How To Improve Your Home's Security

When you head to bed at night, I’m willing to bet that you do the ‘pre-bedtime lock up’:  You check to make sure your doors are locked, the alarm is set, and everyone is the house and accounted for.   We all have an evening routine we tend to follow, one that takes our home's security into consideration.

How To Improve Your Home's Security

It’s the norm to have security systems of one sort or another in place. It's safe to say that your home and family are invaluable to you, and you'd spare no expense to protect them.  If you've ever suffered a break in, then you know that the scars that are left behind are just not worth the risk, and home security should be a top priority when it comes to part of your home's budget. With all that in mind, here are some of the things that you can do to tighten up the security around your home.

Your Doors

Your Property

Without a doubt, you lock your doors.  But just how secure are your locks?  If you have older doors and locks, you might want to consider upgrading your locks.  If you want to stick with the OG cylinder lock & key system, we recommend the Kwikset 980 Single Cylinder Deadbolt.  This set features "SmartKey Security™", which protects against advanced break-in techniques and allows you to re-key your lock yourself in seconds.  It has a deadbolt that is operation by key on the outside, and thumb turn inside and comes in over 10 different finishes.

If you are ready to take your door locks into the new millennium, the ​Nest x Yale Lock with Google Nest Connect is where it's at.   This lock set features a keyless deadbolt and a secure tamper-proof design that can not be picked, and the remote access allows for unique passcodes that can be individually used by family members and friends.  This lock syncs with Google Nest so you can control it from your phone.

Your property's perimeter is an all access pass to your property.  A simple "no trespassing" sign isn't going to deter  a determined burglar.  To keep your property secure, consult with a fence installation expert to see what you can do to protect your property from unwanted access.  Additionally, a fence will not only keep your property secure, but your family as well.  You can feel confident allowing kids and pets to play in the yard without worrying about them easily leaving the property.

An attractive fence will also add to your property's curb appeal.  And a tall wood or vinyl fence in the backyard will help keep nosy neighbors (and unwanted critters) at bay, too!

Your Security System

Your Neighborhood

In this day in age, every homeowner should have some sort of security system on their property.  Whether it's a security camera, motion detector or audible alarm, a security system is a must.  Look for an all-inclusive system that includes motion detection and door and window sensors and will allow you to integrate with your home assistant, like Google Home or Amazon Echo.

Does your neighborhood have a neighborhood watch program?  If not, consider starting one.  Reach out to your neighbors and see if they are interested in forming a neighborhood watch group, then call your local police department to schedule a meeting.  You can discuss any security concerns with the police, and devise a plan of action.  National Neighborhood Watch is a great resource for learning more on how to start your own neighborhood watch.