In Look and Feel: Making Your Home More Secure

Pexels - CC0 License



Whenever we go traveling or leave home for a short period of time, we want to make sure that it is as secure as possible. When it comes to home security, there are so many different things to consider, namely your budget, your location, and what you want to protect. But the reality of protecting your home and scaring off a thief is to make the house look difficult to penetrate. This is one of the best strategies, so let’s show you some of the best upgrades you can make to your home to keep it secure in a number of ways, and some of the best deterrents for potential thieves.


Providing the Right Level of Visibility
When you have your interiors on display for all to see, this is what will tempt burglars more than anything else. But it's important to make sure that every part of your home is well lit, not with regards to the interior, but the exterior! We have to remember that if our property has a number of nooks and crannies that can provide hiding spots for burglars this can provide an easy way for them to get into the property undetected. This is where having a number of lighting systems can help. You don't need to have spotlights on the property when the sun goes down, but having an abundance of light sensors, but also practical lighting can make a big difference. One of the additional benefits of having lighting is that it can make the property look more stylish. Companies like NightScenes Landscape Lighting Professionals provide a variety of security lighting that also makes the property look pretty, yet protected. The fewer hiding places there are for burglars, the better.


Make Your Home Striking
There are two schools of thought with regards to making your home more prominent in a street. Making your home look more attractive than others could send a clear signal to burglars that this is where the good stuff is hiding. But also, you need to think about the fact that your home's presence in the neighborhood can be stronger because this can help emergency personnel in a perilous situation. One of the little ways to make your home more striking is to have a highly visible and legible house number that should be visible in the dark. This is something that many local fire departments promote, and some local fire departments sell reflective house numbers for the public, as this makes finding the property easier in an emergency.


Protecting the Perimeter
The perimeter can be protected in a number of ways, including the aforementioned lights, but you can incorporate other things. Motion sensor lights work wonders but you should also think about erecting a fence. When a thief is eyeing up a potential property, you've got to make it more difficult for them. Fences are a very good deterrent because it's a signal that they have to cross a barrier to infiltrate the house, meaning that if they get in, and they have to get out they are up against a lot more. You can also make some changes to the exterior via the shrubs and trees. When you look after the property, this is another signal to the thief that the home is looked after. When a home is well cared for, it will appear that it is well protected. It's important to maintain the image of a home is well lived in.


Making Your Home Look Lived In
When you are away from the property, making your home look lived in is an excellent way to send that signal to burglars that you are at home or you could arrive home anytime soon. It's so important to be careful about leaving any signs that you are not there. Some of the most common examples are letting mail pile up, having flyers stuck in the letterbox, and your curtains shut. One of the best things to do in this instance is to have a neighbor or friend bringing the mail. Make sure that you do not leave the porch light on the entire time you are away from the property and do not leave any garbage on the curbside before it is picked up. Other approaches you can try include:

• Putting the mail delivery on hold by applying at the post office or online.
  
• Parking your car in the driveway if you are not taking it away.
  
• Having friends or neighbors maintain the basic upkeep of the home, for example mowing the lawn, and opening and closing the curtains as well as other chores that provide tell-tale signs that you are not there.
  

Reinforcing Your Front Door
The most common entryway by burglars is, believe it or not, the front door. While getting through the window is more difficult and carrying the valuables back out is hard, this means that your door has to be secure, which means ensuring that the burglar cannot kick it in. When it comes to upgrading your door, the first thing you need to do is to upgrade the lock. Having high-quality locks is of the utmost importance, and it is very cheap. You don't require a locksmith to install them; secondly, you can reinforce your door by getting a strike plate, such as those provided by Direct Door Hardware. The strike plate is the piece of metal that melts the slides into the post of the door. If your strike plate is poor quality, the thief can kick the door in easily. Finally, think about upgrading your door. A solid door made from thick wood is a better option than a plastic door.


Have a Vigilant Mindset
Finally, one of the best ways to make sure that your home is secure, regardless of the emergency, is to have a more vigilant mindset. It sounds very simple, but making sure that your doors are locked is one of the best lines of protection. This is especially true if you have children or teenagers that leave the house regularly. Also, consider having a plan in place should there be an emergency. Very rarely do families have a plan, and this is one of the best approaches to make sure that everybody knows what to do in the event of an emergency.