There are a lot of people who always worry about their safety and home security, especially at night when they’re home alone. And there’s good reason for that too- with so many burglaries happening in the world today, it can be hard to know what steps you need to take in order to protect yourself and your family. But don’t worry, you do not need to live in fear! We’ve compiled a list of the top home security and safety tips to help you feel more at ease.
And while it may seem like there’s no way to prevent all crimes from happening, with just a little bit of planning and effort you can keep yourself protected. Here are 10 security tips to help make sure your home is as secure as possible.
Create Your Own Emergency Preparedness Kit
This is something I always recommend my clients do. There’s nothing worse than getting caught off guard when you least expect it. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and create your own emergency preparedness kit. This will protect everything from food and water to first aid supplies and tools. Not only does this give you peace of mind knowing you have a safety net ready to go, but it also gives you time to get organized in case of natural disasters or other emergencies.
Fire Safety
Fire is one of the most common causes of home disasters, so it’s important to take some basic precautions to keep yourself and your family safe.
Make sure you have a working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. You will want them installed in multiple room and tested regularly to ensure they are working properly. Once a year, or whenever the alarms don’t work during testing, replace the batteries. After ten years or as recommended by the maker of the alarms itself, they should be changed.
If you want to incorporate smoke alarms into your smart home system, search for devices that can notify the local fire department when a fire is detected, even if you can’t reach a phone to dial 911.
Have a fire extinguisher on hand and know how to use it in case of a fire emergency. Having the correct type of fire extinguisher to combat the class of fire as well as regular testing is another important factor.
Also, have a fire escape plan in place and practice it regularly. Many homes were built back in the day before fire escapes were common place. As a result, many houses have narrow stairways leading down to ground level instead of proper fire escapes. While it might not seem like a big deal to live without a fire escape ladder, if you ever had a fire, you’d wish you had one. Make sure your children know how to open all of the doors and windows in the house so that they can get out if required. In the event of a fire, make sure you stay low to the ground and exit the building as quickly as possible.
Home Security System
One of the best ways to protect your home is by installing a security system. There are many different types of systems available, so it’s important to do your research and find the one that best suits your needs.
The burglar alarm is becoming a thing of the past as the popularity of smart home gadgets grows. Intruders can be deterred by basic alarms, but effective security requires a system that monitors everything moving on in and out of your home.
Some of the features you may want to look for include burglary protection, smoke and fire detection, and panic or emergency buttons.
In addition to features, there are options for both hardwired and wireless security systems. Physical connections can’t be used to disable a wireless network. It’s easier to set up these systems, and you may even be able to do it on your own at times.
A control panel with a keypad or touch screen and a few sensors to guard your property’s weakest points constitute the bare minimum of basic home security. Add sensors to detect when windows or doors are opened, glass is damaged, or precious goods have been tampered with, to ensure the maximum level of safety possible. In order to ensure the right authorities are contacted as soon as a sensor goes off, you need make sure the firm providing your system has 24/7 professional monitoring services.
Having a smart home system that includes both security and environmental warnings is the ideal way to keep tabs on your home while you’re away. If you have a smartphone with an app, you can access these systems from anywhere and set up customized alerts to keep you informed of any unusual activity. Fire, flood, and carbon monoxide sensors alert you to potential dangers. Controlling the lights, seeing live feeds from security cameras, or setting up customized alerts to keep tabs on the safety of family members are all possibilities for future enhancements to the system’s functionality.
Having a security system installed can not only help protect your home from intruders, but it can also provide you with peace of mind knowing that you and your family are safe.
Door Security
34 percent of burglars actually enter a property by way of the front door, despite the fact that they are generally depicted as skulking around in the shadows. Think about how little effort most homeowners put into the security of the door they use the most if this seems unbelievable. Intruders can simply smash attractive windows and pick simple lock mechanisms without additional fortification on many front doors.
Is your front door vulnerable to these threats? If so, it’s time to get a new one! Solid materials should be used to construct doors to prevent them from being kicked through. Reinforced steel security doors are the most secure alternative because they are both durable and beautiful. Peepholes can help you recognize visitors when they come, so choose a door without a window.
