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Your home is your castle, and your family your greatest asset, so you want to keep everything safe. But if you’ve priced home security systems lately, you might have felt your bank book cringe. I’m not going to tell you not to buy an alarm system, but if you’re not at a point where you can invest thousands of dollars, and you just want to do a few things to make your home safer, this article is for you. I’m going to give you a list of tips you can use to make your home safer without spending any money. The most important thing to keep in mind is that burglars are lazy. Like most people, they want the highest reward with the least possible risk and effort. The more challenging you can make your house appear, the more likely the burglar is to pass on by and pick on somebody else.

Here are your tips:
Trim shrubs back from doors and walkways. Lock your storage shed and don’t leave tools out in the yard. Keep the lawn mowed and the exterior of the house maintained. Plant thorny shrubs beneath first-story windows. If an outdoor light burns out, change it right away. Don’t display your valuables conspicuously, as this only tempts thieves. When you make new purchases (such as said plasma TV), don’t leave the boxes by the curb to announce your valuable acquisitions–break boxes down and stuff them in your recycling bin. Don’t store house keys under the doormat, a rock, etc. (thieves are wise to all the tricks–if you always lose your keys, consider a fingerprint activated lock instead). Keep tree branches trimmed back from windows and your roof. Make sure the garage doors are sturdy (no loose panels or damaged corners), especially if the garage is attached to the house.

Always shut and lock your doors when you leave the house.Hopefully these tips will help you make your home less of a target. Remember, home security is as much a matter of employing common sense as it is a bunch of expensive gadgets and gizmos, said a building inspector who was once an employment lawyer.

Think carefully before you run out to your local electronics supplier and purchase a home security camera system. Just as with terrorist protection and thievery protection systems, home systems require you to plan out your system before you go shopping. The simplest systems are set up at the front door so you can see who is standing there when the doorbell rings. They provide the comfort that comes in viewing the person or persons who are knocking at your door before you open it and let them in. If necessary, there are two-way audio systems, as well as video, that allow you to ask the people questions, such as producing identification by holding up badges or identification cards to the cameras for your inspection.

So your first decision is, should I include two-way audio along with the camera at my front door? Next you would ask, should I have the camera connected to a recording device or is the simple ability to view people enough? The next question you have to ask before you purchase a system is, do I want a home security camera at any other entrances or possible entrances to my home? There are systems that install a camera in your driveway or in your garage, wherever you normally park and exit from your car. Some of these offer motion detection on/off switches also connected to lighting systems so as soon as you drive up, the camera and lights all turn on simultaneously.
 
Another factor to consider before you purchase a home security camera system is the power source. Where is the nearest power source for the cameras, monitors and switches you’ll need for the system to operate properly? There are battery-operated systems, but the maintenance involved in keeping the batteries fresh can be time consuming. Locate your nearest power source and compare it to the location or locations you need for your cameras and other equipment and build from there. The author used to be a building inspector. Now he’s started his business in rental cars and car insurance.