What can you do to make your home feel safer? Here are some of our top tips.
This is a contributed post. Please refer to my disclosure for more information.
Think About Your Fencing
When it comes to safety, the fences and gates are something to consider. Unfortunately, the weather can play a negative role in this, as strong gusts can cause fence panels to fall down, leaving your home and garden susceptible to attackers.
Animals can burrow holes in your fences and even tear parts off at the bottom, allowing people easy access to your home. It’s a good idea to go around your house every now and then and double-check that the fence and gates are all in working order. That the locks are safe and reliable. It’s also a good idea to go over your fence panels and make sure there aren’t any large chipped or broken components, and that nothing has fallen loose.
If any of them develop problems, you may just replace the fence panels. If your fence is quite old and has seen a lot of wear and tear, you may want to consider replacing it with something more solid and powerful that will help keep people out while also keeping things in. If you have a dog or other pet in the garden, make sure they are contained and secure, as broken or damaged fences can easily allow them to escape.
Make Sure Your Door Are Properly Secured
Don’t assist a burglar in breaking in through the front door. Inspect all of your outside doors to ensure that the door frames are sturdy, the hinges are secure, and that no one can reach through the mail hole to unlock the door.
Change the door locks if you’re moving into a house that was previously occupied by someone else. You won’t have to worry about outsiders having a key to your property, and you’ll be able to ensure that your locks are the best on the market. If you start your own business you will certainly have important information you need to be secure.
Here are some quick reinforcements that we recommend for securing these critical entryways.
- Install a deadbolt on the door.
- Add a strike plate to the mix.
- Upgrade your locks to smart locks.
- With a video doorbell, you can increase your security.
Use Lights As An Advantage
Criminals such as vandals, robbers, and other thieves dislike being in the spotlight. With enough outside lights, you can keep them at bay. Lights should be placed in your front and back yards, along paths, and near garages and other outside structures. You’ll not only make intruders nervous, but you’ll also reduce your chances of tripping on your approach up the front steps.
These suggestions can help you make your outdoor security lighting even more effective:
- Use lights that are actuated by motion.
- Solar-powered lights help you save money on electricity.
- Put outdoor lights on a timer with a smart outlet.
- Use smart light bulbs to create schedules.
Protect With Your Wifi Network Security Too
Your personal and financial information is accessible over your home WiFi network. Home automation, on the other hand, can leave your home vulnerable to break-ins. Criminals could gain direct access to your home if your Wi-Fi network is connected to smart home devices or your security system.
However, you do not have to expose yourself to danger. Use our hacker-proofing advice to keep hackers out of your home network.
- Protect your wireless router with a password.
- WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or WPA2 encryption should be enabled.
- Your home network should be renamed and hidden.
- Make use of a firewall.
- Antivirus and anti-malware software should be installed.
- Make sure your passwords are strong.
Don’t Let Your Garden Be Full Of Hiding Spaces
Trees and shrubs add beauty to your home, but they can provide a hiding place for criminals. Trees and plants near your home that could be used for the cover should be pruned. Instead, choose smaller blooms and plants. Remove any trees that are close to windows or strengthen those windows with extra security.
Also, don’t forget to secure the remainder of your home’s exterior (including the backyard) with these recommended practices.
- Stools and ladders should always be put away.
- Gates, sheds, and other outdoor structures should all be locked.
- Leave no valuables on display in the yard to lure burglars.
- Even if you don’t have a security system, add security signs and stickers.
Think About Safety When It Comes Fire
Fires can start in the kitchen but there are other ways that fires can start. You can normally have a firefighter or a specialist come over to inspect your home and let you know anything they see that could be a hazard when it comes to fire. They can also let you know where you should have things to help you like types of fire alarm systems and what is best for you and your property.
Think About Adding An Extra Layer Of Surveillance To Your Home
You’ve probably read news about security camera footage thwarting robbers and porch pirates. This is one home security option that serves as a deterrent as well as a means of obtaining justice. You can purchase security cameras as part of a complete home security system or purchase stand-alone cameras.
We recommend combining a security camera with a smartphone app, which allows you to view footage in real-time and save it in case you need to go to the police. Protect your cameras from hackers by taking preventative measures as well.
Take a look at some of our other must-have features:
- detection of movement
- Seeing in the dark
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Talking back and forth
- Storage on-premise or on the cloud
- For outdoor cameras, a weatherproof enclosure is available.
Make Your Smart Home Work For You From A Safety Standpoint
If you’ve been considering making your conventional house into a smart home, one strong incentive to do so is security. Lights, door locks, security cameras, smoke alarms, and other safety devices can all be controlled remotely (or on a schedule) with home automation. You can receive real-time notifications regarding questionable activity, allowing you to react swiftly and deter would-be burglars.
Here are a few of our favourite ways to boost security with home automation:
- When you’re on vacation, schedule the lights (and your TV) to turn on and off.
- Use a smart doorbell to scare away porch pirates with two-way communication.
- When someone walks up to your driveway, you’ll get an instant video feed.
- From your smartphone, you can check on a smoke or CO alarm and cancel false alarms.