How to Make Your Home More Security-Friendly
Having a safe home is paramount, especially if you live in a more remote area with a growing family or are the sole occupant spending a lot of time home alone. Whether you live in a busy city, near the countryside or have a detached house amidst acres of farmland, when it comes to security, it’s all the same. Buying or renting a home is one of the most important investments you can make, and you’ll naturally want to protect it in the best way possible: and that’s where home security systems come in.
Below are just a few ideas on how you can make your home more secure.
Install a Security System
An overall security system is one of the most critical elements you can incorporate into your home, such as an adequate house alarm. Not only will it enable your home to be more secure, but it will give you peace of mind, too. Security systems come in a variety of different forms and price options, so you’ll need to analyze the amount of security your home needs, based on size, outside space and overall requirements of you and your family. It’s also essential to analyze the security demands of your neighborhood, too, such as level of crime rates and what your neighbors are doing to maintain the safety of their homes.
There are many things you can do to install a security system yourself, but it’s a good option to employ a professional to install the system, that way you know it has been done efficiently. Professional security systems may also offer other benefits, like fire alarms, which is why comparing the best security systems is vital.
Secure Your WiFi Network
Most people neglect the security of their internet when thinking of their home safety, as it isn’t as obvious as locking the doors and securing the windows. Your WiFi network, however, is an important gateway into your personal and financial information. It’s essential to protect your WiFi from outside hackers, especially if you are using a wireless network. The best way to do this is to invest in a firewall and antivirus protection, as well as hiding your home network and creating a strong, impenetrable password.
If you have a family with younger children or teenagers, it’s also important to teach them about safe WiFi usage, and so they understand not to tell any outside sources the details of their network or its password.
Invest in Security Cameras
One of the best features of security cameras is that they are visible – meaning any potential criminals will be able to see them and be deterred. If the worst were to happen, however, security cameras also enable a means to provide evidence and bring the person responsible to justice. Security cameras can be coupled with your complete home security system, or you can have them as standalone options to further your home security. You can choose a variety of durable options, such as waterproof casing, and also have them work via motion detection.
Light It Up
Criminals will love dark spaces and shadows, and see potential in those homes which don’t have adequate outdoor lighting. It’s a good idea to install lights around your main doors, along the front pathway if you have one, and generally scattered in the garden or outside space. You can save money (and the environment) by opting for solar-powered lighting, too.
Motion-sensor lights are a great choice to install outside your property as well.
It’s also a good idea to leave a light or lamp on in your home if you are spending the evening out, to give the impression that somebody is at home and it hasn’t been left empty and vulnerable.
Having adequate lighting is also an important safety feature for you and your family, as it provides a means to safely travel outside your property during the darker months or darker times of the day, preventing trips and falls.
Consider a Home Safe
It’s important to plan for any eventuality, which unfortunately includes the possibility of an intruder finding their way into your home. In this event, it’s crucial to ensure your valuables and personal documents such as passports and financial information are secured, and a home safe is the perfect investment to do so. The best option is an anchored, fitted safe which can’t be moved or taken out of the house by the intruder. Also ensure it’s big enough to fit everything in which you need to store.