3 Home Security Tips and Guidelines You Never Thought Of

Your home is meant to be a safe place where you and your family can live happily and healthily. An intrusion can steal away that feeling of safety and have a lasting negative impact. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to increase your home’s security and reduce the likelihood of a break-in.

Here are three effective home security tips and guidelines you probably never thought of:

Use Window and Door Blocks

While it pays to have high-tech security measures installed throughout the home, such as an alarm or cameras, some of the most effective methods are the least technical. In addition to using sensors and alarms, consider adding blocks or rods to prevent them from sliding open from the outside.

By securing your windows, you reduce the incidents of crimes of opportunity, especially with windows on the ground floor. Adding a simple dowel rod can prevent the window from sliding open, even if a potential intruder manages to unlock it.

While a traditional dowel rod works wonders, you can also get adjustable implements that allow you to fit the lock to different sized doors and windows. This solution is ideal for both vertical and horizontal sliding windows, as well as sliding doors. Furthermore, as these are easy to remove from the inside, they don’t present a safety risk in the event of a fire.

Use Natural Deterrents Outside

Optimizing your home security starts outdoors. Things like motion sensor lights and yard lights that eliminate dark corners make a huge impact when preventing intruders. As break and enters tend to be a crime of opportunity, eliminating that opportunity is key.

Believe it or not, you can improve your home security with some savvy landscaping hacks. One of the most effective ways to deter criminals from breaking into your home is to plant well-kept thorny bushes under your windows. Things like roses or juniper tend to pack a nasty surprise if someone tries to climb through a window.

When landscaping, use gravel and loose stone whenever possible, as these tend to be noisy and hard to navigate while sneaking around. Avoid trees that could be used to access second-floor windows or balconies, as well as trees that block the view of the house from the road.

Put Security Features in Unexpected Places

Most people follow a pretty standard set-up when installing security features in the home. For example, many people install the keypad next to the front or back door. From a logistical standpoint, this makes sense; it’s convenient for when you enter and leave the house. However, it’s also convenient for intruders who want to find and disable said alarm.

Place your keypads away from doors or windows where your activity could be viewed. Consider putting it further down a hallway or in the kitchen. It’s also worth having another keypad in the master bedroom so that if a situation arises in the middle of the night, you can trigger the alarm.

The same theory applies when hiding your valuables. As the master bedroom tends to be the first place burglars look for valuables, place them elsewhere. Some great hiding places include in potted plants, in canisters in the pantry, or in false bottomed books and clocks.

Conversely, avoid commonly searched areas like the freezer and bathroom. If you use a safe for your belongings, invest in one that’s installed into the wall or bolted down. While you should never use a portable safe for valuables, it’s a perfect decoy— burglars are likely to grab it and go, thinking that they’ve found something valuable.

The average burglary takes place in under 15 minutes from start to finish. The more complicated you can make the process, the safer your home will be.

By trying these three unusual tips, you’ll protect your home, belongings, and most importantly, your family.