4 Ways to Protect Your Home and Everything in It

Protecting your home and the contents inside of it is a priority for many homeowners. Taking proactive steps to ensure that your house, family, and possessions stay safe can give you peace of mind no matter what life throws at you.

In this article are four key strategies you can use to protect your home and everything in it.

Get Homeowner’s Insurance

Home insurance is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home and your finances. A home insurance policy will cover the cost of repairs or replacement if your home is damaged by an event that is covered by the policy. 

This can include damage from severe weather, fire, theft, or other events. Many home insurance policies also provide personal liability coverage in case someone is injured while on your property. This coverage can help to protect you from financial damages if you are sued. 

Homeowner's insurance is an important way to protect your home and your finances. Make sure you have a policy in place so that you are covered in case of an unexpected event.

Install a Security System

Homes without security systems are much more likely to be burglarized than homes with them. A home security system can deter burglars and also help you monitor your home when you’re away. 

A security system that offers features like motion-activated cameras, door and window sensors, and remote access via your smartphone or tablet is a good choice. 

Some home insurance companies offer discounts if you have a home security system, so it’s worth checking into that as well.

Lock Up Your Valuables

If you have any valuables in your home (e.g., jewelry, art, collectibles), consider storing them in a secure location like a safety deposit box at your bank or a home safe that’s bolted to the ground or wall. That way, if your home is broken into, your valuables will be out of harm’s way.

Be Emergency Prepared

You never know when an emergency situation might arise – whether it’s a fire, flood, power outage, or medical emergency. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency plan in place and to make sure everyone in your family knows what to do and where to go in case of an evacuation. 

You should also have an emergency kit on hand containing essential items like food, water, first-aid supplies, and a flashlight with extra batteries. 

By taking these precautions, you can rest assured knowing that you and your family will be safe if an emergency does occur.

Taking proactive steps to protect your home and everything in it is essential for keeping your family and possessions safe. 

Homeowner’s insurance, a security system, securing your valuables, and being prepared for emergencies are all important strategies that can help you safeguard your home. 

Taking the time to implement these measures can give you peace of mind that your home and everything in it is protected.

The 4 Easiest Ways for Burglars to Get Into Your Home

Your worst nightmare is having your home broken into. It’s an invasion of privacy and can make you feel like nothing in your life is safe and that everything is falling apart. These feelings are incredibly valid.

Everyone always feels like it won’t ever happen to them. It’s an invincibility complex like bad things can’t happen to you, whether it’s a car accident, the death of a loved one, or someone breaking into your home.

That sort of invasion of privacy shakes your entire world. Because of this fear, you can never be too safe or careful when protecting yourself from having your home broken into.

Carelessness that comes from time

Of course, there are the obvious things you can do to keep intruders out of your home: lock your doors whether you’re home or not, install a security system in your home, and be wary of who you welcome into your home.

These are easy ways to make you feel more comfortable at home. It’s surprising how many people forget these simple things, though. Again, you never think it could happen to you, so you get a little bit too comfortable in your environment.

When you move into a new area, you won’t dream of leaving without locking your door. But after a while, if you forget to lock your door upon leaving, you figure that it isn’t a big deal, you know all of your neighbors at this point, and you trust them. This is a mistake. You should never let your guard down like this.

Insecure garage doors

One of the most common ways for someone to break into your home is through your garage. A garage door company in King of Prussia can ensure your garage door is working properly. Additionally, make sure your garage door is closed. Even if you’re just home for a quick lunch and will leave less than an hour later.

While it’s not very likely that during that hour, someone will break in, it gives potential thieves a chance to case it out and figure out the easiest way to get in and what they’d like to steal.

Don’t leave your garage door opener in a visible spot in your car. Many people leave theirs on the visor in their car. However, if it’s visible, someone could break into your car and steal it, take a photo of the address on your vehicle registration, and then break into your home while you’re away.

To avoid this, leave the remote in your console or another concealed place in your car.

The back yard and back door

Your backyard is another way that thieves will get in. You’re less likely to keep your back door locked than the front door, and thieves know this.

So not only do you need to make sure you keep people out of your home but also your backyard. When you’re getting a fence installed, ensure it’s tall enough that it cannot be easily jumped over, as long as your city regulations allow a fence at least six feet tall.

And always make sure that the gate to your fence has a lock on it on the inside, so it can’t be picked by passersby. And, of course, keep your back door locked at all times.

Doggy doors and hidden keys

A lot of people keep keys hidden outside their house in case they lock themselves out of the house. This seems like a harmless idea. If you tend to lock yourself out of your house often, then you obviously want to be able to get back in easily without having to call a locksmith.

When trying to break into your home, however, this is one of the first things a thief will look for. Never leave your key in a fake rock, under the mat, in a potted plant, or any other obvious places.

Another way to gain easy access to your home is through a doggy door. Make sure that your doggy door is far enough from the lock that it cannot be unlocked by reaching through the doggy door from the outside.

At night, ensure your doggy door is locked so no one can access it. Also, ensure that the door is too small for anyone to fit through. If you have a large breed dog, a doggy door may not be safe.

5 Tips to Make Your Home More Secure

IMG_6319 (Photo credit: aFrozenMoment)

Burglaries are sadly a common occurrence and with a number of rural Garda stations closing, homeowner’s have to do what they can to dissuade thieves from choosing their property as a likely target. Here are 5 sensible ideas and initiatives that can help keep your property secure and reduce the chances of your home being targeted.

