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Safety in the Home: Tips to Keep Your House Safe

January 25, 2023
Safety in the Home

Key takeaways:

  • Installing security systems or getting a guard dog can be helpful for keeping your home safe. 
  • Certain security systems will keep lights on while you’re out of the house to ward off lurkers. 
  • One of the best first steps is to install a secure, solid front door.

Securing a good insurance package for your home is always a good idea. However, that’s only the most basic thing for creating a good security architecture. There’s certainly a lot more you can do to achieve safety in the home for you, your kids, and anyone else living with you. 

Before you get to home decor or your interiors, you should think about how secure your home is. On top of being informed of the safest cities in Australia, here are the steps you can take at home.

Recommended Reading: What Makes a Suburb Safe?

1. Get good door security 

Burglars may sometimes still try to invade your home regardless of the security you’ve put in place. Whether you’re in the most dangerous city in Australia or the safest, you should take safety measures.

However, your job is to make it extremely difficult for any burglary attempt to succeed. One way to do this is to get proper security for the exterior doors.

Conduct a thorough inspection of all doors that lead to your house. Check to ensure the door frames are strong and in optimum condition. Also, check the hinges to see if they have protection and if the nails are long enough. You can also buy a garage door opener if you can afford one.

If you just moved into an apartment that someone else used to live in, it is crucial to change the door locks, including the house key. This action ensures that there isn’t a stranger with an extra key to your home. Ensure you buy the best door lock available on the market. Smart locks work well in these situations.

For sliding doors, include extra security like a simple door sensor. This way, you’ll get an alert if there’s any attempted break-in.

2. Re-enforce your windows

Though they may not be as large as doors, windows are still an inlet into your private space. If you aren’t the first person to use your house, ensure the previous occupant hasn’t unlocked them. 

If you aren’t completely satisfied with the latches on your window, increase security by adding some effective window locks. We recommend you go for top-range window locks on offer on the market. 

You can take things further by installing glass break sensors and window security film. You can also leverage nature by planting prickly bushes below the windows to restrict easy movement.

3. Install more lights in the garden, drive-throughs, and other dark spots

Burglars love dark areas. It is the only space in your home where they can operate undetected. So, ensure your home has proper lighting in important areas like the front drive, gardens, and backyard. Apart from deterring intruders, a well-lit home is safer and allows you and your visitors to navigate the house better. 

When it comes to lighting, we recommend a motion-activated lighting system. You can put it in the front or back of your home and other dark areas.

4. Install a working alarm system

If you want to immediately know if there’s a break in your home, setting up an alarm system is your best bet. Even in Sydney’s safest suburbs, many vigilant homeowners install home alarms.

You can set it up as soon as you leave the house, or before you go to bed; once anyone attempts to break in, the alarms go off.

You can always deactivate it in case of a false alarm since you’ll have access to the security codes. 

In addition, modern alarm systems come with software that alerts the local police department if the shutdown code isn’t entered after a while.

This type of alarm system also comes with phone applications that allow you to turn it off or on with your smartphone. You also get an interior floor track depending on the security company you are working with. This way, you’ll be protected whether you are at home or out.

Working alarm systems can also come in the form of a furry friend! Certain dogs can be great security systems like german shepards and dobermans.

5. Create a surveillance security system

Some people don’t like the idea of security cameras in their homes. However, this security system is critical, especially if you live in a risky neighbourhood or have valuables in your home.

With this camera footage, you can monitor activities around your home wherever and whenever you like. You can set up a surveillance section with screens showing you what’s happening outside and inside your home in real time. You can also do this on your smartphone if the surveillance system has an app.

Also, you can invest in a door security camera which allows you to see the person on the other side of the front door. That way, you can decide if it is someone you want in your home or not. 

However, you have to be careful with these doorbells. Since they are connected to the internet, they may be hacked or compromised. While companies are working extra hard to ensure this system has better fortification, you can take preventive methods.

Did you like learning about safety in the home?

Safety is the home shouldn’t be overlooked, even when you live in a secure neighbourhood. While you can install all of the doors and windows gadgets and the other home security systems we’ve discussed for safety, ensure you do your due diligence regarding your home’s location.

With that said, we recommend you still take every security step necessary to ensure that you secure the entrances and blind spots. The methods listed in this article cover most, if not all aspects of a good home security system.

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