Renting or owning a good home is a significant milestone to many. I mean, who hates the comfort that comes with having a place you can call home? A well-set home is the foundation of a healthy and empowered family.
That said, learning to protect your property and your loved ones is one crucial thing. Minding about your home security saves you the hustle of filing extended insurance claims as a result of crime and other home disasters.
So, what are the practices to maintain as far as your home security is concerned? Let’s find out.
Below are 8 tips for keeping your home secure:
· Home Surveying
Analyzing and understanding every corner of your home is the first step to a secure home. It helps you discover areas that need immediate correction or improvement. Regular surveys should be done from time to time, and the necessary corrections should follow immediately.
Surveying also includes consulting friends and learning the different loopholes to insecure homes. Learn the different methods used by robbers to enter people’s houses and begin taking measures to control them.
· Clear your compound and store tools after work
A transparent compound enables patrol officers to have a clear view of all your property right from their vehicle. Plants growing on the path to your home make it easier for thieves to sneak in without being noticed. The bushes and hedges all around your compound enable criminals to hide and plan their operations with ease.
It is, therefore, important to dig out plants around your entrance path. Always ensure that your door can be seen clearly right from the street. The way to the garage should also be clear from the front and back door.
The compound should also be cleaned and all tools stored appropriately after any activities. Criminals are known to use misplaced tools to break in. A misplaced hammer could be used to break the garage or entrance door.
· Proper landscaping
Good gardening not only makes your home look glamorous but is also a valuable safety tool. Planting thorny flowering plants like bougainvillea along your fences or under your windows makes it tough for a criminal to set foot in your compound. Thorns are known to be irritating thus hopping in into your compound will be impossible.
· Proper locking and care for your keys
A quality fence should be wrapped up with a high-grade gate. Always use good locks on your gate that are difficult to break. The gate should always remain locked, and any entrance by outsiders should be authorized by you. Steel locks and padlocks are recommended.
Hiding keys under the mat, rock, in a mailbox or a flowerpot should be forgotten. An experienced thief knows all these tricks and the common places where people hide their keys. Always carry your keys with you and avoid misplacing them. It is highly recommended that you work with a licensed and certified locksmith for any lock repairs or installations.
· Proper lighting
The exterior side of your compound should be fitted with sensor lights. They not only light up the way when you arrive late past sunset but also scare thieves away by uncovering their hideouts and personalities. Sensor light should be installed all around the compound to detect any weird movements.
Proper lighting also enables the patrol officers to get a clear view of your home from the street at night.
· Joining a security group and installing an alarm system
Joining or starting a nearby watch group could help a great deal in securing your home. Some watch groups focus on providing security guards, of course for a fee, to watch over your home. Some neighbors will also be interested in watching over your home while you are away so that you can do the same when they are away.
Installing a sound alarm in your compound could save you a lot in securing your home. Experts indicate that homes lacking quality security systems are at a higher risk of burglaries as compared to those with one.
· While traveling
It is important to unplug refrigerators, freezers and other delicate items from the home system. This saves you money and also prevents electrical problems.
The internal water system should be turned off to avoid pipe breakage and other water related problems that could occur in your absence.
Before leaving, always ensure that your doors are well locked. You should also signal your neighbors that you will be away so as to keep watching your compound.
· Security from home disasters
Other than protecting your homes from thieves, security from fire, plumbing disasters and electricity mishaps is also paramount.
It is important to undertake plumbing maintenance to protect your home from old pipe leakage.
Old pipes should be replaced to avoid water leakage that could end up destroying your floor and furniture.
An electrician should be consulted in the case of electric faults. Avoid overloading sockets and always use electronic devices for their designated purposes.
Preparing for any fire incident is always very crucial. Always keep a fire extinguisher nearby. The emergency exit should never be blocked.
All these tips are essential in ensuring your home is always secure from thieves and other unwanted disasters. Prioritizing your home security is a sign of responsibility. It is also the first step to a successful life.