Don’t overlook sliding glass patio doors. There’s nothing better than opening up a sliding glass door to let in fresh air and sunshine. However, that same open space makes it easier for thieves to sneak into your house. With a little bit of extra attention, you can ensure that your patio doors aren’t left unlocked or unlatched. A dowel or a bar should be inserted into the track to fasten decorative sliding glass doors. Also offered are specialized safety bars.
In addition to the door, consider upgrading the door locks. The best locks have pick-resistant mechanisms and are impossible to open from the outside without a key. Deadbolts should be installed on all exterior doors and can’t be circumvented by breaking the door frame. Learn more about how to choose high security front door locks.
It may sound silly, but it’s easy to forget how many locks there are in your house. Each door has its own lock, plus windows often have their own locks too. Take the time to test each key and lock combination. By doing this, you’ll be able to identify any weak combinations and change them.
Security Cameras
One thing I hate about burglars is that they feel completely invincible. When they walk right past your front door and nobody calls after them, the illusion of invincibility goes right out the window.
Thankfully, there are ways to monitor activity outside of your front door. You can keep tabs on what’s going on inside and outside your home with the help of surveillance cameras.
If you want to keep an eye on your home, you don’t have to look solely at the front entrance or the back patio. Install video surveillance cameras in strategic locations outside of your house. This option allow you to watch over your property 24 hours a day with ease. Most systems come complete with free apps for both Android and iOS users.
You will also want to add cameras in the expected places such as a doorbell camera. Doorbell cameras are a great way to see who is at your door before you answer it.
Motion detectors can also be used in conjunction with security camera storage to provide added protection for your home. By installing motion detectors outside of your home, you will be alerted when there is activity even if no one is on the property.
If you’re going to use an outdoor camera, be sure it’s weatherproof and has night-vision capabilities. Look for high-resolution cameras so you can show the authorities clear film should an intruder enter your property. For the most panoramic views, wide-angle cameras with rotating mounts are the best.
Finally, installing internal cameras allows you to get more than just video of intruders. Without a camera, you won’t know if the folks you hire to clean your house or make repairs are being honest until after they’ve stolen all of your possessions have left your house. Use inside cameras to keep an eye on your children if they arrive home before you do, or to keep an eye on your home while you’re away on a trip. When it comes to getting the most coverage, opt for cameras that can monitor many rooms or the entire house.
Home Lighting to Increase Security
You can also increase security and safety by using your home’s lights. Lights that are placed on timers or motion detectors create the appearance of someone being home, even when you’re not. Burglars prefer to work in the dark, so having a well-lit property will make them think twice about trying to break in.
Make sure you use exterior lights as well as interior lights. The best way to do this is to install a smart home security system. With a smart system, you can control your lights from anywhere in the world. You can also set your lights to turn on and off based on occupancy sensors or motion detectors.
For hard to reach areas of your property without easy access to electricity you can consider wireless lighting. Wireless lighting products offer several benefits over traditional bulbs. First, wireless lights save money because they require less electricity to operate. Second, they allow you to control light levels remotely. Third, they typically last longer since they use LED technology. Finally, they’re safer because they work independently of electrical outlets.
Smart timers, which can be operated via a mobile app, are an excellent option for controlling the lighting in your home. As long as the pattern doesn’t vary, would-be burglars will know you aren’t home because of the consistent light cycle created by standard timers. Smart timers allow you to precisely manage when your lights come on and off, so that they follow the routines of your family. Your residence will be safer if you can make it appear like you’re at home even when you aren’t.
Protect Your Valuables in a Safe
Another way to protect your family and your home is to install a safe. A good safe can protect your valuables from burglars as well as fire and water damage. If you have irreplaceable items that you don’t want to lose in a disaster, a safe is the best way to keep them secure.
When looking for a safe, you’ll want to find one that is made of heavy-duty steel. You can see the strength of the safe by the TL rating. Tool-reinforced (TL) ratings tell you how long you can beat a safe with simple household tools before it breaks down. Using brute force, it will take at least 15 minutes to open a safe rated TL-15. The safe’s highest classification is TL-306, indicating that a thief would need to spend at least 30 minutes breaking in with anything from hand tools to drills.
