7 Simple Ways to Secure Your New Home
Decorating your new home is definitely more fun than setting up security measures. But burglars strike every twenty-one seconds in the United States, so home security should be a top priority when moving into a new house. To help you get back to and keep the fun stuff, here are seven simple things you should do right away to secure your new home.
1. Secure the Doors
Don’t help a burglar stroll in through the front door (34% of them do!). Inspect all of your exterior doors to make sure the door frames are strong, the hinges are protected, and—if your door has a mail slot—that someone can’t reach through it to unlock the door. Here are the quick reinforcements we recommend to help you shore up these vital entryways.
Install a deadbolt.
Add a strike plate.
Boost security with a video doorbell.
PRO TIP: Reinforce glass sliding doors. Intruders love sliding doors, so make sure yours are protected. You can go old-school and use a window bar or dowel in the track to keep the door from being forced open. If you want a high-tech solution, add a door sensor or glass break sensor. These will alert you if the glass door is tampered with—and should scare off thieves.
2. Set Up a Security System
Your new home should have some form of a security system, whether it’s a basic DIY system or one that comes with professional monitoring and home automation. Today there are plenty of home security options for every budget and every level of protection. To choose a system that you’re comfortable with, evaluate the needs of your neighborhood and your house. You can contact your local police department for neighborhood crime statistics and help doing a home security evaluation of your home. And keep these factors in mind as well:
PRO TIP: DIY installation vs. professional installation
Customer service and brand reputation
Smart home capabilities
Upfront and monthly costs
Extras like smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring
3. Lock Down Your Wi-Fi Network
Your home wireless network is a doorway to your personal and financial information. And if you use home automation, it can also make your house vulnerable to a break-in. Use our tips and tricks to keep hackers off your home network. My one neighbor has set their Wi-Fi to something unique, it had the neighborhood worried about surveillance some time ago!
Secure your wireless router.
Enable WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or WPA2 encryption.
Rename and hide your home network.
Use a firewall.
Install antivirus and anti-malware protection.
Create strong passwords.
PRO TIP: Protect kids with parental control software. If you’ve got little ones, chances are they go online for both homework and fun. Keep them safe from online predators and cyber bullies with a parental control app, router, or software package. These tools can even help you limit screen time and enforce device-free family dinners.
4. Eliminate Hiding Places
Trees and shrubs may give your house curb appeal, but they also give burglars a handy place to hide. Trim down trees and plants close to your home that could be used for cover. Opt for smaller flowers and bushes instead. If you have trees near windows, either remove them or reinforce those windows with extra security. And don’t neglect the rest of your home’s exterior—use these best practices to keep things locked up tight.
PRO TIP: Always put away stools and ladders.
Lock gates, sheds, and other outdoor buildings.
Don’t tempt thieves by leaving pricey goods on display in the yard.
Add security signs and stickers.
outdoor security camera
5. Add Security Cameras
You’ve probably seen headlines about burglars being foiled by security camera footage. This is one home security solution that works as both a deterrent and a means to get justice. You can get security cameras that are part of a complete home security system, or you can use cameras that work on their own. Whichever way you go, we recommend using a security camera with a mobile app, so you can see footage in real time and store it if you ever need to go to the police. Check out our other must-have features:
PRO TIP: Get cameras that have ;
Motion detection
Night vision
Wi-Fi capability
Weatherproof casing
6. Get a Safe
In the event that someone gets by your other home security strategies, make sure that valuables are protected. An in-home safe is a secure depository for everything from jewelry to vital documents like passports. You want a safe that is fire-resistant, waterproof, and heavy enough that a thief can’t walk away with it. Follow these suggestions to get the most protection from your safe.
Look for safes with redundant locks (that’s two locks on one safe).
Select the right size safe for the valuables you want to protect.
Decide if you want a portable safe or one that’s anchored.
PRO TIP: Secure firearms in a gun safe. Firearms are desirable items for a burglar. 230,000 guns are stolen during household burglaries every year. A gun safe keeps your weapons out of the hands of criminals and protects your family from the risk of a tragic accident.
7. Use Home Automation
If you’ve been tempted to turn your regular house into a smart home, security is one compelling reason to follow through. Home automation can give you remote (or scheduled) control of lights, locks, security cameras, smoke alarms, and other safety devices. You can get real-time alerts about suspicious activity, so you can respond quickly and thwart potential thieves. Here are some of our favorite ways to use home automation to increase security over and above reducing your monthly bills..
Schedule lights (and your TV) to turn on and off when you’re on vacation.
Scare away porch pirates with two-way talk through a smart doorbell.
Get an instant video feed whenever someone walks up your driveway.
Check on a smoke or CO2 alarm and cancel false alarms from your smartphone.
Figuring out how to secure your home doesn’t have to be a chore. Use these tips to get started. You don’t have to do everything at once. Identify which strategies are most important to you, and make a plan to add the rest later. Being aware of potential security risks and taking action early is the best way to keep your home and loved ones safe. And if you’ve got a great security tip that we missed, let us know in the comments!
