It’s a lot more fun to furnish your new home than to put security measures in place. However, given that a recent research stated that one burglary occurs every 30 seconds around the world, safety should be a top concern for homeowners. Here are ten basic things you must do right away to safeguard your new home so you can get back to the good things.
Here are some easy steps to make your home more secure.
1. Make sure the doors are locked.
Don’t assist a burglar in breaking into the front door by keeping it open.
Check all of your doors to ensure that they are closed. Also, ensure that the entrance doors are sturdy, the locks are secure, and that no one can get through the mail hole to open the door. Make sure to switch off all the main switches when you leave the home. You can check out these circuit breaker brands and buy one that is best for you.
Replace the locks if you’re shifting into a house that was previously occupied by others. You won’t have to worry about outsiders having a key to your property, and you’ll be able to ensure that your locks are the best ones available.
Sliding doors can be considered as thieves’ best friends. They are easy to break into, so be sure yours are secure. To prevent the door from ever being pushed open, you can install an old-fashioned window bar or cork in the handle. Add a door monitor or a glass break detector for a high-tech option. These will notify you if the glass door has been messed with, which should deter thieves.
2. Close all of the windows.
Dr. Ben Stickle, a theft specialist, says that windows are “a typical entry point for crooks” and that the previous owners may have left them closed but unsecured. Plus, window locks from the manufacturers aren’t always reliable—and might be downright weak at times.
If your window locks aren’t to your liking, add protection with additional window locks or key-operated switches. You don’t have to stop there, though.
We offer a few more tips for making your windows burglar-proof.
- Window security film can be used to reinforce panes.
- Window or glass breakage detectors should be installed.
- Window bars should be added.
- Prickly plants should be planted behind first-floor windows (but be sure to keep them trimmed).
3. Brighten up the site
Criminals such as vandals, crooks, and other robbers carry out their work in the dark. With enough outside lights, you can keep them at a distance. Lights should be placed over your front and back yards, along paths, and near garages and other outdoor structures. With such measures, you’ll not just make burglars nervous, but you’ll also reduce your chances of getting robbed.
These suggestions can help you make your outdoor security lighting even more effective:
- Use lights that are actuated by motion.
- Solar-powered lights help you save money on electricity.
- Put porch lights on a timer with a smart outlet.
- Use smart light bulbs to create schedules.
4. Set up a security system.
Be it a simple DIY setup or one that includes expert control and remote monitoring; your new house should have some type of security system. There are numerous home security systems available now for every price and degree of security.
Researchers suggest assessing the demands of your community and your home to find a safety method that you’re happy with..
You can get neighborhood crime data and assistance with a home security assessment from your local police force.
5. Do not overlook the garage.
Criminals are nowadays gaining increased access to your home through this entry point. Even if they can’t get into your house, there’s a good possibility you have plenty of valuables in the garage. Make it a practice to secure all garage doors, both inside and outside.
You might want to put a garage door opener inside the home as well. That way, a thief won’t be able to take it from your vehicle. Also, if you use a passcode to unlock the garage, keep it hidden and never give it out to delivery people, the neighborhood, or anybody.
6. Make sure your Wi-Fi systems are safe.
Your details are accessible over your home Wifi router. Smart home devices, on the other hand, can leave your home prone to break-ins. Criminals could gain immediate access to your house if your Wi-Fi system is set to smart home devices or your security system.
You do not, though, need to set yourself in danger. Use our hacker-proofing advice to keep hackers out of your home network.
- Protect your wireless router with a password.
- Your home network should be renamed and hidden.
- Make use of a firewall.
- Spyware and anti-malware software should be installed.
You must use parental control software to keep an eye on your children. If you have young kids, it’s likely that they use the internet both for schoolwork and play. With a parental control app, device, or system software, you can keep kids safe from internet criminals and cyberbullies. Such tools can also assist you in setting screen time restrictions and ensuring device-free family meals.
7. Make use of home automation.
If you’ve been considering making your typical home into a smart home, one valued outcome to do so is safety. Lighting, smart locks, surveillance cameras, smoke detectors, and other security devices can all be fully automated (or on a schedule) with home automation. You can receive real-time alerts about suspicious activities, enabling you to react quickly and deter would-be burglars.
The Bottom Line
It doesn’t have to be difficult to figure out how to protect your home. To just get started, use all these points. And don’t worry—you don’t have to complete it all at once.
Determine which tactics are most necessary to you, then make a plan to implement the other strategies later. The goal is to keep your house, and dear ones secure, to be aware of possible security concerns, and take action as soon as possible.
And if you have a wonderful security tip that we didn’t cover, please share it in the comments!