You have probably spent considerable funds and time to create a dream home. How then are you going to protect your valuable home and its contents from intruders without having to incur a fortune? Home security experts say that your best home security system involves combining multiple deterrents that dissuade thieves and opportunists from making it an easy target.
If the associated cost of installing a high-tech security system for your home is beyond your financial means or perhaps not your thing, you may want to consider the following top low cost home security tips to make your home safer.
Make the House Look Occupied When Away
One of the most effective tricks of keeping away prowlers when you are going out of town is to ensure the home appears like someone is still within. Make sure that you cancel daily newspapers, and alert the post office to hold your mail until you get back. This way, packets will not stack up on your home’s front door as they alert crooks about an empty house.
Another trick is to alert neighbors whenever you go out of town. This way, they can keep an eye on your property and alert the police in case of suspicious activity.
Reinforce Likely Entry Points
Thieves typically come through your front door, the back door, and first-floor windows. These are followed by the unlocked entrances, the basement, and your garage. To prevent potential burglaries, consider ways of reinforcing all of the major entry points. It is also not too costly to install one or two security cameras to cover both your front and back doors.
Install Motion-Sensor Lights and Automatic Light Timers
One of the best deterrents is installing plug-in timers to your house lights whenever you are away. Programmable timers are now available that you can set to be switching on at different times or randomly. For burglars that usually have the patience and time to stake out a home so as to analyze patterns, such random lights can easily throw them off track.
You may also look into installing motion sensor light bulbs to illuminate your pathways and doorways since the majority of burglars are typically opportunists. Good motion-sensor lights are easily accessible, inexpensive, and buglers are less likely to break in when you have them in place.
Put strategically placed interior lights, your radios, and TVs on timers such that they create the illusion of someone being at home when you are away. The digital light timers of today are excellent and superior over the traditional models as they can be programmed to come on and off quite randomly.
Don’t Leave Ladders Leaning On Walls
During or after a home Do-It-Yourself improvement project, never leave ladders leaning against the wall or even in sight. These are open invitations to burglars. Additionally, avoid leaving work tools lying about as they could be what the intruder needs to gain access into your home. A hammer or pry bar, for instance, might be used to break or open a loose window.
Conceal Valuables from Open Sight
If a thief manages to make an entry, you can avert major loss of valuable objects by making them harder to find. The first places a bugler or thief checks is your bedroom closet, the dresser drawer, bedroom closet, or even the freezer. So avoid those popular hiding places and consider more imaginative sights that are out of plain sight.
Join Neighborhood Watch Groups
You can join or form a neighborhood security watch group. These groups are known to be effective at deterring crime as they encourage all residents to stay vigilant and alert the police whenever something is amiss. Neighborhood watch groups also supply vital information regarding crime in your area and also work closely with the police towards improving response times.
Conclusion
Whether you rent or own your home, nothing gives more peace of mind than a good security system against theft. However, paying fees every month for professionally installed or monitored security systems could be quite costly, particularly when you are on a tight budget. If perhaps you feel that monitored systems are not suitable or are not adequate for your needs, the above described top low cost home security tips and options will prove to be more than effective.
