When you buy a home, you need to consider how you’ll keep it secure. You and your family need to be safe and sometimes, your home isn’t safe enough to keep out intruders. If you’re concerned about someone getting into your home, use these tips to increase your home’s security.
Change Your Locks
As soon as you move into your home, you should get new locks installed. That way, you know that you and your family are the only ones who have keys to the house. You don’t know who has a key to the original locks. The previous owner could have given them to anyone. Likewise, change your locks after certain major events in order to keep your family safe. If there’s a violent situation in your family, a divorce, or other time when someone might return to cause harm, changing the locks will reduce your risk significantly.
Remove Hiding Places
If your yard has places where criminals can hide, it makes your home a lot more appealing to potential burglars. Clean up your yard and eliminate easy hiding places. Consider cutting down bushes, filling in gaps, and keeping the yard neat and organized. By removing these hiding places, you’ll make your home harder to rob. Plus, you can make any existing hiding places too dangerous to consider using. An average wooden pallet has over a hundred nails in it. If you use pallets around your yard, store them in those darkened corners. If anyone tries to hide there, they risk getting injured by the nails. The more measures you take to keep your yard safe for your family, the more secure your home will be.
Consider Entrances
As you secure your home, look at the potential entrances. About 95% of home robberies include forceful entry. This might include breaking windows or kicking in doors. As you look at all the entry points in your home, think about how they can be improved. Thicker doors and deadbolts can make it more difficult to break down your door. Locks on your windows and bars for your lower floors will make the windows a less desirable entrance option. Every home is different, so you’ll want to check over each part of your house to see where your weaknesses are.
Get a Security System
One of the best ways to keep your home secure is by purchasing a security system. That way, you always have someone watching. If it seems like your home is in danger, they can send someone to investigate. Likewise, you can easily alert someone and get help when you need it. Not only is a security system good for securing your home, but it can also lower your home insurance costs. At least 85% of homeowners in the U.S. have some form of homeowner’s insurance. The average cost is $1,445 per year. With a security system, you may be able to get a better rate.
Light Up Your Yard
Criminals rely on darkness to keep from getting caught. The brighter your yard is, the more visible their actions will be. Deter potential break-ins by lighting up your yard. If you use things like motion-activated floodlights, your yard will very quickly be brightly lit, exposing anyone who happens to be there. You should also have lights to illuminate your porches and stoops. Nobody wants to be seen breaking into a house, so a well-lit house is less likely to be targeted.
Keeping your home secure from intruders makes your family much safer. As you consider how to keep your own home safe, apply these suggestions to your plans. You’ll find that your home is much safer once they’re in place.
