Moving into a new house should be about all the fun and exciting parts of making a home. Decorating your space, filling it with your favourite pieces, inviting friends over and making lifelong memories are where you should be focusing your attention. However, less fun – but equally important – steps need to be prioritised, such as home security.
In order to help you get back to the fun stuff and ensure your new house is safe for you and your family, this article will try to simplify the process of securing your new home. Here are 8 easy things you can do to improve your overall home security:
- Secure all of the doors
Securing your doors is a critical step for improving your home’s security. Do not help opportunistic criminals by leaving doors unlocked or having doors that are easy to break into. Make sure that your locks are high quality, door frames are strong and hinges are protected. Moving into a new house, you should consider changing all locks to ensure no strangers have keys to your home.Here are a few ways to secure doors:
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- Change the locks
- Install deadbolts
- Replace damaged or weak door frames
- Upgrade to ‘smart’ locks
- Boost external security with video doorbells.
- Lock all of the windows
Windows and doors are the most common entry points for criminals. Manufacturer latches and standard windowpanes are not always effective and can be broken into. If you are concerned about the security of your windows, try replacing latches, installing key-based locks and levers or adding burglar bars on all windows.Some more good ideas for securing your windows:
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- Reinforce windowpanes with glass security film
- Install window or glass breakage sensors
- Plant sharp or prickly bushes under windows to limit accessibility.
- Do not forget to secure your garage
They may not be a conventional entry point to many homes, but garages can be another unsecure point of access to your house or become a target of its own. Even if there are no direct paths or doorways into your home, a garage will often have plenty of valuable stuff stored in it. Try keeping your garage remotes inside the house and make a habit of always locking your garage and all doors leading into it.You could improve your garage security by:
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- Upgrading to an app-based or smart garage opener
- Blocking out and securing any windows peering into your garage
- Securing your garage with secondary locks
- Utilise home automation for garages, gates and external doors with smart security systems.
- Light up your home
Criminals and thieves seldom work in the daylight and do not like attacking houses that are well lit. Placing lights around the exterior of your home (including gardens, pathways and garages) is one the best deterrents for burglars. Install security lights all over your home and make potential intruders skittish about being seen.Make your security lights more effective:
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- Use motion-sensor or motion-activated lights
- Save energy and money with solar-powered lights
- Have your outdoor lights on a timer
- Install smart security lights connected to a larger home security system.
- Install a home security system
It is important to set up some type of security system in your new home. Whether you decide to build your own DIY setup or install a professional home security system with monitoring and automation, there are plenty of security options for new homeowners. Find a home security system that meets your new house’s requirements, from budget and level of protection to response teams and panic alerts.Consider these options:
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- DIY systems versus professional systems
- Customer service and brand reputation of professional security services
- Smart home and automation capabilities
- Costs and investment requirements
- Additional tools, such as smoke detectors, security beams and motion sensors.
- Secure your Wi-Fi network
Your home’s Wi-Fi network is another potential vulnerability. Criminals can access personal and financial information through your wireless network, putting you at risk. This is, especially true if you use home automation. Smart security systems can be hacked via your Wi-Fi network and give burglars the ability to open garages and doors or turn off alarms and lights.Try implementing these ideas:
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- Secure your wireless router
- Protect and hide your home’s Wi-Fi network
- Enable Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or WPA2 encryption
- Use a reliable firewall
- Install reputable antivirus software
- Strengthen your passwords and change them annually.
- Consider adding security cameras
You have probably seen viral videos and newspaper headlines about burglars being caught in the act by home security cameras. This is a home security solution that acts as a deterrent and a means of getting justice for crimes committed against you. Security cameras can be set up as part of a larger security system or work as independent home security measures.There are a range of camera features available to homeowners:
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- Remote access and app-based controls
- Motion detection
- Night vision
- Wi-Fi access and wireless capabilities
- Automated uploads to local or cloud storage
- Weatherproof and protective cases for outdoor cameras
- Try home automation
Residential security is another reason to consider turning your new house into a smart home. Home automation gives homeowners the opportunity to remotely control their security lights, doors, gates and garages, as well as cameras, smoke alarms, alarm systems and other safety devices. You can have real-time alerts, updates and access to your entire home security setup.Here are some of the benefits of home automation:
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- Schedule lights to turn on at night or when you are on holiday
- Install smart doorbells at your gate and front door
- Automate security measures connected to your home’s system
- Have constant access to video feeds via mobile devices
- Check smoke and burglar alarms from safety and respond easily.
Before you move in
Hopefully, these simple ways to secure your new home shows you that home security does not have to be a chore. It can be done simply, quickly and effectively if you know what to look out for. Identify which strategies are relevant to your new home environment and take action. This will help keep you and your loved ones safe while enjoying making a home of your new space.
We understand how important it is to feel safe and secure in your new home. For professional and reliable home security services, contact R Protections and help us keep your new home safe.
