What value do you place on home security? Do you think that you cannot afford home security? Do you wish there were cheaper solutions available to you? Happily, there are a number of affordable security options that are readily available. The following article has some cheap ways to increase your home security.

Don’t give your keys to a house cleaner unless you totally trust them. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. Make sure you verify all references. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

Do you have an outside dog? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? She or he is actually a good place to keep the spare key. Attach your spare key inside the collar of your dog. This works especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.

Don’t post information about an upcoming vacation anywhere on the web. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.

Make sure to clear your yard of brush and dead wood in the summertime. This sort of thing is a fire hazard in the heat of summer. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.

Have lights that sense motion. These lights will come on if someone walks near your house. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home. Thieves are aware of all these spots. Instead, give your extra key to a neighbor whom you trust.

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. Has a roommate or ex-lover moved out recently? If so, then you need to change out the locks in order to keep you and your home safe. This is something that you can do yourself and does not cost much money at all.

Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. Keep your curtains drawn to keep your valuable items safe.

Skylights could be a problem for the safety of your home. Though skylights bring light into your home and look nice, it is also a very common way for burglars to get into your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

When you pick an alarm system, it’s a good idea to get one that provides protection for both doors and windows. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all windows and entry points. This is great for keeping the family secure.

Walls are excellent hiding spots. Small items of value can be hidden for safety in your home’s walls. Simply take advantage of an unused switch plate, electrical outlet, or phone jack. If you use all of them, you can always have fake ones installed.

Security System

Keep your most valuable possessions inside your walls. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. You can find pre-cut areas in your walls that can be used. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

Keep the wires of your home security system hidden. One of the ways an intruder can get around a security system is by disconnecting or cutting the wires. Do not make things simple for a burglar, but rather bury all wires or hide them in the wall. Keep yourself safe.

Never place a spare key in a plant box or under your welcome mat. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. Thieves are familiar with these hiding spots. Ask a friend, neighbor or relative to keep your extra keys for you.

After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

You want all wires of an installed security system to be hidden. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. Hide them in the walls or bury them underground to keep people from tampering with them. This will make you much safer.

Make sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries in all rooms within your house in the event of a power outage. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Train your kids how to use flashlights so that all members of the family can contribute.

Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. Keep in mind that your family might be separated during a power outage, and make sure you children know where to find and how to use your flashlights.

Before allowing anyone into your home, check their references carefully. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. It is not a good idea to give anyone a key to your home, even contractors or repairmen.

Look online for a reputable home security business. Many websites feature reviews, testimonials, and package details from home security services. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.

Keep safety in mind when doing landscaping. All doors and windows must be unobstructed by shrubs, trees, fences, or plants. Do not give robbers a chance to hide in any area. Utilize shrubs and trees farther away in order to add beauty to your home while keeping it safe.

Talk to any companies you’re considering hiring to install a security system about how long the company has been around. Companies in business for many years engender great confidence and trust. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.

Consider all of your individual security needs before looking into any alarm systems. Although automated electronic systems are powerful, they’re not necessarily the cost-effective solution for every home. In certain areas, it may be just as useful to learn self defense or buy a dog, whereas other places may require added measures. Learn about all of your options before choosing anything.

If you get home and your door is open, do not enter ti investigate. You have no way of knowing whether the thieves are still inside. Get on the phone to the authorities immediately.

Video Camera

Make sure the inside of your garage isn’t visible. Use frosted, adhesive backed plastic to cover the windows. You can purchase this at a home improvement store. Do not keep your door open long enough for people to get an idea of what you own.

Install a surveillance system in your home. Video camera installation can effectively make your home secure. A visible video camera acts as a warning to an intruder. If the intruder disables the visible camera, the hidden camera will document it! Nowadays, you can track your surveillance on your own cell phone.

There’s an easy way to secure interior doors (if there are areas you want to keep housemates and children out of) without obliging you to carry a key-ring around at all times. Instead, key-less key code locks can work just as well. Either you or a security company can install them.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house. Do not keep your door open long enough for people to get an idea of what you own.

Inquire about different choices for contract lengths available from the home security provider. Each will have its own pros and some cons, too. A long term contract should have a lower monthly rate but it also requires you to commit for a long period of time. There’s more freedom with a contract that’s shorter, but the monthly payments may be higher.

Your budget will tell you which security measures you can put in place. Use the inexpensive methods of securing your home if you cannot afford the more expensive ones. The article you just read gave you some great ideas. They might just do the trick.

Try to stay away from spring latch locks. These locks are the simplest ones to breach, since they are able to be opened by using just a credit card. This is achieved by sliding the card into the space between the latch and the door. This causes the lock to click open. If you’ve already got spring latch locks, you can put in a deadbolt for additional security.