And while this doesn’t mean scary fare like mugging or violence, it does mean that the breaking and entering numbers seem to be climbing sky-high, no matter what the state. So it makes a whole lot more sense to take care of the right steps to keep a house safe, rather than waiting until your neighborhood is intimately acquainted with what is quickly becoming the norm rather than the exception to the rule.
One of the biggest reasons that people have for waiting is to see what one can actually afford. And while this makes sense, considering that alarms require monthly fees as well as the installation costs, the truth is that you don’t have to worry about dropping a whole bunch of money to make major improvements to the safety of your home. In fact, smaller steps that take less than an hour to complete often do more than expensive systems simply because people who take the time to get them done often are more diligent about their home security in the first place Here are seven of the most affordable tips to make your house a whole lot safer without spending too much in the process.
#1 Lock your doors. Sounds easy, right? But people often forget to, especially doors that lead from places like the garage into the house. Be sure to take those extra couple of seconds to double-check, and save yourself a world of trouble.
#2 And set deadbolts, too. It’s so much harder for a crook to break in if you don’t just give them a single lock to pick, and locking your deadbolt takes only a couple of seconds more. Use it.
#3 If you’ve got it, flaunt it–when it comes to security items. Invested in a serious home alarm system? Cohabiting with a ferocious-looking or sounding pup? Then these are things you should be sharing with the world, especially the parts of the world that might want to rob you. Put up signs from alarm companies, and leave out mauled chew toys next to large dog dishes. These can be major deterrents, when they’re the facts.
#4 Join the neighborhood watch. It’s important socially, it helps you know who is in the neighborhood and who might just be loitering, and it’s a great way to learn the history of a place if you’re new. There’s no reason to not join neighborhood watch, if there’s already one in place.
#5 Make sliding doors and windows pry-proof. Forcing open windows and glass doors is often less conspicuous than smashing them, so burglars try to go that route rather than the destructive one. But a simple yardstick or metal beam placed in between the two parts, and forcing it open becomes impossible. Do this and save yourself a world of trouble.
#6 Invest in an affordable home alarm system. Don’t step outside your means, but do go for something that provides just a little bit of extra help. After all, being diligent goes far, but having something to back it up can mean that extra difference.
#7 Leave a light on. Not every light, but enough to make your home look occupied rather than empty. Robbers prefer break-ins when no one is home, and making it look as though you are there can keep your property safe.