10 Tips on How to Improve Your Home Security
Your home should feel like a safe retreat: a place of security and tranquility, which might not always be the case, especially if you live in a busy, urban or notorious for break-ins area. If you’re looking to improve your home security, installing a security camera system should be your first step. Today’s security systems are more versatile than ever. YI and Kami Home, keep tabs on who is approaching your property and update you whenever a suspicious movement is recorded. You can use them to monitor your home, keep an eye on your pets or deliveries when you’re away, or even take advantage of the 24/7 rapid emergency response.
While a home security system is a must, caring about safety does not end there. Check out some other ways to maximize the protection of your home:
1. No spare keys under a doormat
Forget about hiding a key ‘for emergencies’ under the doormat. The hidden key is relatively easy to find: instead, invest in a smart door lock that can be toggled from your smartphone.
2. Keep valuables out of plain sight
The easiest way to keep your home safe is by not making it an available target. Keep your nice car in the garage and make sure the windows are closed at night if they offer a view over your shiny new plasma TV.
3. Consider motion-activated lights
Motion-activated lights are your friend not just on a bathroom walk in the middle of the night. Most burglars try to avoid running into people (which is why most criminals strike during the day when the house is unoccupied). The sudden spotlight of a motion-activated light is often enough to dissuade them from continuing with the robbery.
4. Forget mail when you’re out of town
Nothing speaks “I’m not home” louder than mail, piled on your doorstep. If you’re away from home, ask the postal service to hold your mail temporarily.
5. Go beyond the first floor
Your home’s second floor is actually one of the main points of entry for burglars and yet, it’s often neglected. While your home security camera keeps an eye on the front door, make sure your second floor is just as secure. Lock windows at night and when you’re away and install glass-break detectors and window sensors for added home security.
6. Create the illusion of an occupied home
Get burglars to give up even before they’ve attempted a break-in by making it look like you’re still home. When you’re away on a trip, have your car parked in the driveaway. Just make sure it’s not old and covered in dust: this gives a clear sign it has never left the parking spot. Light timers also do a wonderful job: you can either get a smart switch that turns the lamps inside your home on and off remotely or the simpler, cheaper option of random patterns of on and off.
7. A pretty house is a safe house
Do you have large trees or bushes near your front door and windows? They can be excellent places for a burglar to hide when they’re trying to enter your home. To minimize the risks, prune the bushes and large foundation plantings. You can also consider planting smaller or thorny plants around the entry points of your home. Holly, whitethorn, flowering quince, even gorse, and berberis all look nice but come with impressive thorns that make breaking into your home simply not work the risk.
8. Doors and glass don’t mix
Doors with glass around the handle might look nice, but they’re enticing for a burglar. Instead, opt for solid, sturdy doors that aren’t so easy to break.
9. Limit access to your property
The fewer entry points, the lesser the chances of a burglar breaking in. Improve your home security by greasing downpipes or painting them with slippery paint.
10. Watch your social media habits
This last tip doesn’t have so much to do with your offline, as with your online home security habits. If you’re planning a trip, avoid talking about it on social media. Don’t post pictures until you’re back home – opportunistic burglars have learned how to leverage the power of Facebook to mark their new targets.
A home security camera or system is your best bet to deter burglars from attempting a break-in (in fact, a house with a security camera is 3 times less likely to be involved in a robbery), but let’s not stop there. Make sure to also follow these tips to additionally improve the security of your home!
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