Your home offers a place to hide away from the world when things get tough and a place to entertain friends and family when times are good. In the midst of all of this activity, it’s important to keep your home as safe as possible. Having a secure home can help put your mind at ease so that your home can truly be a place of relaxation. Fortunately, there are plenty of improvements you can make to your home that can greatly increase your confidence in your home’s security.
Upgrade to an Alarm System
One of the best ways to add confidence to your home’s security is to add an alarm system. By linking you directly to first responders who can help you if an emergency occurs, house alarms provide a major confidence boost and a potential discount on your homeowner’s insurance premiums. With more and more companies offering home alarm products, the rates for monthly monitoring continue to fall.
Replace Your Doors
The easiest point of entry for a potential criminal is through your home’s doors. Therefore, it’s important to fortify your doors as much as possible to make it difficult for anyone to break in. If your doors are older, replacement doors can be found in a variety of styles that offer exceptional security and long-lasting durability. Plus, newer doors tend to be more energy-efficient, ensuring that you don’t lose conditioned air from your home through gaps around the doors.
When buying locks, test how they fare against a variety of lockpicking tools. Most intruders use force to enter a property, but many also pick their way in. You want to make sure that your locks are near impossible to pick, no matter the tool. In addition, choose a strong, durable door (preferably made of solid wood) that won’t break or open easily even when excessive force is applied.
Add Exterior Lighting
Although exterior lighting doesn’t directly stop problems from happening around your home, it greatly discourages individuals who might otherwise target your home for a break-in. The key is to place lights in areas that can easily be seen from the road or by your neighbors. Adding lights to areas that can’t be seen by others only makes for easier access for criminals to enter your home.
Get a Dog
One of the most foolproof ways to protect your home is to get a good-sized dog that can scare away potential intruders. Unlike other security precautions that can be bypassed, a dog is always on alert, even when they’re asleep. Plus, a dog provides protection throughout the day, whether you’re out for a walk or working in the garden.
There are many websites available with information from former criminals to help you discover potential areas of vulnerability in your home. Rather than guessing what you should do to improve your home’s security, you can learn from these “experts” to ensure that you’re doing everything correctly. This will give you the best chance at achieving superb security that can withstand any threat.