Moving into a new home is exciting, especially if you have taken all measures to ensure that the home meets your needs, preferences and it’s in a safe neighbourhood. However, you can never be safe enough, and here are ways to keep yourself safe in your new home.
Secure The Doors and Windows
Don’t make it easier for a burglar to enter your home by leaving doors open or having weak door frames or locks that are easy to unlock or break. Change the locks if you just bought the property to ensure that no one else has access to the house keys. Also, install a strike plate, deadbolt, a video doorbell, and smart locks. You can also connect some doors to alarms if you feel this is necessary, for example, click here to learn more about the home alarms on offer.
When you have sliding glass doors, reinforce them with a glass break sensor or a door sensor that alerts you anytime someone tampers with the door. A window bar or dowel can also keep the door from forced opening.
Additionally, check the latches on the windows whether they are strong and, if not, replace them with better locks. If possible, install key-operated levers.
You can also reinforce the glass on the windows with a window security film or install a glass break sensor and window bars. Another excellent option is to plant prickly bushes under the first-floor windows but keep them trimmed and tidy.
Know Your Neighbourhood
You probably did neighbourhood research to ensure that it’s safe and an ideal place to settle in but go the extra mile to know your neighbours and understand the security challenges they deal with. Understand that there is no 100% safe neighbourhood, and the best you can do is make your house safer or better protected.
Some people take advantage of new residents by disguising themselves as maintenance personnel. Know your home maintenance company and the numbers they use to call you for maintenance practices.
You can also use an identify a scammer app that gives you details of anyone calling you from an unknown number asking about maintenance or anything else that sounds suspicious.
Additionally, block your Wi-Fi network because it can be an entry point for burglars when you use smart home devices or when it’s connected to the security system. Your Wi-Fi can also give away your personal and financial information leading to the unauthorized use of your bank accounts.
On the same note, protect your kids when browsing online by monitoring their activity or using parental controls on their devices.
Your children probably go online to keep themselves entertained and do their homework, exposing them to online predators and cyberbullies. Using parental control apps limits their screen time and keeps you up-to-date with their online activities.
Clear Shrubs and Bushes Around Your Home
Although shrubs and trees give your home a curb appeal, they can be hiding places for burglars, and to avoid this, trim the shrubs and plants so no one uses them as a cover. Keep trees away from windows or cut them, then use security enforcement.
Also, keep the backyard tidy and clutter-free. Always lock gates, sheds and put stools and ladders away. Never leave valuables in the yard because you’ll be attracting burglars to your property.
Install Security Systems
Security systems serve as deterrent measures and a means to get justice. With the right installation, you can get to know who the burglars were, making it easier for law enforcement to track them down. You can opt for security cameras as part of a whole-house security system or independent cameras strategically placed in different parts of the home.
For a more effective system, have the security cameras connected to a mobile app enabling you to see footage of what’s happening in your home in real-time. Mobile apps also make it possible to store the information for easy retrieval when you need to check out details or submit evidence of a burglary to the police.
It also helps when you keep your home well lit, especially at night, to discourage burglars, vandals, and other criminals. Invest in good security lights and, if possible, use solar-powered lights and motion-activated lights that save energy. You can also put outdoor lights on a timer making it easier to control when they go on and off.
If you often travel, investing in motion-activated lights can be an excellent idea. Then, no one will ever know when you’re away. Also, invest in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, making it easier to detect fires before they cause significant damage to your property.
As you will realize, you can never over-invest in your home’s security system. So keep on updating the techniques to keep your property safe.
