When you are moving into your new home it can be a very exciting time! However, one thing that most new homeowners tend to forget during all the hustle and bustle of moving in is the security of their new home.
Obviously, you will want to protect your new home from the risks of break-ins and burglaries, so as well as making sure that you have a good home insurance cover you will also need to think about the ways you can make your home as safe as possible for your family, your beloved pets and your treasured possessions.
We have put together seven useful tips for making your home more secure once you have moved in:
1: Change your locks
Securing your doors and windows is one of the first practical things you can do. You can never be sure how many previous owners may still have copies of your house keys, so it’s a good idea to fit new locks to your doors and windows to make sure you are the only one with a set of keys.
You can make your doors and windows extra secure by replacing old and worn-out doors and windows for new ones with much stronger frames and protected hinges. Installing deadbolts to your doors and adding a video doorbell where you can see visitors before you open the door to them can give you an extra layer of protection.
2: Join your neighbourhood watch
We can all help to build a strong community by befriending our neighbours and joining your local neighbourhood watch if you have one. It can be very reassuring to know your neighbours are keeping an eye on your property while you are out!
3: Keep your windows locked
Many people have window locks but don’t bother to use them. Most household break-ins are done through rear windows that are hidden away from public view. Keeping them locked can make it more difficult for burglars to get in, even when they smash through a pane of glass they can often give up and leave when they cannot open the window to get in.
4: Install security lighting
You can get very cost-effective home security lighting systems that are compact and very effective these days. You can install motion-activated lights around your property to illuminate dark corners where intruders can hide and light up doorways and windows that can expose and deter would-be burglars.
5: Lock your garage and garden shed
Most opportunistic burglars will target your garage or garden shed as they are often easier to break into than your home. You may keep a lot of valuable tools and equipment in your garage or shed that thieves can make off with without you realising.
Fitting good quality strong locks and making sure that they stay locked at all times can put off many thieves that want an easy time of grabbing your goods.
6: Get a dog
Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason! They give you unconditional love but will also defend you with their life. Many organised criminal gangs will case out a neighbourhood and will go out of their way to avoid targeting homes that have dogs.
Your dog will alert you if an intruder is looking around your garden or if someone enters your home while you are sleeping. Their presence is usually enough to deter a burglar who doesn’t want to be discovered.
7: Invest in a home security system
These days you can excellent quality home security systems that are unobtrusive and very cost-effective to buy and maintain. You can get something as simple as a system with motion-activated lights that contain a camera to monitor and record any movements when triggered.
As mentioned before, you can get a doorbell camera and hook this into your home security system so you can see who is at your door and capture their face making it easier to help police to identify members of criminal gangs that are targeting your street.
Home security systems come in a range of options that can include smart security systems and professional monitoring from an external security firm for 24/7 peace of mind. You can choose your own level of security features, so these systems are worth investing in.
If you need advice relating to a different property matter, please do get in touch with us here.