Improving Home Security – 5 Top Tips

Your home is your sanctuary. While the best way to feel safe is not to live in fear of intruders, it doesn’t hurt to add a couple of layers of security to put your mind at ease.

You don’t need to build Fort Knox. A few simple additions will actively deter snoopers and ensure your home is fully protected.

Check out our top 5 suggestions below!

1. Install Electric Gates

Electric gates on your driveway are an excellent security measure. They’re the first and best obstacle in an intruder’s journey to realizing that it’s just not worth it.

A burglar’s top priority is to get in and out of the building as quickly and easily as possible. If they have to climb over a gate, that’s already a huge obstacle. It increases their visibility and makes it much harder to carry off valuables.

Of course, you’ll want to keep in touch with an electric gate repair company to ensure your gates are operating at 100%. Nothing says “careless owner” like an electric gate that is permanently jammed open.

They have the added benefit of increasing your property’s value. Gates make a great impression on potential buyers and put off anyone you don’t want visiting your home – it’s a win-win.

2. Use an Intercom System

Whether you have gates or not, an intercom system is a simple, affordable way to know who’s on the other side of your door.

Anyone who has experienced a burglary before understands how paranoid it makes you about opening your door to strangers. With an intercom system, you’ll never have to do that again.

There are different types of systems. I’d recommend one that comes with a camera and a voiceover, as there’s barely any additional cost and you have an extra layer of assurance that the person at the door is who they say they are.

3. Add Security Cameras

The truth is that even if you add a security camera above your front door and never even connect it to the power supply, it’s still an effective deterrent.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t connect it up. It’s even more effective to have a constant eye on anyone wandering around outside your property – motion-sensitive cameras focused on low-motion areas like your driveway are great for this because you can quickly cut to moments when someone passed by.

The long and short of it is that people don’t like being on camera when they know they’re unwelcome. A couple of well-placed, visible cameras that can’t easily be bypassed will make anyone think twice about trying their luck.

4. Keep Valuables Out of Sight

This can be tricky if your lounge is at the front of your home. You’ll want natural light during the day, and that reveals valuable objects in your living room – your TV, for example.

However, if you’re leaving the house, you can either shut your curtains or ensure that any moveable valuables (laptops, etc) aren’t just sitting around unguarded. A wall-mounted TV is very conspicuous when being carried out of a property, whereas an intruder could happily sneak out of your home with a laptop in a carry bag.

Keep ‘em secret, keep ‘em safe!

5. Put Lights on a Timer

If you work late or you’re away from home, put your lights on timers. This means your home will look occupied during the evenings.

This is so simple and cost-effective that everyone should do it. You can attach timer switches to lamps so you don’t need to do anything dodgy with your mains-powered lighting.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let the fear of intruders get to you – but don’t let carelessness cost you.

That’s the critical balance.

These simple tips can keep your home safe and your peace of mind secure. Implement them now!