A Home Security Checklist

If you are like most homeowners, you are probably inundated with advertisements, warnings, articles, and other forms of communication that try to frighten you into purchasing a home security system for your house. They tell you that crime is on the rise and that if you do not have a complicated and expensive burglar alarm then you are certain to get robbed, hurt, or even killed. Of course, these bad things can and do happen, but it is not always necessary to shell out big bucks for a home security system. Sometimes, all you have to do is take some simple steps around your house to make it less appealing to would-be burglars.

Certainly, equipping your house with a home security system is a great way to make your house safer for you and your family, but in the meantime, if you can’t spend the money to get one or if you are unsure which one you want, here is a checklist of things you can do to strengthen the security of your property.

First, take a look around your yards. Is the landscaping making your house a target for thieves? If there are high hedges or bushy plants surrounding your house, you have already provided criminals with a perfect hiding place. Instead, trim them back or even consider pulling them out and replacing them with thorny bushes or other plants that naturally deter people from walking through or hiding in them. Be sure to trim any trees that could be climbed to reach the upper windows of your house.

Next, install proper lighting outside your house. Burglars want to work in the dark so they cannot be easily seen or identified. You can make your house less attractive to criminals by installing security motion lights that only turn on if motion is detected. Not only can this deter people from choosing your house to burglarize, but it can make it easier for you to enter your own house because you won’t have to fumble around trying to fit your keys into the locks.

Finally, get to know your neighbors. People are more likely to look out for their friends, so if you make it a point to be friendly to your neighbors, they are going to feel more responsible for keeping an eye on your property when you can’t. Invite them over for coffee or a barbeque and tell them you will happily monitor their property and would appreciate it if they would do the same for you. Neighborhood watch groups are very powerful in deterring crime. If your neighborhood doesn’t have one, consider starting one. Safety is everyone’s concern.