Last Updated on August 29, 2024 by teamobn
In today’s era, where safety and security threats are on the rise, implementing proactive measures to keep your home secure is more critical than ever.
Contents
- 1 Home Security Essentials: 10 Ways to Keep Your Home Secure
- 1.1 Reinforce Your Windows and Doors
- 1.2 Improve Outdoor Lighting
- 1.3 Upgrade Your Locks
- 1.4 Secure Your Garage
- 1.5 Maintain Your Landscaping and Yard Properly
- 1.6 Invest in a Home Security System
- 1.7 Store Your Valuables Safely
- 1.8 Secure Your Wi-Fi Network
- 1.9 Be Part of Neighborhood Watch Programs
- 1.10 Always Make Your Home Appear Occupied
- 2 Wrapping It Up
Home Security Essentials: 10 Ways to Keep Your Home Secure
You can make your home a safe retreat where everyone feels secure, happy, and at peace. Here are the top 10 ways to go about it.
Reinforce Your Windows and Doors
Burglars mostly use the front door and windows as vulnerable points for quick entry, making strengthening them a top priority. Most wooden door frames are usually subject to splitting under force. Installing a metal frame can enhance the door’s resistance to forced entry.
Consider replacing your door’s strike plates with heavy-duty options that have longer screws of more than 7.5 cm. This will offer additional strength, making it harder for intruders to break in. When it comes to windows, consider applying security films to create an additional protection layer.
They enhance glass strength by holding it together even when it is shattered. It is also easy to install, adds an element of privacy, and provides UV protection.
Improve Outdoor Lighting
Proper exterior lighting improves your home’s visibility at night and deters potential intruders. Strategically position lights in entry points, dark corners, outdoor structures, pathways, and driveways to maximize their security benefits.
Consider installing motion-activated lights in those crucial areas. These lights turn on immediately when they detect movement, enabling you to take quick action. They also offer energy efficiency, lowering your energy bills. You can also install dusk-till-dawn lights to keep the entire exterior space well-illuminated through the night.
Upgrade Your Locks
While traditional locks might still be effective, they may not meet the high-security level required to deter modern intruders and burglars. Instead of the standard spring bold locks, you can upgrade to deadbolt locks, which provide more resistance to forced access, especially when paired with reinforced strike plates.
You can also opt for keyless entry locks that don’t require physical keys. They include biometric scans, PIN codes, and smartphone access. Keyless entry systems lower the risk of lock bumping and key duplication.
Another good option is high-security locks, which are robust enough to resist drilling, picking, and other tampering techniques. These locks often feature patented keys that you cannot duplicate without authorization.
Most homeowners are also shifting toward smart locks due to their ability to combine security and convenience. These locks can be monitored and controlled remotely through a smartphone, and they can be integrated with other smart home systems for enhanced functionality.
Secure Your Garage
Homeowners often overlook the garage when improving home security, but it can be a weak link if not well secured. If your garage door is damaged, get a replacement from a garage door company.
Equip your garage door with a robust locking mechanism. Some modern garage doors feature automatic deadbolt locks that are integrated into the door’s operations to offer enhanced security. Get a modern garage door opener, such as those with rolling code technology, auto-close function, battery backup, and smart garage door openers.
If your home has an older garage door that lacks built-in security features and has a manual lock, consider providing additional manual locks, like padlocks and slide bolts, to add an extra layer of security.
Maintain Your Landscaping and Yard Properly
Overgrown trees and bushes can create perfect hiding spots for intruders, enabling them to enter your home unnoticed. Regularly trim trees, shrubs, and bushes around doors, pathways, and windows to enhance visibility around your home.
Clear sight lines by ensuring that shrubs and trees do not obstruct your property’s view from your neighbor’s houses or the street. Consider planting thorny shrubs close to windows to provide natural deterrence against burglars.
Invest in a Home Security System
The best starting point is installing surveillance cameras to visually monitor your entire property 24/7. Choose high-definition cameras with remote viewing capabilities and motion detection to keep an eye on your property from anywhere through a smartphone.
You can also install smart home security systems that you can connect to other smart home devices for maximum automation and control. Your smart home system can include features such as video doorbells, smart locks, and virtual assistants like Google Home and Alexa.
Environmental sensors, such as smoke, flooding, and carbon monoxide sensors, can provide an additional layer of protection. Other essential home security features include alarm systems, motion sensors, window and door sensors, and more.
Store Your Valuables Safely
Another important aspect of home security is safe storage for valuables. Store vital documents, cash, jewelry, and other valuables in a fireproof safe. This will help safeguard them from fire, theft, water damage, and other potential disasters.
You can also take into account off-site storage options for extremely valuable items. Some good options include safe deposit boxes, private vault services, and secure storage facilities. Other than that, set up a wall-mounted key safe in a discreet location to store spare keys safely.
Secure Your Wi-Fi Network
An unsecured Wi-Fi network can be a weak point for cybercriminals to access and steal your personal information as well as interfere with your smart home devices. Develop a strong WiFi password to inhibit unauthorized access and prevent hackers from infiltrating your network.
It is also a perfect way to protect sensitive personal information, such as private communications, banking details, and personal documents. When creating your WiFi password, avoid guessable information, like common words, birthdays, and names. Regularly change the password to enhance security.
Be Part of Neighborhood Watch Programs
Neighborhood watch programs aim to create a safer environment for everyone in the area. They help make homes secure through community vigilance. More eyes on the street leads to increased surveillance, making it easy to notice and report suspicious activities.
These watch programs also foster a sense of cooperation and community, building a supportive network that can be handy during emergencies. They also provide crime prevention education and security tips and keep you informed about recent incidents.
Always Make Your Home Appear Occupied
To deter potential burglars, make your home appear occupied even when you are far away on vacation. Use light timers and set them to switch on and off at various times to mimic normal occupancy patterns.
You can also schedule and control appliances remotely through a smartphone with the help of smart plugs. Other ways to generate the illusion of an occupied home are to use automated blinds and curtains and smart lighting systems.
Wrapping It Up
To maintain a secure home, you need to implement proactive measures and pay attention to detail. Your loved ones deserve a safe haven, and these tips will help you achieve precisely that.
