Home Security Tips for Those on a Budget
For any homeowner, their living space is meant to be a place where both their lives and valuables are completely secure. A lot of people tend to make an extra effort to ensure that their home is impenetrable by any intruders, and is completely protected from any internal or external threats. This includes burglaries, electric surges, fires, water damage, etc. A lot of these disasters are unforeseen, which is why it is always important to be prepared for anything that could go wrong within your home.
Fortunately, there is more than one way to ensure that you home is always protected. Even though it is a good option to consider, you do not need an entire home security system. The following are some tips that may help homeowners better secure their home, even when on a budget.
Change the locks
The best way to secure a home is by using a home security system, however, that can often be quite pricey. When this isn’t an option, the best alternative is to decide the basic gadgets your home needs, and then purchasing them individually. For example, a smart lock is something any home can benefit from. It gives you complete authority over who has access to your home, and no one can enter without your direct consent. This is the perfect gadget for anyone who wants to monitor their main entrance remotely and at all times.
All entrances to your home hold the most significance when it comes to home security, which is why ensuring that they are impenetrable is every homeowner’s job. Check the glass on all windows and the locks on each door, so that they can be repaired or replaced as required.
Improve visibility
Homes are much more at risk if they are easy to sneak around; this is why visibility is important. You should be able to visually access all areas of your home, especially the exterior. Your front and backyards should be clearly visible through any windows. For this, having clean windows is important.
Any trees, furniture or other obstructions blocking the windows can also become a problem, since it provides intruders with an area to easily hide as they look for an opening to break in. Obstructions can also cast shadows that make it difficult for you to see what’s going on outside, which is why their proper placement is important.Once you are able to clearly see outside, your home will become a lot more difficult to sneak into.
Better lighting
Lighting contributes more to home security than most homeowners may realize. As mentioned previously, visibility is important, and lighting plays a huge part in that. Good lighting in your home can give the impression that it is occupied even when it’s vacant, which is discouraging to potential intruders. Proper lighting outside your home, such as on the front porch or in the backyard will also make it easier for you to monitor these areas when it gets dark outside. This can be done cheaply, since you do not have to use fancy lights for this purpose. Regular LED bulbs with brilliant white light can easily do this job for you.
Good lighting will also make your home more visible to neighbors and anyone walking by, making it even safer. A dull, dark home is often more inviting to outsiders, which is a problem that can be eradicated by good lighting.
Add security cameras
If you would like to keep a closer eye on your home, getting a few security cameras installed only where required is a great option. Knowing which areas of your home are most vulnerable, and then deciding the placement accordingly is a good strategy to spend only as much as you need to on the security of your home. Security cameras can be placed anywhere in your home, and can be accessed remotely so you can always keep an eye on the parts of your home because of which you feel most unsafe.
Smart security cameras come with features such as night vision and motion sensors, so you can rest assured that your home will be visible to you at all times. Even for a larger home, placing as less as three cameras around the house is enough to detect any motion, especially in areas where movement is most likely to occur.
Some examples of these places are the hallway after the main entrance, the staircase leading to upper stories, and the garage or backyard.
Try not to leave your home vacant
A home is most vulnerable when no one is present to constantly monitor it, which is why going on a prolonged trip without having someone watch over it can be quite risky. Clues such as withered plants and piled up mail will tell any intruders that no one has been there for a while, which can attract burglars.
When going on a trip, make sure you have someone taking care of your home, preferably a neighbor. This way, it won’t seem like you’ve completely abandoned the place, and intruders are much less likely to approach a place which is being monitored by someone in the near vicinity.
Conclusion
As a homeowner, there is a lot you must spend on. There’s décor, utilities, maintenance, and much more. On top of this, getting a home security system is not something all homeowners can afford. In this case, it is much more convenient to practice other precautions that may help secure your home better. The previously mentioned tips are bound to make any home much more secure, creating a healthier and safer environment for you to live in.