Moving into a new home is an exciting time for families, as houses are usually the most significant tangible investment. According to the National Association of Realtors, the combined total number of new and existing homes sold in the US was around 6 million in 2019. Therefore, it is vital to secure this investment to ensure that you profit from it for a long time.
Are you keen to learn ways to protect your home against threats? Here are eight strategies you should consider.
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Secure your Wi-Fi network
In this digital age, your home’s wireless network is a vital aspect of home security, which cybercriminals can quickly exploit if you fail to secure it. Hackers can access personal and financial information, resulting in identity theft, stolen money, etc.
If your home network controls smart home gadgets or your security system, burglars can directly access your home. Real estate experts suggest protecting your home network by securing your wireless router using multiple firewalls and installing malware protection. Using antiviruses, creating strong passwords, and masking your network with VPNs (Virtual Private Network) also help.
Using antiviruses, creating strong passwords, and masking your network with VPNs (Virtual Private Network) also help. Check out this list of the best VPNs right now.
You should follow this advice to ensure that you shield your home against cybercrime and criminals.
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Know your neighbors
Getting acquainted with the neighbors isn’t just for social formality, but it can also be a safety measure as it is common for neighbors to watch each other’s houses.
Friendly neighbors are likely to call you or the police during burglaries or when they notice suspicious activity around your property. As such, neighbors come in handy during extended vacation periods to keep a watchful eye over your property.
Burglars will hesitate to break into your home if they feel someone is watching, so consider being a great neighbor as a simple, cost-effective, and efficient way of securing your home against robbery.
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Home insurance
Homeowners’ insurance is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. Many mortgage companies demand that borrowers have coverage for a set percentage of their property’s value and typically won’t finance any residential real estate transaction without proof of insurance.
Home insurance generally covers three types of claims; internal and external property damage, personal injury, and loss or damage of personal belongings. Property damage claims may cover damage due to fires, any natural disaster, vandalism, etc. Personal injury coverage helps you with medical bills if someone gets injured on your property.
Private property insurance covers your home’s contents ranging from artwork to appliances. Consequently, get a comprehensive homeowner’s insurance policy as a new homeowner to secure your home against multiple threats.
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Reinforce your doors
Doors are the entrance and exit to your home and should be secured to protect your home from threats.
For new homeowners especially, experts recommend changing the door locks as soon as you move in to prevent anyone else with old keys from accessing your home. Other measures like installing a video doorbell, using smart locks, and adding deadbolts or strike plates also help security. You can also reinforce your doors by ensuring that they have strong frames, protected hinges, and thin mail slots.
If you have sliding glass doors, consider adding a door and glass break sensor to alert you if someone tampers with it.
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Reinforce your windows
Research indicates that 23% of home break-ins are through first-floor windows, making them the second most common entry points for intruders after doors.
As such, your windows deserve equal attention and proofing as your doors. Most windows have weak latches and are easy to breach, therefore consider burglar-proofing yours with bars and window security film to make it harder for intruders to break-in. Using blinds also helps you keep out prying eyes from surveying your possessions.
Furthermore, shut your windows regularly to deny intruders’ entry into your home. Many experts suggest that a final tip is to plant prickly bushes under your ground floor windows to prevent anyone from using them as access points.
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Install a home security system
Research reveals that homes without security systems are more likely to experience break-ins.
Home security is therefore essential to protecting your home from burglars. Loud in-house alarms will alert you to intrusions and may scare thieves away. Home automation makes it possible for you to smartly integrate security systems to cater to more concerns aside from burglary.
Many security systems can detect fire safety and gas leak issues with smoke detectors in every room in your home. Motion and pressure sensors for your doors and windows will also alert you and the local police department to forced entry, so it would be prudent to install home security to protect your property.
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Adequate lighting
Lighting your home can protect you from intruders and boost your home’s curb appeal. It is common knowledge that darkness and anonymity favor thieves, so proper lighting may deter them away because it gives the impression that someone’s at home or expected back.
Lighting also makes it easier for your neighbors to keep watch over your property. Many real estate experts say that your walkways, front and back yards, outdoor structures like sheds, and garage areas are the prime locations to install adequate lighting for optimum visibility and protection.
Therefore, prioritize a well-lit home to eliminate dark hiding corners, discourage intruders, and secure your home.
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Secure your garage
Garages are popular entry points for many criminals today, so it would be best to put measures in place to shield your garage from easy outsider access.
Even if you don’t keep valuables in your garage, chances are there’s still some good stuff worth protecting in there. Many garage doors are weak links because they open with minimal force. Therefore, lock all garage doors, both interior, and exterior, with extra locks if possible. A smart garage door opener is also a boost you should consider because you can use security codes for exclusive access.
You should also cover your garage windows to prevent thieves from seeing inside, as many thieves check for cars in garages to see if anyone’s home. Installing cameras and motion detection lights adds more security layers, so consider all these suggestions to improve your garage and home security.
