If you love your home, and your own personal safety, beefing up your home security is always going to make sense. And though there are certainly many expensive solutions available, most people are surprised to learn just how much can be achieved with a little bit of DIY.

If you want a more secure home, you don’t need to call a security company. And you certainly don’t need to install an expensive surveillance system. All you need is a little bit of time and DIY know how. Here are five tips for turning your home into a fortress without raiding your savings.

Replace Your Locks

Lesson one when it comes to DIY home security is to beef up your locks. This can be done in three steps.

• Install deadbolts on all of your exterior doors. When shopping for deadbolts, stick to those with three inch screws and strike plates that are at least a quarter of an inch thick.
• Install pry proof locks on all of your windows. You might be surprised to learn just how easily most windows can be opened, even when locked.
• Lock your mailbox. Very few homeowners bother to do this and that’s one of the reasons that identity theft is such a big problem. You wouldn’t hand your bank statement to a stranger, don’t leave your mailbox unlocked.

Increase Your Homes Visibility

If you’re home isn’t visible from the road, it’s significantly more likely to be targeted by a burgler. Unfortunately, the more privacy your home has, the easier it is for a burgler to break in unnoticed.

If there are any obstacles between your home and the road, ask yourself how you can get rid of them. Such obstacles are known to make houses an attractive choice for those looking to commit a burglary.

Light Things Up

Though day time burglaries certainly do happen, statistically your home is far more likely to be broken into during the hours of darkness. And one of the easiest ways to protect your home from such break ins is to light it up.

You should aim to install exterior lighting around all of your homes weakest points i.e. its doors and ground floor windows. To avoid ridiculously high energy bills, opt for lights that are controlled by a motion sensor.

Install a Fake Security Camera

Expensive surveillance systems are impressive, but did you know that a wooden box that looks like a camera can be just as effective? Burglars don’t like the look of security cameras and they rarely spend very much time inspecting those that they see.

A fake security camera made of nothing but wood and glass is therefore more than capable of acting  as a serious deterrent to anyone considering breaking into your home.

Install a DIY Alarm System

Finally, getting an alarm system professionally installed can work out pretty expensive but the same cannot be said for alarm systems that you install yourself. DIY alarm systems are widely available, surprisingly cheap and come complete with detailed instructions.

The best DIY alarm systems are typically the wireless variety. Wireless systems are not only easier to install, they are easier to both move around and expand at a later date.

Charles Anderson writes informative articles about creative interiors and unique home interior styles. To know more, visit snowplowstuff.com.