Your home is not only your greatest asset, but also where you spend most of your time. However, there are countless ways that your home is not as safe as you think. FBI reports suggest that approximately 7,919,035 property crimes occurred in the United States in 2016, and millions more were damaged by fires, floods, and natural disasters.
While you can't view your home 24 hours a day, there are plenty of ways you can make it safer in the short term. These 15 ways to protect your home will keep you safe, and better yet, give you peace of mind. And when you're ready to make your home safer inside and out, figure out where the most dangerous items in your home may be hiding.
1. Lock your doors and windows
It may seem like a no-brainer, but locking your doors and windows is a major deterrent to people who might want to break into your home. In fact, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly a third of burglaries enter homes through unlocked windows or doors. And when you're out of the house, make sure you're also practicing these safe driving tips to reduce your risk of an accident.
2. Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Sensors
Approximately 430 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States each year and more than 3,000 die from fires. To avoid being a part of these scary statistics, make sure to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, check them monthly, and change the batteries twice a year.
3. Get leak sensor
Water damage to homes, whether from flooding or broken pipes, costs billions a year to repair. Fortunately, inexpensive water sensors placed in basements, bathrooms, and under sinks can help alert you to water conditions that could damage your home and property.
4. Replace doors with large windows
If you have a large window on your front door, you will have easy access to your home. To keep your home more secure, choose doors with small windows away from the door handles, or better yet, choose solid core doors with peepholes.
5. Paste the alarm system
Want to keep other people with bad intentions away from your property? Put some alarm system decals and yard signs. Even if you don't have an actual alarm system in place, you could potentially cause enough trouble for a thief to choose another target.
6. Hide large bill items
Having big bill items, like an expensive grill, car, or bike outside your home, it sounds like you have even better things inside. Keep your expensive possessions hidden in the garage or dump whenever possible and wait until trash day to dispose of the boxes for expensive purchases. Items like these luxury bikes definitely deserve a warm, safe place in the garage.
7. Install the motion sensor light
No one wants their bad deeds to be seen, so shining a bright light on thieves can be an effective deterrent. Install motion-sensing lighting to illuminate darker parts of the house.
8. Safety window air conditioner
Window air conditioners can be a major security threat if they are not installed properly. Instead of just using your window to hold the air conditioner, make sure it is firmly attached to your window frame or standing underneath. This will prevent someone from pushing it in and gaining access to your home.
9. Have a broken glass detector
Glass break detectors are an inexpensive way to secure your space. Not only can they let you know if someone is trying to smash a window to gain access to your home, they can also warn you of high winds and other weather conditions that could break a window.
10. Add a timer
Making your home look alive is one of the best ways to keep people away. Most thieves don't want to have to fight someone for their possession; they just want in and out. Adding timers or devices can make it appear as if someone is home, making your home less attractive to thieves. Device timers aren't the only homes needed to include on your shopping list. The items that every man over 40 should have in his home are must-haves.
11. Keep your fence low
While tall fences can help keep your home from being framed, they also provide an opportunity for thieves to go unnoticed. Keep fences around your home low so intruders can't get in without arousing suspicion.
12. Be Friendly With Your Neighbors
Your neighbors are one of your best assets when it comes to protecting your property. Having a friendly relationship with your neighbors means they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity in your home.
13. Waiting to send your holiday pictures
It can be fun to share your holiday pictures on social media, but delay doing so whenever possible. When you post photos to social media accounts or check in away from home, you're essentially announcing that your home is empty, making it a prime target for thieves.
14. Learn how to use weapons
There's a lot you can do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a crime, but it's also important to be prepared if someone breaks in. If you're going to keep a weapon in the house, whether it's pepper spray or a knife, make sure you know how to use them properly.
15. Get a dog
Your dog is not only man's best friend but it is also the best asset when it comes to protecting your home. Most burglars don't want to mess with an animal if they get into a home, so having a dog, a doorbell that makes a barking dog, or just being on the lookout for dog signs can help keep you safe. for your property.
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