion. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Replace bulbs regularly and check the sensors once a month.

If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. It can be exciting to tell everyone about your vacation, but you could potentially be letting a burglar in on your whereabouts.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. Some think rural areas see less burglary.

Your friends may have some great advice for choosing the right company. There are likely people you know that have had either good or bad experiences with these companies. Ask around to get lots of advice for making a better choice.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.

Change your locks if someone you don’t trust moves out of your home. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. You can change the locks in a single day, and the hardware is not very costly.

Walls are the perfect place to hide. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

Follow your instincts when choosing a home security company. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. Ask for someone else to come out or switch companies. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.

When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Windows need to be monitored too. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This is the pinnacle of safety.

Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.

Home security is largely dependent on affordability. While some options might seem rather expensive, there are always cheaper methods as well. This article should have presented a number of tips that you can use to make your home more secure. These tips will prove to be invaluable.

You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. While you may feel that you are keeping yourself safe by allowing a way in for yourself, you are also allowing everyone else to visit whenever they want. Burglars always know just where to look. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.