When you leave your house for work, or you head off on a long vacation, you don’t want to be worrying about the safety of your home. You want the peace of mind knowing your home is secure and your belongings are safe.
It’s not just burglars you need to be wary of. You should also consider your property itself. Faulty wiring or gas leakages are also a huge area of concern in your home. Here are nine ways to protect your home from the inside and outside.
- Check Your Electric Circuits
It’s important to regularly check all of the electric circuits that run through your home. Electrical faults can cause large problems later down the line if left unchecked. When you first move into a house, you should obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report. However, if you’ve lived in the same property for a while, it’s always a good idea to get your electrical wiring checked every so often.
Unless you’re a qualified electrician, you will need to get a professional to come in and do this job, but it’s worth investing the small amount of money on hiring someone to ensure your home is safe.
When an electrician comes into your home, they will check the following.
- Installation work
- Wear and tear for wiring that might affect safety
- Parts of the wiring that doesn’t meet specific regulations
- Presence and function of Federal Breakers
- Potential causes of electric shocks or high temperatures
- Lock Your Doors and Windows
Probably one of the more obvious things that you can do when it comes to protecting your home is locking every door and window when you’re out. Never leave your door open or unlocked when you are upstairs in your house, as a burglar could quite easily walk in without you noticing.
Any easily accessible window should be fitted with double glazing and laminated glass to make it harder to break. Fit all of your windows with secure locks as opposed to basic handles. If any of your doors have glass panels, again, these should be double glazed and laminated. When you are fitting window or door locks yourself, use the strongest screws you can find.
- Smoke Alarms Carbon Dioxide Monitors
Smoke alarms and carbon dioxide monitors are a legal requirement in most buildings. They should be installed in every room to keep you safe, particularly in kitchens or other fire-prone areas. Smoke alarms and carbon dioxide monitors are affordable and they can save your life in the event of a fire.
- Install a Video Doorbell
Smart doorbells are a fairly new technology. They contain a small camera that picks up the area near your doorway. They allow you to view your property live through your phone, whether you are in or out. You can also watch the videos back to see who’s been in and around your property at specific times. Some of the fancier smart doorbells even have face recognition.
- Use Security Cameras
Security cameras or great to get a well-rounded view of your property. They are particularly useful to monitor the darker areas in your garden where potential burglars may be hiding.
With high-quality security cameras, you are able to see who is in and around your home. It’s a good idea to keep your cameras concealed to ensure they are not seen by intruders. Direct them to face in multiple directions so you can see all areas of your property, and place them high up on your building so they can’t be damaged or covered.
- Install Motion Sensors
Motion sensors can be placed around the outside of your property, including near your doorway. They will send a notification to your phone to raise the alarm if there is any activity. Usually, it will make a small sound so you can hear the alarm even if your phone is in your bag. You can usually set the level of motion yourself, so be sure to use an appropriate level. You don’t want your alarm to go off every time a bird flies past the sensor!
- Conceal Your Valuables
If you lose your valuables in plain sight, this increases the risk of somebody breaking in. If a burglar walks past and sees your expensive jewelry on display, they are going to be more tempted to break in.
Invest in a safe to keep your valuable belongings hidden. Alternatively, try to keep these things out of sight by concealing them in a drawer or window-free room. Alongside your valuables, keep your money and other important documents such as passports concealed.
- Add Outdoor Lighting
Dark houses are magnets for burglars. Therefore, to effectively protect your home, make sure it’s well-lit. Install smart lighting throughout your property, which can be controlled from your phone, allowing you to schedule the lighting to come on at certain times of the day. This is great when you’re away for a few days, as you can give outsiders the impression that you’re still at home.
Outdoor lighting makes your CCTV or doorbell cameras much clearer by illuminating the surrounding areas.
- Secure the Garage
Your garage can be a huge attraction for burglars. Many intruders rely on people forgetting to lock their garage doors, or leaving them open. Make sure that your garage doors are secure and locked at all times.
Even if you’ve got a delivery expected, never leave your garage door open or unlocked. This is particularly important if your garage leads directly into your home, as the intruder then has access to the rest of your property.
If you can, avoid keeping highly valuable items in your garage. Instead, store them in a safe inside a more concealed room within your home.
Follow these key steps above to maximize your property’s security. This way, you can enjoy yourself while you’re out knowing that your home is safe.
