f you recently purchased a new home, you may be wondering what you can do to protect it. Whether you’re considering getting a calling system or just updating the locks, protecting your house from potential dangers and home intruders is essential to keeping your family safe. While homeownership is exciting, improving home security can sometimes seem challenging, frustrating, and even intimidating. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way! In fact, there are several steps you can take now to help keep your home safe for years to come. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few top safety ideas you may want to consider.
1. Change the Door Locks
If you’ve purchased an older home with questionably sturdy locks, it may be a good idea to check each door handle and lock and decide whether they need to be replaced. Locks that are old, falling apart or easy to pick present a prime danger to your family since anyone could potentially get past them and into your home. One of the first steps you should take after purchasing your home is figuring out whether you need to change your deadlock or doorknob lock and choosing ones that meet your security needs.
If you have or live in an RV, you shouldn’t be complacent as well. There will be many instances when it will have to be parked empty in not-so-secure locations. Before setting out on a road trip, carefully examine all the locks and ensure that they are working properly.
With mobile homes, you may also find yourself in a sticky situation like being locked out by accident. It’s especially risky if it happens at night or somewhere remote where help might be hard to reach. It’s ideal to keep a copy of a master key with you at all times when leaving your RV. But if you want to be extra prepared, you can also consider purchasing a set of handy locksmith tools. Combine this with a basic grasp of locksmithing, and you will be ready to hit the road with no worries.
2. Get an Alarm System
In the event that someone unwelcome does manage to get inside your house, knowing that they’re there and contacting the authorities as soon as possible can make all the difference and, in some cases, could even potentially save your life or that of a family member. While getting a home alarm system doesn’t prevent thieves or intruders from getting inside, it can certainly act as a deterrent, especially if you post up signs in the yard letting people know that you have an alarm system. Additionally, many modern alarms will contact police automatically if they’re not turned off within a certain time period. This could let you focus on finding an escape route in case of emergency, instead of having to worry about finding a phone and calling up the authorities. However, one caveat of a home alarm system is that they usually need to be manually activated, so you’ll have to remember to turn your system on in order to reap the safety benefits.
3. Find Good Home Insurance
Another way to protect your family in case of emergency is to get good home insurance. While you may already be familiar with policies covering natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes or tornadoes, you might not have known that some policies will also provide compensation in the event of theft or intrusion. In fact, in some cases, having a home alarm system may allow you to lower your monthly home insurance premiums. In this way, you could combine safety mechanisms to keep costs to a minimum while still staying safe!
4. Don’t Announce Vacations
This tip may come as a surprise, but if you’re planning on leaving your house for an extended period of time, don’t announce your plans to do so. If you have to share vacation photos with friends on social media, for example, wait until after you’ve returned from vacation to do so. When you make it well known that you’ll be gone for a while, thieves may find this information and try to take advantage of it by breaking in while you’re gone. Make sure you don’t post minute-by-minute updates on social media as you arrive at the airport, for example, since this is a direct way for potential thieves to figure out that you’re gone and your house is ripe for the taking. Another good travel safety tip is to ask a trusted neighbor or friend to check in on your house while you’re gone. They can even do little chores like picking up the mail or watering the plants, and their presence can help deter potential criminals from coming by.
5. Clean Up Your Yard
If you leave items in your yard on a regular basis, you may be giving potential thieves a leg up on breaking in without even realizing it! For example, leaving a ladder in the yard after a long day of yard work can make it easy for someone to come in through an upper-floor window. Similarly, tools that could be used to break in windows or beat down doors, including gardening or barbecue tools, should always be stored safely inside before you go to bed.
6. Lock Your Windows
It may seem obvious to lock your doors, but it may not have occurred to you to lock your windows, too. However, because home intruders can just as easily come in through the window, it’s a good idea to make sure all your windows have locks. If you keep windows open for ventilation during the day, be sure to close them all before bedtime each night.
7. Check Sliding Glass Door Security
Finally, sliding glass doors are notorious for having poor locks. If you have any sliding glass doors around the house, consider installing an extra safety bar to prevent would-be thieves from easily breaking in.
Owning a home is exciting, but also comes with a number of responsibilities, including keeping it safe from home intruders, thieves, and other possible dangers. While improving the security of your home may seem like a challenge or even a headache, it doesn’t have to be! Setting up a safety system now can make all the difference for your family’s well being in the future. To get started, try implementing these simple tips today and you can look forward to keeping your home and your family safe and sound for years to come.
