Protecting Your Home -- Inside and Out!

You probably spent a great deal of time, energy and money to get your home perfect. Maybe you worked with a well-known interior designer to create a unique, cozy atmosphere; or perhaps you went to countless furniture stores across the state to find the right pieces for your space.

At the end of the day, you put your heart and soul into designing your home; and after all your hard work, the last thing you need is someone intruding on your space and taking your valuables. But unfortunately home burglaries are extremely common — regardless of who you are and where you live.

Even if nothing bad ever happens on your block or within your community, there is a first time for everything. Therefore, it is only smart to take the necessary precautions to protect your home.

1. Home insurance

A home burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. And during these invasions, the typical homeowner “loses nearly $2,000 in stolen goods or property damage.” A homeowner’s insurance policy is the best way to soften the blow from a home invasion. And if you do not own your property, look into renter’s insurance. Compare prices among different companies ensures the best premium. “The right home insurance coverage policy can provide you peace of mind as well as the money you need to repair or replace your home and/or belongings,” says Mills Insurance.

2. Security System

For less than $40 a month, you can have a monitored security system from one of many trusted security providers. A security system not only deters thieves and keeps your home safe, it also protects your family from other dangers, such as fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

3. Window Treatment

I am always amazed by the number of people who do not have blinds or drapes. You might feel that these home accessory pieces take away from your beautiful decor. However, it is easy for someone to peek into your house at night if you do not install blinds or drapes. Intruders can case your home and see what you have, which ultimately increases your risk of a home invasion. 

4. Motion sensor lights

Outdoor motion sensor lights not only add to your amazing landscaping, it is also a safety measure to protect your home from burglary. If an intruder steps foot on your property, motion sensor lights illuminate, potentially scaring away the intruder and alerting you to potential danger.

5. Prune your shrubs

Your focus might be on maintaining an impressive interior, but keeping a close eye on your exterior also keeps your property safe. Thieves look for any way to break into a home, and if bushes and shrubs are planted too close to a window, they might hide behind these as they work to pry open a window. Therefore, keep your shrubs pruned to eliminate potential hiding places.

6. Do not advertise new purchases.

Whether you buy a new flat screen television or new appliances, do not leave boxes at your curb. Use a box cutter to tear down boxes, and then take these to a public dump area. Leaving these boxes in plain sight makes you an easy target.

7. Solid wood or steel doors.

If your front and back doors are hollow, it will be much easier for an intruder to break down the door. Gradually switch out these doors for a solid wood or steel door.

8. Inside timer lights

If you are going away for more than a day, use inside timer lights to make it look as if someone is at home. You can set lights to turn on at a certain time in the early evening, and then off during the late night hours.

This is your home and it is your responsibility to protect it. Thieves are clever and they know an easy target when they see one. But if you take the necessary safety measures, you can keep your home, its contents and your family safe.