What is security worth? Are the offerings of big security companies too expensive for you? Do you need something more affordable? They do exist, and they are much more cost-effective than you may think. The following article has some cheap ways to increase your home security.

You should only provide a house cleaner your key if you completely trust them. Be sure any home cleaner you give your key to is trustworthy and reputable. One way to do this is to check their references. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Make your home look occupied at all times. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This makes people think you’re home. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.

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. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. Especially if pets don’t like strangers, this can be a useful way for having easy access to your house.

Hiding places for spare keys must be chosen with extreme care and caution. It is very common for homeowners to hide them under a mat or above the framing of their door, and intruders know this. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters. This could be valuable for parents who have small children, making them aware when their kid has closed or opened a door.

Do not invite strangers into your home. There are some people who are very convincing and good at getting you to let them into your house. This is the first rule of keeping your home secure.

If you have a lot of unfamiliar people on you social networking accounts, avoid letting everyone know you will be going on vacation. Although you may want to let others in on your excitement, it may inadvertently give burglars a heads up to target your property.

Keep your car in the garage. Keeping the car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing or stealing it. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Never let a stranger inside. Even people who claim to need help may be out to harm you. 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.

Security System

If your house has a garage, keep the car there, not just your junk. Keeping your car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. When your car is hidden, it will be hard for intruders to tell if you are home or not.

You should regularly check your home security system, regardless of how reliable you believe it is. Ask a qualified worker who specializes in security systems to take a look. Your security system’s quality can be impacted by numerous factors, such as the weather and wild animals. Sometimes, you may need a professional to locate the problem.

Put motion-sensor lights into your home. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.

Be brave! Speak with your neighbors. Watch their homes for suspicious activity and get their word that they will do the same thing for you. Do not ignore gossip either. Important security details (like the presence of strangers in your neighborhood) can come out of the most innocent conversations.

Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. 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.

You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. Your windows are also points of entry for burglars. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. This can keep your family much safer.

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Having these type of boxes hanging around will give robbers a good idea of what type of merchandise you have inside of your home.

Before you let anyone go into your home, look at their references thoroughly. For a relatively small fee, you can also run a background check for their criminal history. It is impossible to know if the newly hired maid or one time repairman might be a crook unless you check them out. Providing them with your key might be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.

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 kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

If you want to make your house even more secure, a cheap way to do that is to buy outside lights with motion detectors. 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. When they are positioned correctly, they make it pretty much impossible for intruders to get to your house unnoticed.

If you wish to boot your home’s security, one cheap way to do this is to buy exterior lights with motion detectors. Cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing, these lights really add value to your home. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

Your home’s exterior needs to be well lit. Burglars love to operate in the dark. So it’s smart to put a light in typically darker corners around your home. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.

When hiring a home security company, make sure to read the fine print on the contract you are signing. Sometimes there are hidden costs involved if you decide to let your service go before the contract expires or add additional equipment at a later point. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.

When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. Your home and the area surrounding it may still be in danger. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.

Keeping your home well lit at night can help keep the burglars away. Intruders will avoid being noticed. When your home is lit well, the crooks have nowhere to hide, making it difficult for them to steal from you undetected. Make sure the lights stay on to keep your home safe.

Make sure that your garage is not visible from the outside in. Frosted windows will keep a burglar from being able to see inside. The material needed to do this can be found at home improvement stores. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

You should think about your own safety when comparing different home security options. Security systems are a proven method of reducing your chance of break-ins, but it is not always the right choice. You could, for instance, invest in an alarm system, some outside lights, adopt a dog or take some self-defense classes. Be sure to assess the risk level you face before making big decisions.

Don’t leave the boxes of any high priced electronics on the curb of your house. If thieves see these type of boxes outside your home, they may want to break in to steal the items. Break them down and put them in a bag or take them to a recycling center.

Consider installing a surveillance system for your home. Having visible or hidden cameras can help immensely. Visible cameras can scare intruders, and hidden ones can catch them in the act. A lot of surveillance cameras could be accessed through your phone, giving you the chance to check it even when you’re away.

Do not use spring latch locks. These type of lock is the easiest lock to pick, it could even be opened by a credit card. They can put the credit card in between the latch and door to open the lock. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.

Inquire into both purchase and lease options for your security system. While you will pay more to buy, you don’t have to keep paying for it month after month. Leasing is a good way to avoid the initial expense, but you will have to pay monthly fees. Think about both options before making a decision.

See if your security company only sells equipment, or if they will lease it to you instead. Buying equipment can be pricey upfront, but it’s a single cost versus a monthly cost. Leasing is cheaper, but it can involve contracts and pricier monthly fees. Look at both of these to see what works for you.

Don’t put the registration to your car in your glove box. If someone accesses these documents, they can determine your address. You should make sure to keep them on you, or store them somewhere safe in your car. Remember that you have to have access to them in case you’re stopped by the police.

Hard-wired security systems can be a sound choice. A wireless system is a good option but you will have to replace batteries regularly. If you don’t replace the batteries, you’ll find that your system stops working correctly. What you spend on batteries, additionally, can really add up!

If your door has a numeric lock, make sure the combination isn’t your birthday. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home. Instead, come up with a trickier password that only you will know the answer to.

You should invest in a timer to turn lights on and off at regular times. This helps the lights stay on and continue to switch even when you’re away from your home.

If you turn lights on and off around the same time, try using a timer. The automatic timer will keep the lights going on and off on schedule, so a thief will not be able to tell when you are away. Even when you are at home, the timer is convenient because it saves you from having to remember to turn on the lights.

Always keep your irreplaceable valuables secure. Items like family photos, pricy jewelry, legal documents, financial records, and passports need to be kept in a safe location. One option is a floor safe inside your home. What is even better is the safe deposit box at your bank.

The best defenses you can afford are what home security is all about. There are plenty of methods available, despite how much you can spend. This piece is full of ideas you can use towards better home security. Cheaper methods can still produce good results!

You should lock all your windows, even on the second floor. People often overlook their second floor windows, assuming that thieves won’t check them. This could not be further from the truth. Criminals know very well that people think this way, and they will take advantage of that.