You’ve been looking for the perfect home for ages, and then, out of the blue, you finally find it. You make your offer and nervously wait for some feedback. Your offer has been accepted! Still, you do not want to jinx it. There is paperwork to be done and assessments to be made. Yes, you were prepared, performed the inspection carefully, made a sizeable down payment, and your credit score is squeaky clean. You did everything humanly possible, but still. Then, one day, you have the keys handed to you and confirmation that the dream house has officially become your home. You move all your things in, redecorate, and enjoy your new life, as you should! Then, one day, when you are coming back from a short trip or late night out, you notice something is wrong. The front door is ajar, and the dreaded realization that your house has been broken into creeps up your spine. Security is one thing we often overlook as we think it won’t happen to us. Below is the common sense guide to home security, so such a scenario really won’t happen to you!

To Understand the Burglar, One Must First Think Like One

Yes, I may have lifted the somewhat clichéd heading from any number of films out there, but it is a good starting point. Whether it is pre-planned or just a random act, the burglar will choose the house that looks like an easy target. A study was done where nearly 400 convicts were interviewed. Most said that whether or not a place had a security system was one of their primary criteria for choosing a target. Furthermore, if your home has visibly bad locks, it attracts the wrong kind of attention. Rusty locks are easy to break. Doors or windows that do not close properly are easily noticeable. You may have planned and prepared meticulously for the move, but don’t forget about security issues. Your home needs to look secure to be secure.

Walls and Hedges

It sounds basic, but it works. A tall wall or hedge is a natural deterrent. The more complicated the job is, the less attractive it is. Time, noise, effort – all of this is taken into account. A burglar wants to be in and out without attracting attention to themselves.

Furthermore, this denies easy surveillance of your home. They don’t know what lurks behind those bricks or branches. Maybe you have a modern security system in place. Perhaps you have a pet dog that doesn’t take too kindly to strangers walking around the yard in the dead of night. Not knowing what awaits is as strong as a repellent can get.

Bad Habits

In our everyday routines, we may be taking steps to make our homes attractive prospects for burglars. Here is a quick overview of what to look out for:

• Spare keys- Placed under the mat or, ingeniously, under a fake rock is very convenient. All the burglar needs to do is walk over confidently to your home, find the key and enter. Nobody would probably even bat an eyelid. Instead, get a key safe and a camera that will monitor if a burglar tries to smash the box open.
• Lights, Camera, No Action- Utilizing a few tricks with lights, you can achieve a lot. Exterior lights are something criminals are not overly fond of. If you can set internal lights on a timer to switch on and off, it will give the impression that someone is always at home. If you keep them on the whole time, the jig is up. By placing cameras, they will know the house is being monitored. Therefore, you lower the chances of burglars taking action against your home by using lights and cameras.
• Security system- Never leave it unarmed. Never. Even if you are leaving home for a few minutes. Never. Enough said.
• Social media- We like to post what we eat, what we wear, where we plan to go on vacation, and when. Quite a juicy piece of info you are handing over to potential burglars, now, isn’t it?
• Lock everything – So simple, yet it happens all the time. Yes, the front door is almost always locked. What about the back door? All the windows? Please don’t make it easy for burglars.

Shed and Garage

A lot of thought goes into the house. This is where we spend most of our time. It needs to be secure. But what about the shed and garage? We keep many tools and things in storage there, but the locks are not up to scratch. They might seem like secondary targets, but they are easy pickings for thieves. Upgrade the security in these areas too. Inspect the walls as well. This is especially important for new homeowners, as these places get overlooked. Notice any rust? Have that taken care of. The walls of the shed seem a little paper-thin? Think about upgrading them to concrete. It may seem like a lot of work, but it will help cover any chinks in your home’s armor.

A Secure Move

Now that you have made your new home as safe as possible, you can bring in your belongings. It’s time to ensure an equally secure move for your stuff, as moving your possessions to your new home can be tricky. Usually, you will need to employ the services of professional movers. But before you do, research moving companies well to avoid scammers and prevent your new home from dangers.

Once you have found a reliable company, think about what moving services you will be asking for? You need to look at what belongings you will be moving, if you need help with packing, or if you need to use storage. Once you have a good idea about what assistance you need, you can call them up. Furthermore, since you are on the phone, talk to them about your situation, and they will be able to give you sound advice. So, once you have all the needed info about what services are on offer and about your needs, select those suitable for you and rest easy knowing the pros will handle your relocation.

Happy House Warming…For You, Not the Thief!

With this, the ultimate guide to home security, you can enjoy your new home, knowing you, your loved ones, and your belongings are safe! All you need to do is add that one extra step. Once you get the keys to the house, make sure you take all the necessary precautions to make your picture-perfect home a burglar deterring haven for you and all the other household members. For any other concerns you may have, you know who to contact at any time!