No matter what words you may have read here, they would have little impact either convincing you of the importance of home safety or steering you away from it. Your mind is likely made up, and you know which of these is the most rational. You likely also take steps to protect your own home, because this common-sense approach is something that only the most ill-prepared would need to be reminded of.
That being said, this may not mean your home protection preparations are perfect. In fact, you can still experience real issues with them, and this can remain a point of worry for you over time. It’s much better to consider the home security threats that you may have forgotten about, the hidden considerations that a thief or trespasser might look for, or investments you can make to ensure this process is much less harmful than you may otherwise consider.
With the following advice, not only will you be able to apply yourself to this end, but you’ll have a clearer view of the many blind spots in home maintenance you may have held prior:
Our Garage Door
It’s important to consider the state of your garage door repair when thinking through your home security implements. If a door such as this is not secured, it may be that manipulating the raising chain or lever system can be easily overcome, and this may allow someone one more door’s worth of access to the interior of your property. Not only may you keep plenty of valuable items within your garage, not to mention your vehicle, it might be that the door leading from your inner home to your garage space has no lock at all, or a lock weak enough to forgo classification as ‘secure’.
For such a comparatively minor investment, securing your garage door is not only a worthwhile investment for security, but it can also help you remain more secure against pests, against detrimental weather conditions, and against a dishevelled home aesthetic. After all, positive side effects of home security should likely not be questioned too harshly.
Open Windows
It sounds patronizing to suggest, but even slightly ajar windows in a cubby or small room of your home can lead to a very real entrance for a trespasser to find. We may also think that a second floor story window is fine to leave slightly open to ventilate the house while we head for a meal out, but if the nights are dark in the winter and there’s a ladder in your back garden, well, these are the things that those with negative intentions know to look for.
It’s important not only to ensure that whenever you leave that your windows are locked, but also that your ventilation options have a secure lock feature to help you keep your window slightly ajar through a hot summer’s night, but are not able to be opened without incredible and loud effort on the part of someone trying to get in.
Additionally, doing your best to avoid being lax about this issue can be a great idea. In rural environments within a remote location we might feel ourselves safe, but the truth is that the lack of streetlights only means that the potential approach to your home is easier and will inspire confidence. Do not be that last step that allows a potential thief to gain access to your property.
Bad Lighting
Bad lighting can often allow for what we have just discussed – a sense of isolation and warm acceptance of anyone who wishes to mask their approach. This might sound like something out of a Tom Clancy novel, but there’s no mistaking the fact that criminals prefer to work in the dark. Do not give them that option around your property. Motion sensitive floodlights that may also trigger motion-sensitive cameras can be worthwhile after a certain time of night, perhaps in the alley next to your home, angled to cover your driveway and certainly in your back garden. Replace faulty bulbs and reposition bad lighting to the extent that you can. You will understand why this is so important moments after you enact those potential solutions.
Animals
So far we have used the example of a thief trying to get access to your home, and this is because this is usually the image we have when we think of our homes being targeted. While it’s possible and should be planned for, we know that the likelihood of a truly harmful criminal (even more so than robbery) is not something we will be unlucky enough to come across. That being said, these are hardly the only two threats.
In fact, in residential, rural and urban environments alike, animals can be quite aggressive too. You may have a coop of chickens in your back garden that an aggressive nighttime fox may see as an opportunity, or a stray dog wandering onto your property can be a real risk for your children playing outside. It’s essential to consider how animals may enter your property, no matter how much an open plan exterior is to you. A little border fence, a front gate, or even taller privacy fencing can all be options utilize here to help you prevent unnatural access to your property, and if that’s not something you prefer then thick hedges might do the trick. It’s essential that you care for this hidden set of threats, because it’s better to be prepared than caught unaware.
Rooftop/Balcony Access
Could someone gain access to your property through unconventional means? Could they scale a wall and land on a balcony that hosts a relatively unsecure door? What about your neighbors, could they potentially enter your property from a direction you may not be too aware of, such as a mutually connecting building? Is when you care for all potential entrances of your home that you are absolutely sure no one could gain entry without your express permission given first.
With this advice, we hope your home can be the most secure it will ever be.
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