Home Security Do’s and Don’ts

No matter where you live or what you do for a living, it is natural to be worried about your home’s safety. A home is a place where one keeps all their valuables. It is a place where you and any family you may have can live with a sense of security, and it is meant to always make the homeowners feel comfortable. However, maintaining home security isn’t the easiest task; especially if you don’t own a home alarm system. Just like a smart thermostat and Google Home are meant to create a more comfortable living environment, an alarm system does the same thing where home security is involved.

Although it is the easiest way to ensure a home’s security, a home alarm system is not something that everyone can afford to keep. This is why other methods of home security may come in handy, especially for people who tend to spend a lot of time away from home and are unable to keep an eye on it themselves. The following are some Do’s and Don’ts of home security to help you create the safest living space for yourself.

Do’s

When it comes to home security, there are certain things you can do to make sure your home is safe. The following are some tips that may help.

Use smart lights

Smart lighting serves multiple purposes in any home. Not only does it improve ambience, it can better the security in your home in multiple ways. When away from home, leave on enough lights that it will give the impression of the home still being occupied. This is a great way to drive away intruders in your absence. Moreover, lighting the exterior or your home will enhance visibility, creating a much safer environment.

Get a smart lock

If you’re worried about people being able to access your home through the main entrance, a smart lock will put you at ease. With this gadget, you will have complete control over who enters or leaves your home, and will be able to monitor activity at your front door constantly. Whether you’re being visited by a friend or receiving a package from Amazon, you can provide access through a one-time use access code and be selective of who you let into your home – all using the corresponding app’s remote control feature.

Secure all entrances

The most vulnerable parts of your home are ones which provide direct access to it. This includes any doors and windows around your home. Make sure that the locks are working perfectly, the hinges are secure and there is no water or air damage. Corrosion, damaged or stained glass and damp wood are all signs of a weak make, so if you notice any of these, try to replace them as soon as possible forincreased security.

Don’ts

Just as there are certain things that will help improve your home’s security, others may lead to your home becoming less safe. The following is a short list of things to avoid for a safer home.

Do not distribute keys

One mistake a lot of homeowners tend to make is distributing the keys to their home among friends and relatives. This can end up doing more harm than good, since keys can get lost or stolen. A smart lock is the perfect way to give someone access to your home, since access codes cannot be misplaced or taken from another person. Only the person who you provide the code to will have access to your home, which makes it a lot safer.

Always leave someone in charge

Leaving a home completely vacant will most likely result in a burglary. Intruders often tend to keep an eye out for clues such as stacked up mail or withered plants, since it tells them that the home is not being watched over. This can lead to them feeling more comfortable sneaking in. This is certainly something which will invite people to break in while you are away, so when going on long trips, make sure someone is always watching over your home and making sure things are maintained. This will give the impact that someone is still watching the place every day.

Leaving your home dark at night when on a trip might also endanger it, so it is wise to have someone turn on the lights when it gets dark out – or just install solar-powered LED lights, and they will automatically turn on at night.

Don’t keep valuables exposed

Despite taking all possible precautions to keep intruders out, someone might find a way to sneak it – it is important to be prepared for such a situation by making sure that all your most valuable items are out of reach. Getting a safe might be very useful in such a scenario, since a burglar will most likely not have time to break open a safe to retrieve any items that may or may not be within it.

Conclusion

Home security is quite a sensitive matter, meaning the smallest mistake can expose a home to both internal and external threats. You have to be careful when sharing any access to your home to outsiders, or when securing your home internally from threats such as electrical disasters or fire hazards. Preparing for these beforehand can not only ensure the safety of your home, it will also give you peace of mind and make your days more productive.