If you look at your home and worry about just how secure it is and how able it is to keep you safe, that’s a sign that something needs to be done and that there’s room for improvement. In truth, every home, except maybe those amazing independent living communities for us older guys and gals, can be improved in terms of its security and how safe it keeps its inhabitants. The very least you should expect from your home is shelter and protection. If it’s falling short and its security features are lacking for whatever reason, there’s never a better time than now to improve those things. Here are some ways you can make your home safer and more secure.
Keep Valuables Out of Sight
Keeping your valuables out of sight is one of the easiest things you can do to protect your home. There’s never any sense in making your home a target for burglars when you don’t need to. We all like to show off our most treasured possessions, but if those things are highly valuable, they might end up attracting precisely the wrong kind of attention and that’s not what you want.
Carry Out Regular Checks in the Home
It’s important that you take the time to check the home over from time to time. Even if it’s something you do every few months, it’ll make a difference because when you spot a problem that might lead to future security issues, you can take action fast and avoid it getting to that point. There are lots of different ways in which you can check the home, and when it comes to the condition of the roof and things like that, you can simply hire someone to do the checks for you. There are people you can hire who’ll tell you exactly how secure your home is and areas in which security is lacking.
Upgrade Your Doors and Windows
If your doors and windows haven’t been upgraded for quite a long time, it might be time to think about making that change. Old doors and windows tend to be less secure, and make it easier for burglars to gain entry to the property. If you don’t want to replace all the doors and windows, you could focus on upgrading only the locking systems instead if you prefer.
Secure the Garden’s Perimeter
Securing the perimeter of your yard is another important thing you can do to keep your home safe. Although your yard isn’t your home, it’s often the first barrier that anyone looking to break in has to overcome. Putting in place higher fences or even higher shrubs will offer an extra layer of protection and that’ll offer a greater deterrent to burglars than you might realize, so it’s certainly something worth considering.
Consider Living in a Home in a Gated Community
If you want to move in order to achieve a more secure and safer living arrangement, it certainly makes sense to consider some sort of gated community situation. There are lots of Gated Home Communities out there that offer the security and extra peace of mind many people are looking for. When you know that your surroundings are secured and people who don’t live there can’t get in without being allowed in, you tend to feel a whole lot safer in your home. So it’s definitely an option you should look to consider.
Install a Smart Home Security and Surveillance System
Installing a smart home security and surveillance system is something that can be done in a variety of ways these days. Many systems will allow you to connect your security system to an app on your phone or to other devices so you can view the areas that the cameras are trained on even when you’re not at home. The systems are smarter and more alert than ever, offering more flexibility and security to homeowners, which is always a good thing.
Ditch Your Hidden Key Strategy
It’s still the case that many people leave a key under a flower pot or under the doormat outside the home. Although this might make a lot of sense for people who occasionally lock themselves out, it’s just about the worst thing you can do from a home security point of view. As well as running the risk of giving burglars an easy entry to your home, you’ll also be risking voiding your home insurance policy because any break in that occurs will be partly due to your actions and negligence.
Get Motion-Activated Lights
The last thing burglars want when they’re contemplating breaking into a home is a bright light shining down on them in the light. They don’t want to be seen and they don’t like being spooked. So by installing motion-activated light around your home, you’ll be putting in place a massive deterrent to burglars. It’s something that more people should do because it really does make a difference. These kinds of lights are very affordable and offer a sensible investment for most homeowners.
Don’t Make it Obvious When You’re Away
Burglars are far more likely to strike when you’re not at home or when you’re away for an extended period of time. That’s why it makes sense to put in place measures that’ll ensure your home never looks vacant or empty. Diverting mail when you’re not there and having people drop by to show that the home isn’t empty is a good idea. If someone sees a pile of mail on the mat, that tells them that there’s no one at home and it’s potentially safe to break in.
As you can see, there are plenty of strategies that can help you to make your home a place that’s safer and more secure. You simply need to make the most of the ideas that have been discussed above and don’t abandon your common sense when it comes to keeping the home safe.
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