Security check
If you allow your home to be an easy target for thieves, will they steal from you? Rob-ably!
Jokes aside, your home’s security is no laughing matter. Making your home less attractive to robbers helps keep your family safe and can save you from a frustrating and expensive homeowner’s insurance claim.
Let’s do a quick audit of your home security.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS. ROBBERS DON’T.
While a truly determined and skilled robber can get in just about anywhere, most prowlers are just searching for the easiest target. Don’t be it!
Your doors are the entrance to your home, and one of the easiest ways to keep your family and belongings safe is simply to make sure that you have good locks and to use them.
Let’s take a tour de door. Take a quick walk around your home and examine all of your entryways. Do all of your exterior doors, including the door from your garage to the interior of your home, have a quality deadbolt installed on them? Your deadbolt should extend at least one inch into the doorjamb.
Did you change your locks when you purchased your home? Have you had a string of house guests with access to your keys or have you ever lost a set of keys? If you answered yes to any of these things, it could be a wise choice to have your doors rekeyed or to replace the locks. One option that is more expensive upfront but potentially less expensive in the long run is to purchase rekeyable locks. This is an especially great option if you often have guests or someone in your family who misplaces keys.
Next, let’s go look at your garage door keypad if you have one. Is the lock code 1234 (or something similarly easy) or the same one that you’ve had for years? It’s worth taking a minute or two to change your garage door code right now if so.
Last on the door safety list is to take a look at where you keep your spare key. If it’s hidden under a doormat or flower pot, it’s a good idea to move it to a less conspicuous place. An even more secure option is to keep your spare under lock and key with an outdoor coded lockbox.
TO THE WINDOWS
Now let’s take a look at your windows. Take a quick walk through your house to check that each window locks properly. An easy-to-open window is a gift to a burglar.
If you use your windows to cool your home or let in fresh air, be sure to use a high quality sash lock that only allows it to be opened until a point that you’ve pre-determined would not allow someone to crawl through. If you need to purchase a lock, look for one that has a quick release from the inside for fire safety.
To discourage looky-loos with ill intentions, use blinds and curtains at night and when you’re not home to make it harder to scope out your belongings and know when you’re not around.
GIVE A BURGLAR AN INCH, AND THEY’LL BREAK IN YOUR YARD
Let’s head outside to look at your yard from a bandit’s perspective.
How do your plantings and bushes look? Are they overgrown or crowding your windows or entryways? Landscaping that is in need of a trim is not only unsightly, but can keep a thief hidden out of sight.
A well lit yard is a deterrence for break ins. Use landscape lighting to highlight walkways and uplighting to shine in dark corners of your yard — just be sure that it won’t blind your neighbors at night! Place motion detector lights near doorways and in side and back yards to alert you that someone is there.
If you have a gate, does it have a lock? If not, you can purchase a padlock that can be keyed to match your house key for convenience.
Check the door on your backyard shed. Does it have a deadbolt? If you keep any valuables in there, such as tools or your lawn equipment, be sure to keep them locked up when not in use.
SMART HOME
We know that you take your family’s wellbeing seriously and we hope that completing this 5 Minute Friday helps you feel more comfortable in your home. While there are many steps that you can take on your own to make your house safer, there’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes with having a professionally installed home security system. If this is something that you’re interested in, we’re happy to help you find the best fit for your lifestyle.