Can you really put a price on your personal security? Do you believe home security companies are too pricy? Do you need something more affordable? You can secure your home in an affordable manner. The following article has some cheap ways to increase your home security.

Why not give your trusted dog the job of holding onto your spare key? Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Simply attach a spare key to your dog’s collar (in a secure and non-visible place, of course) so that you’ll be able to retrieve it if you need it.

Make your home look occupied at all times. There are timers you can use to make electronics turn on and off at random times. This makes people think you’re home. This will keep people from breaking in.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. Call a locksmith as soon as you can for maximum security. Do the same thing if you misplace your keys.

Always take time to compare and research before investing in an expensive security system for your home. Prices vary greatly in regards to the same protection for each company. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.

Eliminate dead vegetation and rotting wood from the yard each summer. You risk a house fire if that sits there during the heat of the summer and catches fire. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

Spare Key

Speak with the police in your town regarding the home security programs they have. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. 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. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.

Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. These lights will not only let you know when someone gets too close, they will also stop potential burglars from breaking in. After all, burglars don’t want anyone to know they are there. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

It is always best to not let people in that just show up out of the blue. Do not give in, even if a person uses a convincing story, asks for help or says they are selling something. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home security equipment.

Alter the combination of the locks in your home. 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. This is a very easy process that you can complete within a day.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. If your car is in your garage there is less of a chance to vandalize or steal it. This can also keep people from knowing your schedule.

If you reside in a small town or rural area, then you might not be as worried about someone breaking into your home as city dwellers may be. People who live in the country may even be more vulnerable because they do not have nearby neighbors. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. There’s plenty of places in a house with pre-cut areas that can be used. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.

You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. Burglars often enter through windows as well. Every single entry point needs to have monitoring on it. This is the pinnacle of safety.

Always lock your doors, even if you are just walking down the street. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. Thieves can make off with large amounts of valuable merchandise very quickly.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. Many intruders bypass a security system by cutting the wires. You don’t want to help them by doing this, so make sure you have the wires within the walls. This way, you will be safer.

It is important that your alarm system wiring is not exposed anywhere. You don’t want a burglar to get access to them and disable your system. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. Your safety will increase.

If you have just moved into a new home, have every single lock replaced. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. Having these boxes around for a while will give people an idea of what is inside your house.

Having your house lit up during the night is a good way to scare intruders. They do not want to be seen. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. Keep the lights on when it’s dark.

Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. You can be sure that an established company has a good track record of providing solid and reliable service. It’s good to know that the company won’t disappear overnight and leave your home unprotected.

Consider installing a surveillance system for your home. Both hidden and visible security cameras are effective in protecting your home. Intruders can be deterred to visible cameras, but hidden cameras are better if criminals damage the other cameras. Nowadays, you can track your surveillance on your own cell phone.

It all boils down to what is affordable. If the higher-end options are out of reach, at the very least deploy some economic options and tricks. This article has many tips you can use for your home security.s These tips will prove to be invaluable.

Anytime you make a new electronics purchase, keep the boxes off the curb until the very last minute. Burglars will see those boxes and realize that there are valuable things in your home for them to get. Cut up the boxes when they’re empty.