People ask me all the time what they can do to better protect their homes. They all have different priorities and budgets, so I’ve compiled a list of home security tips for as many scenarios as possible. Here’s a list of the top 27 security tips to protect your home.
🔐* = Highest-priority actions
An empty home makes for an easier target. You can give the appearance that you’re home—even when you’re not—by using automatic timers for lights, postponing your mail and newspaper delivery, and asking a neighbor to park their car in your driveway while you’re away.
Most modern security systems use wireless technology, but if you have a security system or camera with exposed wiring, a burglar could easily cut a wire and deactivate that portion of your system. Make sure to hide any wires that connect your security devices to each other.
Good exterior lighting not only gives the appearance that someone’s home, but also uncovers and reduces potential hiding spots for burglars and intruders. A good outdoor light with motion activation and high lumens adds extra security to your home for not a lot of money.
Sliding doors often go overlooked by many homeowners when they’re adding extra security to their home. A sliding door is one of the first places a burglar will try to enter. These doors are quiet and usually on a side of the house that’s concealed from view. Put a metal rod or one-inch wooden dowel in your sliding door track to help reinforce your sliding door.
Make sure you inspect and upgrade exterior doors and doorframes. Doorframes especially see a lot of wear and tear and are constantly exposed to all kinds of weather. Replace old or rotting doorframes with solid wood and make sure all your exterior doors are solid core or heavy-duty metal.
False alarms or broken alarms that sound frequently tend to get ignored by neighbors and even you, the owner, after too long. Fix faulty alarms as soon as possible, and notify your neighbors of the issue so when an alarm goes off for real, it won’t get ignored.
Overgrown bushes, trees, and other landscaping elements create convenient places for would-be intruders to hide out. By keeping your trees and shrubs trimmed, especially those right outside windows or other entrances, you can cut down on bad-guy hiding spots.
Something as simple as befriending your neighbors has a lot of security advantages. Neighbors can watch out for your home when you’re away. They can act as an extra set of eyes for suspicious activity in your neighborhood and let you know if anything unusual happens in or around your home. Get to know your neighbors so you can have each other’s backs.
Ladders and tools that get left out, even for one night, present an easy opportunity for a break-in or theft. A ladder will give access to second floor windows that would normally be hard to reach, and tools can be used to pry open doors, windows, or locks. It’s better to lock it all away in the garage or shed.
Guns are tools with deadly potential. Respecting that potential and securing any guns that you own in a reliable gun safe can help prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. If you own a gun for home defense or recreation, consider investing in a gun safe to protect your guns and your loved ones.
Making sure to lock away or hide your valuables prevents anyone entering your home—like an installer, service provider, or even neighbors and family—from attempting an easy snatch-and-grab theft. Keep jewelry, sensitive documents, and personal information out of sight.
You should always have backup copies of any important personal or financial documentation in case the originals get damaged or lost. Keep these documents in a personal home safe or a safe-deposit box at your bank to ensure they remain private and secure.
Making an inventory of expensive electronic equipment, jewelry, and other valuable items can help you keep track of what you have and know right away if anything is missing. Write down the serial numbers of any items that have them. Take a picture of each individual item as proof of ownership and update your inventory every time you add or replace items in your home.
A peephole is the old-school doorbell camera. It lets you see who’s at your door without opening it and leaving yourself vulnerable. Peepholes are an inexpensive way to add a little security to your home or apartment.
Smart devices like Google Home or Amazon Echo have blown up in the last few years, as have other IFTTT products like the Nest Thermostat. These products provide many benefits and conveniences but could ultimately leave your in-home network vulnerable to outsider hacks. Make sure your network is secure and you know what kind of smart device you’re adding before connecting these devices in your home.
Whether you implement one or all of these home security tips, you’re on your way to a safer, more secure home.
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