If you’ve ever been the unfortunate victim of a home invasion, you know what a truly awful experience it can be. Most of us have never faced such a situation, and it’s hard to truly understand just what a serious, life changing event it can be. Many homeowners who have endured the experience can struggle with near-constant worry and anxiety afterwards. For them, home security becomes a priority.
According to the FBI’s crime statistics data, there were 7,919,035 property crimes in the United States in 2016, the last time this data was compiled. While our tendency is to think that “it could never happen to me,” the reality is quite different. With more than 1.5 million home invasions each year in the U.S., it’s important to take the proper steps to protect your home, your property, and your family. We’ve put together our top tips for how to secure your home from potential burglars: read on to learn more.
Motion Sensor Lighting
One of the best ways to discourage thieves from attempting to break into your home is with the use of motion sensor lights. Adequate lighting creates a much less attractive situation for potential burglars. Without the cover of darkness, the idea of attempting to break into your home is bound to be less appealing.
When it comes to motion sensor lights, you have lots of options. Keep in mind that while incandescent lights are cheaper to purchase up front, LED lights can often be less expensive in the long run. This is because LED bulbs use very little electricity, and last for much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. If you’re planning on staying where you are for years to come, an LED motion sensor light might be the best choice for home security on a budget.
Door Locks
It may sound obvious, but checking the door locks on your home is an important part of ensuring that your home is secure. When we buy a house, many of use simply assume that the existing locks are adequate. A lock is a lock, right? Well, not exactly.
When reviewing a large number of door locks on the market, Consumer Reports found that many of them are ineffective at deterring burglars. Sure, any lock is better than nothing–there’s no question there. But, in many instances, kicking down a door or drilling out a lock was relatively easy to do, and the lock itself served as little more than a mild, superficial deterrent for thieves.
When selecting a lock for your home, it’s worth checking its performance in scenarios like the ones created in the above-mentioned link. Some locks stand up to forced entry and drilling; others don’t.
Smart Home Security Systems
The world of home security systems has changed dramatically in the past decade or so. In the past, a home security system was comprised of a keypad and a couple of motion detectors. Now, these systems are wireless, connected, and integrated with apps that you can download on your smartphone.
When selecting the right home security system, you’ll want to take all of its features into account. Does it satisfy your requirements? Is it way more than you need? Look for a balance of features and price point. You may want to be able to monitor your system from your phone, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need lots of additional bells and whistles.
Remember: securing your home is an important part of being a homeowner. And, the right home security system can significantly reduce your homeowners insurance premiums. That’s a smart investment: both in the short term, and in the long run.
