STEPS TO MAKE A HOUSE SECURE

Research has shown that if a house takes a burglar 4 to 5 minutes to break into, they will most likely try the next house. This explains why you should make your house more secure. Essentially, you should put in place measures that will make breaking into your house difficult for burglars. But, how do you do that?

The current market has state-of-the-art systems that can be used to secure a house. For example, Frontpoint offers a modern approach to home safety – wireless security systems which are operated by touchscreen control panels. However, these are costly for some people. Luckily, they are not the only ones that can be used to make a house secure. You can also consider a wide range of in-expensive ways of making a house secure.

Even with a tight budget for a house protection system, it’s unwise to overlook certain steps for ensuring the security of your house. Here are 6 steps to follow when you want to make your house more secure.

1. Install Superior Windows and Door Locks

Good security habits will go a long way in keeping burglars away. Home break-ins statistics show that many thieves look for easy targets. Most break-ins happen during the day between 10 am and 3 pm. And in most cases, burglars take 8 to 10 minutes to complete burglaries.

34% of burglars use the front door to break into a house while 23% use the first-floor window. This shows that thieves look for easy access to houses. Therefore, install superior locks to your doors. Make sure that thieves can’t have an easy time breaking into your house through the windows or doors.

2. Update Your House Locks

Perhaps, it’s been years since you installed new locks. Well, this can make your home more vulnerable to future break-ins. It’s therefore, important to have a closer look at your house locks. Are some of the locks damaged? Is it possible that a stranger has keys to some of the locks? Does the house have exterior locks that are easy to bump open, jimmy, or pick?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you need to replace or rekey some of the locks. Install tamper-proof locks that will make your house more secure. Consider the latest and most innovative locks in the market and install them to enhance the security of your house.

3. Reinforce Windows, Doors, Hardware, and Locks

You may have rock solid locks but the hardware, windows, and doors could be flimsy and weak. That means a well-placed kick or slam will allow a person to enter your house within seconds. Therefore, inspect all the entry points, particularly on the first floor. Repair, replace, or reinforce them if necessary.

If you have thin, broken, or hollow-core exterior doors, consider replacing them. Alternatively, add extra support with a security bar or door barricade. Also, make sure that the strike plate is installed properly with at least ¾ inches long screws. That way, the bolt won’t be easy to force out of your door jamb. You can also use door reinforcement kits to strengthen the weak points of the door with strike plates.

4. Install an Effective Home Security System

Ensuring that your house has updated locks, as well as, strong doors and windows alone is not enough. You need to go the extra mile and install an effective home security system. If your house has a security system in place already, have it checked by an experienced professional. This will determine whether the system has faulty sensors or battery issues. a good professional will inspect the overall performance of the system.

It’s also important to have old passcodes of the previous homeowners deleted and a new security pin selected. An ideal security pin should be easy to recall but hard for burglars to guess. If your house doesn’t have a security system, have it installed to make it secure. Even the presence of a security system and its monitoring features alone can deter would-be thieves.

5. Install Proper Lighting

Installing motion sensor lighting is a great way to make a house secure. Thieves don’t want bright spotlights on break-ins. Therefore, installing sensors in the darkest parts of the compound and areas that are not easy to view from the house or streets can deter would-be burglars.

A light illuminates the surrounding areas, as well as, burglars that may hide or pass near the motion sensors and trigger them. Installation of security lighting can be a relatively cheap investment. Therefore, consider installing security lighting around your back and front doors. That way, you will illuminate al entrances and potential places where burglars can hide within your property.

6. Avoid Showing off Your Valuables

To make your house secure, avoid being flashy with valuables. Ideally, minimize the time when people see the valuables in your house from the streets. Before breaking into a house, most thieves will scope out an area to determine whether there is anything valuable they can steal. And, if they spot something valuable inside your house, they will start formulating a break-in strategy.

Therefore, making a house secure can simply entail the removal of items that are commonly stolen from the place where strangers can easily view them. Such items include jewelry, cash, firearms, tablets, TVs, computers, and stereos.

Anything of value and lightweight is a priority for burglars that want to loot valuables. Therefore, lock such items in a safe or keep them in a well-hidden part of the house. Additionally, close curtains and blinds while away or at night to shield your valuable possessions from possible burglars.

The Bottom Line

Burglar-proofing a house does not have to be a costly investment. You just need to know the measures to take to ensure that your house is not an easy target for thieves. Things like keeping valuable possessions away from the eyes of burglars can help make your house secure. However, some measures like making the compound well lit and installing a security system require money. Nevertheless, this investment goes a long way in protecting yourself, family, and valuable possessions. It can also help you save on insurance premiums.