The safe should be able to withstand attempts by a thief to break into it. The safe should also have a fire rating of at least 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. This will ensure that your belongings are protected in the event of a fire. A safe’s fire UL rating tells you how long it can endure various temperatures before it overheats. A “UL Class 350 1-hour” safe, for example, won’t become hotter than 350 degrees inside after an hour of being exposed to 1,700-degree temperatures. If some of your items are made of materials that can be harmed in high heat, you should select a grade that is appropriate for your storage needs.
It’s also important to find a safe that is waterproof. If your safe is damaged by water, your belongings will be ruined. Look for a safe with a water rating of at least 100 feet. This will ensure that your safe remains dry even if it’s submerged in water.
You can find safes in a variety of sizes to meet your needs. The most important factor to consider when purchasing a safe is the level of security it provides.
Secure Your Windows
One of the easiest and most basic ways to keep your home safe is to keep your windows closed and locked, which can deter over a third of all burglars. Your basic locks should be upgraded to something more visible and powerful, like a deadbolt or pins.
Locks are an essential part of home security. A good lock will make it difficult for a thief to break into your home. You can also add window security locks to make it more difficult for a burglar to enter your residence through a window.
Window security locks are small, inexpensive devices that attach to the frame of your window and prevent it from opening more than six inches. This will make it difficult for a thief to get into your home through a window. Window security locks can also help to keep children and pets from accidentally falling out of a window.
Investing in high-quality windows can make a major impact in protecting your home. Invest in tempered glass to protect your windows from shattering, or pay a little extra for safety glass. Safety glass, often known as laminated glass, is comprised of two sheets of glass with a vinyl layer sandwiched between them. Your security system will warn you to the presence of a burglar long before the glass gives way because it can’t be smashed with a single strike. Easy-to-install security window film is an affordable alternative for individuals on a tight budget.
Polycarbonate and plexiglass are excellent replacements for ordinary glass. In terms of safety, polycarbonate is the best option. Polycarbonate windows have a 250 times greater impact resistance than safety glass, making them nearly impenetrable to the average burglar.
Finally, consider adding window sensors to your security system. Window sensors are designed to detect when a window is broken, which can trigger an alarm and notify you of a break-in.
Report Suspicious Activity To Authorities Immediately
When suspicious events occur, report them immediately. Whether it’s a neighbor knocking on your door asking if you’re okay, seeing strange cars parked near your house late at night, or hearing noises coming from your attic, call the police. If your phone records show that you called them within minutes of the event occurring, your chances of recovering stolen items goes up dramatically. Also, be aware of local laws regarding reporting activities. Some places, for example, won’t accept anonymous reports.
Consider Self Defense
If you’re feeling unsafe in your home, consider self-defense classes. Learning how to defend yourself can help you feel more confident and safe in your own home. Many self-defense classes also offer tips on how to prevent burglaries from happening in the first place.
Tips for Preventing Home Invasions
A home invasion is a burglary that occurs while the homeowners are present in the residence. Home invasions can be traumatic and dangerous experiences, so it is important to take precautions to prevent them from happening.
Here are some tips for preventing home invasions:
Ask to see ID before allowing anyone enter your home that you do not know.
Be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on who is coming and going in your neighborhood.
Do not leave valuables in plain view inside your home.
Keep all entrances to your home locked, including doors and windows.
Install a security system with window sensors.
Make sure that your security system is armed when you are not home.
Do not advertise that you are away on social media.
If you are going on vacation, ask a friend or family member to keep an eye on your home.
Keep your garage door closed and locked when you are not using it.
Install motion-sensing lights around your home.
The best way to prevent a home invasion is to be proactive and take precautions to make your home less appealing to burglars. Following these tips will help to deter would-be burglars and keep you and your family safe.
Conclusion
In addition to providing you with peace of mind, taking the time to implement these tips will ultimately save your wallet and help protect your family. By following these simple guidelines, you can help keep yourself, your loved ones, and your belongings safe from harm. Thank you for reading!
We hope you enjoyed our top 10 list of home security tips. Now it’s your turn. Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments below.