The average person works extremely hard to turn their dream of owning a home into a reality. Once you find and purchase the home of your dreams, you need to prepare for the work involved in keeping it maintained. One of the main things you need to focus on as a homeowner is securing your property.
Over one million home burglaries occur in the United States every year. The longer you wait to secure your home, the easier it will be for burglars to gain access to it. Rather than dealing with the problems, this can cause, it is time to take action. Here are some things you can do to make your home safe and secure.
1. Invest in a Modern Home Security System
In the past decade, the world of home security technology has grown substantially. Educating yourself about the various modern security tools at your disposal is crucial. One of the main things you need to make your home safer is a modern home security system. Many of the home security systems on the market right now are wireless and can be activated with the help of voice-controlled devices like the Amazon Alexa.
One of the most popular companies in the world of home security is Honeywell. The newest Honeywell security systems can be controlled with the Total Connect 2.0 Alexa skill. Do you want to find out more about how to use this skill with your Honeywell security system? If so, here is a guide on how to integrate Amazon Alexa and Total Connect 2.0.
2. Make Sure Your Doors Are Secure
When trying to gain entrance to a home, one of the first places a burglar will go is the exterior doors. Over time, the doors and locks a home has will become a hazard. Taking the time to inspect the various parts of your home is the best way to pinpoint security issues. As you perform this inspection, you need to take a look at your doors and the locks they have.
If these doors seem damaged or brittle, then you need to work on getting them replaced. When first moving into a pre-existing home, you also need to realize the benefits of changing the existing locks. Since you don’t know who the previous owner gave keys to, it is best to completely replace them. With the help of an experienced locksmith, getting new locks installed will be much easier.
3. Secure Your Windows
If a burglar sees that the doors of a home are secured, they will move to the windows. Older windows that are devoid of strong locks can be breached by a burglar. If you want to make it difficult for these criminals to enter your home, then you need to equip your windows with durable locks. You also need to make sure that your windows aren’t old and easy to break. If the windows in your home are old and structurally unsound, then you need to replace them.
You also need to think about investing in window alarms. These alarms will sound if your windows are opened without your knowledge. Allowing security professionals to install these window alarms is crucial when trying to avoid functionality issues.
4. Illuminate Your Home’s Exterior
Criminals love trying to rob homes that have a dark exterior. Homes with a lack of exterior illumination allow burglars to hide in the shadows while they perform their nefarious deeds. Instead of making it easy for burglars to get into your home, you need to address your exterior illumination issues. The best way to do this is by investing in an outdoor lighting system.
Not only can these lights help to make the outside of your home more appealing, they can also remove dark spots that can be used by burglars. Trying to install exterior lighting fixtures on your own can be very difficult. This is why you need to track down knowledgeable professionals to help you out.
5. Install Security Cameras
Another great piece of technology you need to invest in if you are serious about home security is a security camera system. Investing in home security cameras will help you keep an eye on things going on at your home, even when you are away. Modern security cameras come equipped with remote viewing capabilities.
This means you will be able to look at the feed from your cameras with the help of your mobile phone. Before investing in security cameras, you need to consider the quality of the footage they provide. While you may have to spend a bit more for high-quality cameras, it will be worth it in the long run.
By following the tips in this article, you can make your home far more secure.