What is a safe and secure home worth? Do you believe home security companies are too pricy? Are you always on the lookout for more affordable options? There actually are some, and they are within reach. This article has some cheap tips for home security.

You should invest in fire-resistant roofing, flooring and ceiling. This can help your home be safer. Home security also includes taking steps to prevent a fire from completely destroying your home.

Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Check out their references thoroughly. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.

If you will be away from your house for an extended period of time, turn the ringers off for all your phones. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

When placing your spare key outside for emergencies, give careful consideration to where you put it. You don’t want to put them in common spots, such as above the frame of the door or under the doormat. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.

Don’t open your door for strangers. People are coming up with all sorts of ways to convince people to open their door to them, with the intent of committing burglary or worse. Make it mandatory that doors in your home are only opened for expected visitors.

It doesn’t matter how much money you spent, you should have an annual test. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Wild animals, domestic pets, and weather are all factors that can affect the reliability of your home security system. You may not be able to tell there is an issue by yourself.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is 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.

Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. The lights will be triggered when someone gets too close to the house. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.

Avoid coming across as overly shy. Speak with your neighbors. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Pay attention to gossip. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

An extremely important tactic for keeping your home safe is changing out the locks. 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. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.

Put motion sensor lights around your house. 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. Test the bulbs frequently, though.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. If you own small valuables that require protection, try hiding them in the walls. Simply take advantage of an unused switch plate, electrical outlet, or phone jack. If you’re using all your outlets, you can install phony ones.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. It won’t take long for thieves to steal lots of expensive valuables.

Home security installation technicians should always be in uniform and wearing identification. Having the name of the technician coming to your house ahead of time can help to ensure you are allowing someone who really works for the company into your home. This can be risky for you and your belongings. Proceed with caution.

Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. Anyone hoping to enter your home can very easily do so by just prying away the rotted wood. Be sure and replace rotted wood with fresh wood in order to ensure home safety.

Always check references before letting anyone work on your home. A background check is also recommended so you know if they have a criminal history. You can’t know for sure about the integrity of people you hire, and blindly giving them access to your home can be a huge mistake.

Make sure to ask for identification for any home security company representative. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This can lead to harm befalling your family and possessions. Act cautiously in order to stay away from potential dangers.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. In the evening, lights will help keep your home safe, and will add little in the way of extra expense. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a new home security company. The sites of the companies themselves will provide you with details about their services, testimonials from their customers, and pricing information. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.

When you hire a type of home security company, read the contract’s fine print before signing. Look out for hidden charges and surprises, especially if you need to cancel the contract early. Avoid as many fees as you can by reading everything.

Make sure your home’s exterior is well lit. Thieves prefer to work in darkness. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. Having these outdoor lights installed can really work as a deterrent to criminals who are considering your house.

It is a good idea to get some history on any home security companies you are thinking about doing business with. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. It also ensures they’re not a fly-by-night firm.

Consider your own personal safety needs and security risks before exploring home security systems. While alarm systems are great, they aren’t necessary for every family. In some situations, having a good dog and/or learning some self defense may be all that you really need to feel safe. Comprehend the risks associated with your home security so you now can make a more well-informed buying decision.

The outside of your house should be well lit. Burglars tend to commit crimes at night. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. This extends to doorways, porches, garages and lower windows.

Put up video surveillance. Setting up hidden and visible video cameras is a good way to keep your home secure. Visible cameras deter many intruders, but if they disable the cameras that they can see, your hidden camera can record the action. Some security systems are accessible via mobile phone, which lets you look in on your house when away.

Don’t neglect your garage when it comes to home security. Be sure and shade your windows with window frosting, something that you can purchase at any hardware store, so as to keep people from looking in your house. Also keep your garage door closed whenever possible, especially if you will be stepping away from it for an extended period of time.

If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. These boxes are a signal to burglars that you have something worth stealing. Break the boxes down, or take a scissors to them to help them fit in your trash can.

From the road, are your house numbers visible? The police will find it difficult to locate your home quickly if your address numbers are difficult to see. Thankfully, you can easily fix this problem very quickly and cheaply.

Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. If someone finds them, they’ll know your address. Hide them somewhere else in the car, or carry them with you. Keep them close to you in case you get pulled over.

Home security is largely based on what you are able to afford. There are plenty of methods available, despite how much you can spend. The article you just read gave you some great ideas. They may be the best defense you could use and could also be the best thing you could buy.

Don’t use your birth date as the password for your security alarm. Anyone can easily get your birthday from a Facebook profile or your driver’s licence. Think instead of a more creative way to keep track of your code.