Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, and that’s a lot easier when your home is secure. Many homeowners make mistakes that cause them to become a target for criminals. In addition to installing a home security system for safety, there are several things homeowners can do to improve home security. If you want to know what you can do to make your home and family safer, take these tips into consideration.
Turn on Outside Lights
If you have outside lights, you probably only use them when you’re outside at night or when you’re not home. However, leaving them on all night is a great way to improve home security. Criminals who want to break into your home at night are less likely to target your property if it’s well-lit. People engaging in criminal activity don’t want to be noticed by the neighbors or anyone who happens to drive by. They want to be hidden and in the dark, so a well-lit home is not a great target.
Keep Your Home Off Social Media to Improve Home Security
You may want to share your vacation photos when you’re out of town, but it’s best to create a private group of trusted friends to share with while you’re away or wait until you return home to share your images. When you start tagging yourself at locations other than home on social media and advertising your absence, it’s an open invitation to criminals. Additionally, try not to show your home from the exterior with your house number, street number, or neighborhood name on social media, and keep interior photos minimal so people cannot see what you own that might be of value. You
Lock it Up
This is common sense, but it’s something many homeowners forget to do. You can easily improve your home security with nothing more than a sturdy door and window locks. A gate and a code help, too. If you keep things locked up tight, it’s harder for people to get in if they’re not invited. Most people want to get into a home quickly and easily, and it’s more difficult to do that with great locks, a gate, and window locks.
Don’t Open the Door to Strangers
You can lock your home up, buy the best security system, and follow other tips to keep your house safe, but the best way to improve home security is by keeping the door shut. Don’t open it to anyone you don’t know. Criminals are taking creative approaches these days, including posing as a legitimate visitor and tricking homeowners into opening their doors. If you don’t know the person who is ringing your doorbell, do not open your door. It’s a mistake you might regret in an instant.
Install Cameras
Security cameras are your best friend if you want to improve home security. They allow you capture images of anyone who comes onto your property. No one in the middle of planning or committing a crime wants to see their face on camera, and they’re more likely to turn around and leave without doing any damage. No one wants proof, and that’s what a camera offers.
Your home is where you should feel safe and comfortable, and that feeling is threatened the moment someone breaks in. This is why it’s so important to improve your home security with these tips. You can never be too careful when it comes to your home and your family’s safety.
Prime Home Inspections serves Western Washington with home inspection services to help you learn all that you need to about your home. To schedule an inspection, contact us today.