Easy Tips To Keep Your Home Secure In One Weekend

Karin Carr, REALTOR®
Published on September 14, 2020

When moving into a new home, securing it is typically on the “to-do” list. After you’ve lived in a home for a length of time, however, security becomes an afterthought, which puts yourself and your family in danger.

FBI data claims that “In 2018, there were an estimated 1,230,149 burglaries.” Nearly 60% of these were classified as “forceable entry” burglaries.

We don’t want you to be among the victims, so let’s get started on at least the basic tips to keep your home secure against intruders.

When moving into a new house, one of the items on the “to-do” list is usually to secure the house. However, after a certain amount of time living in a home, security tends to become an afterthought, which puts you and your family in jeopardy.

According to data compiled by the FBI, “In 2018, there was an estimated total of 1,230,149 burglaries.” Almost sixty percent of these were defined as burglaries that involved “forcible entrance.”

Because we don’t want you to be one of the victims, let’s get started on at least the fundamental pointers to keep your home secure against trespassers right away.

Start with the doors

It’s easy to overlook the unsecured window or other access points when you go about daily life. So, take a tour of the entire home, with an eye toward security.

Examine all doors that lead to the exterior of the home first. They should have deadbolt locks, yes. But, if the home is old, the door may be feeble and easy to knock in. You may need to replace the door with something sturdier.

Security experts recommend metal or solid wood doors. They also suggest that you place the hinges on the interior of the home. Finally, don’t forget the deadbolt lock with a minimum 1-inch bolt length.

You might also consider adding an additional lock. “You should have a minimum of two locks at main entryways,” cautions Manasa Reddigari at BobVila.com.

Many Americans have sliding glass doors to the backyard and these, experts claim, are the ones burglars like the best. Why?

“Sliding glass doors use latches, not locks,” according to Bobby McAfee with Crime Prevention Security Systems. “Even inexperienced burglars can quickly overcome most factory-installed latches,” he continues. Or they might simply lift the door off its track and out of the way, which usually doesn’t even require tools.”

Easy Tips To Keep Your Home Secure In One Weekend

There are a number of options a homeowner can use to secure these doors:

  • Install a security pin (sold on Amazon.com and at large home improvement stores)
  • Install shatterproof film – while it won’t keep a window from breaking, it will slow the process
  • Install a home security system with glass-break sensors

While you’re assessing the doors to the exterior of the home, take a look at what’s outside the doors. Is the area well-lit? Are there shrubs or trees that can hide a burglar who is trying to break into your home?

Clear away any overgrowth and use a porch light with a strong bulb.

Secure the home’s windows

Repeat the process of going through the house, but this time pay careful attention to the windows, particularly those that are reachable from the ground floor.

First, make sure that the locks on each window are engaged, and then check to see if the locks are truly protecting the window from being opened.

Consider placing low-cost window alarms on the ground-floor windows of your home for an additional layer of protection. They are available for purchase on the internet at retailers such as Amazon.com, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.

We really hope that you would take the time to look around your house and figure out ways to make it more secure.

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