Lighting

Good outside lighting can be an effective deterrent and if you have a burglar alarm fitted then make sure the alarm box is visible so that a burglar may think twice and choose a less well protected property instead. Make sure that your lighting covers and protects doorways and recessed area so that there is no hiding place when someone walks onto your property, but try not to position the lighting in a way that it causes a nuisance to any neighbours.

If you are going out or away for any period of time then use timers to activate lights and maybe a radio as well, but avoid switching the TV on using a timer as it can advertise one of the very items that they may be looking to steal. 

Locks

Using locks efficiently to protect your property is a vital component in your efforts to keep your home safe from intruders. As a basic security measure you should make sure that all doors and windows are securely locked when you leave your home, especially when you consider that many burglaries are committed by opportunists who have simply taken advantage of your failure to secure your home and simply walked in rather than forcing entry.

All external doors should have at least three locking points and a mortice lock will add considerable strength to the security of your door. Fitting window locks is a good idea if you have older windows that are not as secure as more recently installed PVC windows which should come with an efficient lock already fitted and also make sure that your patio door has a good quality lock as older doors are known to be vulnerable.

First line of defence

Take time to think about the suitability of the walls, fencing or shrubbery that you have around the perimeter of your garden and view this as your first line of defence. Look at what you currently have and decide if it protects your home or if it makes you more vulnerable by allowing a burglar to go undetected once they are on your property.

Walls and panel fencing around your house may provide you with a degree of privacy but it could also let a thief to break in without being seen. Trees and shrubs look attractive but they can also be good hiding places so you may want to consider a compromise by using chain-link fencing or possibly some trellises with prickly shrubs that will look attractive but won’t be welcoming to a burglar.

Neighbourhood watch

The people that share your immediate environment are a good ally in helping you to avoid being burgled and by getting involved in an existing scheme or even setting up one; you are improving the odds of your neighbourhood not being targeted in the first place. You do not have to live in each other’s pockets for the scheme to be a success but keeping a look out for anything that you consider to be unusual and having your neighbours do the same, will make many thieves think twice if they know that they are potentially being watched over.

Don’t make it easy

Some very basic security measures will also be very effective in deterring opportunist thieves and one of the most common mistakes is to leave car keys and house keys to the side of the door or in sight. It may be convenient to have these keys to hand when you are rushing out if the door but you are also making it much easier for a burglar to break in and also to steal your car. Do not leave a spare key “hidden” outside as many hiding places are more obvious than you realise and draw your curtains at night so that your valuables are not in sight for the outside.

With a bit of practical thinking and even some basic security measures that will not break the bank, you can help to ensure that you increase your chances of not being the victim of a burglary.

Josh Hayward has extensive experience as a financial consultant. His articles mainly appear on personal finance blogs where he enjoys sharing his expertise. Visit FBD for more information on insurance products.

Deterring Burglars on a Budget: Inexpensive Security Ideas for the Home

A Honeywell home alarm system control panel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Approximately 73.9 percent of all burglaries target residential properties. More than two million burglaries took place in 2010 alone. Protecting your home doesn't have to put a dent in your budget when you're smart about using affordable solutions.

Secure the Windows and Doors

This may seem obvious, but the FBI reports that nearly a third of all burglaries in 2010 were unlawful entries without force. Unsecured doors and windows are like a welcoming invitation for intruders. Upgrading or installing locks on windows and doors is affordable and extremely effective. Place a wooden stick in the track of sliding doors so they can't open. Drill a hole in your window frame where the top and bottom portions overlap and insert a long nail as a backup if the window lock fails. Make sure everyone in the family uses the locks regularly.

Tidy Up Your Landscaping

Trees and shrubbery offer excellent hiding places for burglars. Take a close look at your landscaping. Could someone hide in the bushes beneath a window while prying it open? Do overgrown tree branches offer lots of dark shady areas around the lawn at night? Make some alterations so your landscaping is sparser, making it more difficult for criminals to hide.

Brighten Things Up

Proper lighting deters criminals both inside and outside the house. Motion-activated lights around the garage and doors are an excellent way to turn burglars back. The lights alert you to movement outside the home while illuminating the burglar's activities. When you're away, set timers on lights inside the house so it always appears as though someone is home.

Consider an Affordable Alarm System

Not all alarm systems are expensive. There are many affordable options that will give you protection and peace of mind on a budget. Browse a site like TopHomeAlarms.com for an idea of what your options are. The mere presence of an alarm system deters burglars, so don't think that only the pricey options are worth your money.

Get a Dog – Or Simulate One

A dog is a major deterrent for burglars. If you're a fan of these furry friends, by all means add a canine companion to your family for added protection. If you're not ready to bring a pet into the family, you can make burglars think you have an animal instead. Motion-activated alarms are available that play the sound of a dog barking when someone is outside the door. A "Beware of Dog" sign and some proper accessories, like dog toys, in the yard will enforce the illusion.

Get to Know Your Neighbors

If your neighbors are familiar with you and your family, they'll recognize when something isn't right and an intruder is lurking around the house. Neighbors are also able to make it look like you're home when you're out of town by picking up mail or leaving some of their trash on your curb as well as their own. Leave spare keys with people you trust and never place them in false rocks or hideaway flower pots.

Don't leave your security to chance. Take these low-cost measures to protect your home now.