Protect Your Home

If you are asked to put on a list details on what is the most important thing in your life, in all likelihood you will put home and family right at the top of the list. This is because there is nothing as significant in our lives as the love of our near and dear ones. Hence, it is but natural if you think and want the best for your family. This, of course, depends on the kind of and amount of love and concern you have for your family. Regardless of whether you live in a rented home or your own home, it is of utmost importance for you to make your home safe against any harm. As thieves and burglars are always on the prowl, you must ensure that the safety of your family is not compromised with by making vulnerable to unwanted intruders. Read on for some simple measures you can adopt to protect your home and family.

Securing Windows
As windows are the key to home security it is critically important to replace or repair them immediately should the need arise. Broken or cracked windows are an open invitation to thieves. Even broken windows on a second or third floor put you at risk, as thieves can find a way if they want to. Ensure that your windows have strong locks which will make it difficult for thieves to break in. Equally important is the robustness of the doors in your house. They must be well-hung on solid hinges and have secure and sturdy locks. You can even consider fixing deadlocks on external doors.

Maintain Your Yard
Plants and bushes should not be allowed to grow big enough to block anyone's view of windows and doors. Overgrown trees and shrubs are convenient hiding places for thieves. Branches can be used to climb into windows, so make sure you keep your yard and trim trees away from the house. Also, passers-by and nosy neighbors are a big disincentive to burglars, but if no one can see a ground floor window, the burglar can gain access unobserved. However, planting tough and thorny bushes around first-story windows can deter thieves.

Use Ruse
As burglars typically steer clear of homes that are occupied, it is important to make it look as though your home is occupied in your absence. You can set lights on timers and leave a radio or TV on when you leave the house. You can select the random option that will turn lights on at different times on different days, making it harder for a burglar to detect an obvious pattern.

Be Careful With The Key
Spare keys should not be hidden near the door under a mat, a flower pot or a stone. If you want to leave a key with a neighbor, select the neighbor cautiously. Be wary of neighbors with teenage kids. Additionally, tools that can assist a burglar must be locked away. Keep your shed and garage doors locked and if you have a ladder, chain and lock it to a fixed point like a wall.

Use Light
Keeping your home lit inside and outside provides you with security when you return home late at night and also has a big effect on home security. All exterior lighting is not created equal, however. You can install motion-sensing lights that can be triggered by even the slightest of motions, like an animal or tree branch. Better still; you can opt for heat-sensing lights instead, which only turn on when they detect human body temperature.

Keep A Pet Dog
A nice way of ensuring your home is safe is to keep a pet dog. A dog is an excellent and faithful protector. Just a bark from the dog especially at night will raise an alarm and will alert you. Though dogs are helpful for home security, they cannot always be relied on. Thieves can easily poison a dog and break into your house. If you leave the dog in the yard, try to get a neighbor to periodically check up on it.

Neighborhood Watch
A good relationship with your neighbors is a strong asset when it comes to home security. You can't always be home, so it can be comforting to know that others are looking out for you. Your neighbors can keep an eye on your property while you are away. If they are retired citizens, it's better for you, since they are usually at home all day.