What are you willing to pay to keep your home and family safe? Do you believe home security companies are too pricy? Are you longing for less expensive options? They are out there, and they’re waiting for you to notice them. This article contains some inexpensive home security tips.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.

You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. There is no telling how many key copies were made and given out by a previous owner. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. Make sure they are honest, reputable and hardworking. Go over their references and do some background research on the company they work for. If they work for a firm, call the local Better Business Bureau to find out that firm’s reputation.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you are away from home? If so, the dog can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. The key can be attached to the collar of your dog. This will ensure that burglars cannot see it. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.

Comparison shopping is essential when seeking a security system for the home. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.

If your social networking accounts are filled with folks you do not really know, do not announce vacations on the sites. Though trips are always fun to talk about, you may be doing little more than telling burglars the best times to visit your house.

Talk to people you know about their security systems. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Make broad inquiries so that you are able to make a well-informed decision.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. No matter what the excuse the person presents, keep them from entering your home. There are some people who will just come in to see if you have a home security system, and if you do not, they could come back later when you are not home.

The police department in your area may offer a home protection program. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you. These programs can make a big difference to the security of your home, and they may just be a phone call away.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. You never know who they might be, despite their story. Create a rule where you only allow those you’ve invited to your home inside.

Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. They will illuminate your property if they sense any movement near your home. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Just remember that you must change the bulbs often in order to keep the lights working in order.

Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. A key that is easily found is a convenience for a burglar, not just for you. Thieves know about all these hiding spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

If you’re in a rural place, you might not be as worried about break-ins as those that are in the city. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.

Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. Break-ins are often the result of unlocked windows and doors. It can be a quick job for a burglar to steal items of great value.

Walls can serve as a handy hiding place. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Target any unused phone jacks or electrical outlets for an easy hiding spot. Even if every single plate in your home is being used, you can purchase a fake one purpose-built for concealing valuables.

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

Use your wall spaces to hide your valuables. You do not need to remove segments from your walls. There are many locales that are already around your home. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. During the night hours, these lights help light up the outside of your home, which makes them an excellent addition to your home security strategies. In addition, they are very affordable. If positioned correctly on the exterior of your home, the motion detectors make it virtually impossible for an intruder to sneak onto your property.

Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. 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 all these spots. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. You may find fees appear unexpectedly, including excessive costs for ending your contract early. It’s best to know about these fees in advance so that you can avoid them when possible.

Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.

Keep the outside areas of your home well lit. Burglars love to operate in the dark. You should put a light on any area where a person could break in. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. Many other people could have keys to the property, and you probably don’t want them to all have access to your home.

Before checking out security systems for your home, think about your personal security and safety needs. Generic systems aren’t for everyone. In certain areas, it may be just as useful to learn self defense or buy a dog, whereas other places may require added measures. Understanding your neighborhood, risks and budget constraints can help you to make the best choices.

The wiring on your house is valuable to burglars. Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Be sure that your wiring is concealed or difficult to access in order to keep your wires safe.

The best way to keep a burglar out of your garage is to ensure no one can see inside. Go to a hardware store and buy some frosting so you can cover your windows. Don’t leave the door unlocked for a long time, either.

Alter the locks and the keys when you change homes. Although the previous owner should not have a key, there is no way for you to know this. This will help safeguard that there is no one else with your key.

Make sure your address numbers are clearly visible from across the street. If your house numbers are not easy to see, the police may have difficulty finding you in an emergency. Fortunately, it doesn’t require much to fix this problem.

Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. There are early termination fees, and there may be fees for extra equipment procured in the future. Avoid as many fees as you can by reading everything.

You don’t need to rely on keys to prevent entry to certain areas of your home. Code or fingerprint enabled keyless entry locks are a great solution. These can be installed either by you, or a home security company.

You should find out how many years of experience your home security service has. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. You can feel confident when you choose a well established, reputable home security company.

If you’ve got a type of numeric keypad on the front door, don’t use your birthday as the password. A thief can easily find this information out. Rather, use a number that can be determined through an equation that you can remember instead.

Consider purchasing a wireless security system for your home. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless systems don’t need your home’s power in order to properly work. In addition, they can be usually be installed and maintained easier.

Draw the blinds at night in whatever room of your home faces the street. You don’t want all the peeping Toms of the world looking in. If thieves can see your things, they might think about paying you a visit. Keep your valuables out of sight and you’ll make yourself less of a target for crime.

Price plays a major role in home security. When you can’t install a major alarm system, you can do something smaller. The tips here really run the basics of pricing. These might be an excellent value and a fine defense.

If your current door is anything other than solid wood or metal, swap it out for one that actually is. These doors are much more sturdy. A burglar trying to kick in such a door is going to be in for some pain. Make sure to replace exterior doors for the cheapest amount possible.