No matter where you live, safeguarding your home, possessions, and family from intruders is likely to be one of your top priorities. It is a scary thought to think that a stranger who means harm could enter your house at any moment. And while there is no guarantee that it won’t happen, there are plenty of ways that you can make it as challenging and undesirable as possible.

If you are looking for some additional measures to consider in order to guard your household, here is the ultimate guide to upgrading your home security while staying on budget.

Why Are Home Security Systems Important?

Unfortunately, burglaries are a commonplace occurrence in our modern-day societies, and everyone is a target. For this reason, it has never been more crucial for all homeowners to invest in security measures to protect their property and loved ones than it is now.

Having a home security system doesn’t just provide you with peace of mind, but it also reduces the chances that someone will forcefully enter your home. If a potential burglar notices characteristics of a security system, they are far more likely to pass by your house and move on to an easier residence.

After all, they want a straightforward target that they can quickly enter and seize the goods with a low chance of being caught — if a home has multiple security measures, there is a slim likelihood that an intruder will attack it.

What Does Home Security Entail?

These days, home security isn’t merely comprised of locking your front door and closing your windows. In fact, there is a whole market for home security products that are tailored and customized to individual homeowners needs and situations because you should have multiple layers of defense.

Your personalized security solution may include alarm systems, motion detectors, specific lighting, and security cameras.

If you are unsure about what products you should be using, or how systems can work together, then start by asking around your network for recommendations and experiences with particular products.

What Basic Steps Can I Take Today?

1. Conduct a home security check.

It can be challenging for homeowners to spot any weak areas in their home security, which is why it is essential to have a professional come and conduct a home security check. In many locales, you can call your local police station and request for a trained officer to visit your home and test for potentially vulnerable points.

Additionally, on your own, take a look at your home during the day and the night and get in the mindset of a criminal. Ask yourself whether or not your house is well-lit and if valuables can easily be seen from the street. Is there an area of your property that provides enough cover for someone to break in without being noticed?

Answering these questions will aid you in deciding where the most effective places are to install your security cameras (usually the front and back door, your first-floor windows, and garage).

Conducting a home security check will enable you to see where you need to spend money first, saving you from wasting your security budget on the wrong products.

2. Get into the habit of always locking all windows and doors.

While it may seem like a pretty obvious step, too many people forget to lock all their windows and doors each time they leave the house. Locking your windows and doors isn’t a foolproof plan (a burglar can pick locks), but it does make the process of entering far more time-consuming, which criminals certainly don’t like.

Remember that no matter how secure you consider your community to be, no one is entirely immune to a burglar on the prowl. Accordingly, you must defend your house just as much in the daytime as you do once the sun goes down.

3. Thoroughly secure your windows, doors, and garage.

If simply locking your windows, doors, and garage isn’t enough, you may be asking what else you can do to secure these access points. Here are some ideas:

• For windows: Add security film to slow down a potential break-in even more, hang up curtains to reduce the ability of burglars to catch sight of your belongings, and plant thorny bushes underneath windows to make them less appealing.
• For doors: Ensure that your doors fit perfectly in the frame (otherwise, criminals can force them open), update your locks, and replace the strike plate as old, loose ones will work in favor of the robber.
• For garages: Utilize padlocks on your garage door for more security, never leave the garage door opener in your car while it is parked in the driveway, and always keep the garage door closed even when you are home.

4. Install a new letterbox.

One of the most overlooked aspects of home security is upgrading your letterbox. Think about it: When was the last time you checked the state of your mailbox? If you are anything like most homeowners, it has probably been a while.

When looking at letterboxes for sale, to ensure that your letterbox is as guarded as possible, make sure you are searching for one that is either key lockable or has a provision for the lock.

5. Move your valuables to a safe.

As the majority of burglars are highly skilled in this regard, just because you think your valuables are safe doesn’t mean that it is true. While you may not realize it, thieves are blissfully aware that many people keep their valuables in similar spots.

Therefore, an essential element of your home security must be your safes.

Every home must have a home security safe that is well-hidden and sturdy enough to withstand even the most forceful of intruders. In this safe, you should keep important documents and essential papers, family heirlooms, expensive jewelry, spare keys, and anything else that you would be devastated to have taken from you.

In addition to a home security safe, your house may also need a gun safe and a key storage safe.

Buying a high-quality security safe is a surefire way of protecting your valuables. If you are in the market for a new one, make sure to purchase one that is only accessible by entering a digital code, and that also has override solutions for manual access.

How Can I Stay Within Budget?

1. Speak with your homeowners’ insurance company.

Considering there is a wide array of home security systems on the market, you are guaranteed to find one that fits in your budget. Plus, by making this investment, you can decrease your costs in other areas.

For example, due to the clear benefits of having some form of a security system, the cost of most homeowners’ insurance policies will be reduced when a home security system is instituted.

2. Work with a reliable home security products provider.

Once you have decided that you need to upgrade your home security system, it is time to start researching the best home security products providers. By working with professionals who have current knowledge of the security products market and the needs of homes in the area you reside in, you are on your way to possessing a reliable home security system.

How does working with a reliable home security products provider help you to stay on budget?

Well, in this industry, the firms that have been in business for a long time know how serious home security is to each one of their customers. They are committed to finding and designing a solution that fits the needs, lifestyle and budget of every client and they will take into (genuine) consideration your concerns, preferences, and needs.

This guarantees that you are acquiring the most suitable solutions for your home due to the in-depth knowledge a security system provider has concerning this topic. Generally, these high-quality providers have some of the best priced, most advanced home security products.

You may as well get your new system right — the first time!

3. Recognize the investment you are making.

At the end of the day, there is almost nothing more important than protecting your three Ps (your possessions, your property, and your people), so make sure you are keeping this in mind when looking to spend money on home security products. This is an investment, as well as a deterrent for potential criminals.

Even though it may be tempting, don’t skimp when selecting security products as they are not going to be able to get the job done and keep you protected in the long run.

While it may seem overwhelming (and slightly scary) at first, by implementing these small upgrades, speaking with home security professionals, and being more mindful of how you are presenting and securing your house on a daily basis, you will be well on your way to living in a safe home.

Then, it is time to pass the memo on to your neighbors as the safer your neighborhood, the more defended you will be.

Are you looking to upgrade your home security this year? What is going to be your first step? Let us know your thoughts and any tips and tricks you may have in the comments below!

AUTHOR BIO

Jay Flavell is the General Manager at Sandleford Holdings. He has been working in the DIY & Home Improvement industry since 2007 and has vast experience sourcing and developing products from overseas suppliers in the Far East. Jay has also been successful dealing with a number of major DIY & Home Improvement retailers throughout his career.