Issues concerning home security are always important given that burglaries and vandalism occur frequently in many neighborhoods due to inadequate security measures and neglect from property owners. To prevent unwanted entry into your home, you have to learn about the different ways of protecting your home.
By providing visibility, controlling access, and simply maintaining your property, you will not only be protecting your home and belongings but also yourself and your family. Here are 4 simple measures you can take to improve security in your home.
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#1 Always Keep all Doors and Windows Locked
source:getkuna.com
Home security starts with very simple measures, like making a habit of ensuring all doors and windows are properly locked. Statistics on burglaries show that many burglars are simply looking for easy targets. Most break-ins occur during the day when everyone is away from home and they are typically executed within 8 to 10 minutes.
Approximately one-third of burglars gain entry through the front door, while a quarter of them enter through the ground floor window. So, here are the key takeaways. Thugs are always looking for property that’s easy to access. Ensure you lock all doors and windows in your home whenever they are not in use, and even when you are at home.
#2 Ensure your Locks are Updated
source:hgtv.com
It’s probably been quite a while since you last updated the locks in your home. If that’s the case, start by conducting an inventory. Check if any locks are damaged. Find out if there might be any extra keys floating around with strangers. Find out if any of the exterior locks can be easily picked or bumped open.
If you find all these problems exist with the locks in your home, it’s certainly a good time to replace them and install more tamper-proof ones. Start by ensuring that all the exterior doors have strong deadbolts.
#3 Make sure your home has an alarm
source:safewise.com
Dismisses of homeowners having deadbolt locks are unheard of, but if the alarm is present, you’re more than likely up to something. The fact that the door closes with a solid and subtle “click” and not a barks of squeaking or a loud bang that can wake up a sleeping family is extremely important.
Electronic locks (like the ones found in most of today’s modern homes) always need to be checked, and if a bad code is detected, their setting may have to be changed. Be especially careful with electronic locks that are attached to a smartphone or tablet.
#4 Stay alert
In today’s interconnected world, keeping your home or business security requires ongoing vigilance. You may never need to apply an SOS — if you maintain a heightened awareness for your home or business, you can be assured it’s being guarded.
# 5 Know who your visitors are
source:hgtv.com
Set limits on the number of people allowed in your home, and when. One of the top concerns among renters is finding a place where no one else can get in. For this, consider the total number of occupants and the allowable times. A landlord may want to set the maximum amount of time that guests may stay in a rental, and may require them to stay a certain number of hours, says Fox.
#6 Ensure the Landscape has Proper Lighting
source:hgtv.com
Burglars, vandals, and other bad folks really hate to be in the spotlight. You can keep criminals at bay with adequate outdoor lighting on your property. Place the lights around your back and front yards, near the garage, along pathways, as well as on other outdoor structures. This will not only make intruders wary, but also minimize your risk of stumbling or tripping on steps or other items in your compound.
You can also ensure your outdoor security lighting is even more effective by:
- Using motion-activated lights
- Putting outdoor lights on a timer
- Saving energy with solar-powered lights
#7 Controlling Vehicle Access
source:safewise.com
Another simple way to enhance the security of your home in 2024 is to control vehicle access to your home from the street. Bollards available at Barriers Direct are effective security installations that can help to control vehicle traffic to your home. It is common for burglars, vandals and other criminals to ram doors on residential property to gain entry. Bollards are metal posts designed to prevent crashes around designated areas. They are commonly installed outside airports, malls, banks, and other popular public and private buildings.
Bollards are normally made of steel and they provide the physical strength needed to prevent unwanted vehicle traffic and maintain site safety. They are available in removable, fixed, and collapsible models, yet they can all offer protection from low as well as high-speed crashes. Your home can benefit from the safeguarding bollards offer, but people usually install bollards for three main reasons:
- Controlling site access: there are certain instances when you may want to restrict entry or access to your property. Still, there’re other times when you may want to allow certain vehicles to drive through, even if for just a short period. Bollards work perfectly in both situations. While removable and collapsible bollards allow driver access whenever needed, fixed bollards are designed to block traffic permanently.
- Safety/security: this is perhaps the most important purpose for installing bollards. Drivers can often become distracted while on the highway or in a parking lot. They may also lose control of their vehicles while driving along the street to your home and crash into your property. Other drivers, known as ram drivers, may intentionally crash into a property to steal valuables. Regardless of the case, bollards offer the heavy-duty protection necessary to prevent vehicles from crashing into property and causing extensive damage.
- Aesthetic value: an increasing number of people are using bollards to enhance the aesthetic value of their property. Bollards meant to serve an aesthetic value are a common choice among property and business owners seeking a way to protect their sites while maintaining a sleek, appealing look.
Securing your home doesn’t have to be a hassle. You can use these simple tips as a start. You don’t have to try and do everything all at once. Try to identify which strategies are the most important given your security needs and plan to implement the rest gradually. Ensure you are aware of all the potential risks and take action early to keep your home and loved ones safe.
