Your home is supposed to be your castle. Not only is your humble abode meant to serve as a relaxing haven from the outside world, it should also be a place in which you and your family feel completely secure. Although peace of mind is important to most homeowners, few of them take the steps needed to keep their residences safe from burglars, vandals and other unsavory characters.
Luckily, securing your home doesn’t have to be difficult or prove hazardous to your personal finances. If you’re looking to keep your residence safe without making a hole in your bank account, consider the following pointers.
Invest in a Reliable Home Security System
When many people think of home security systems, they picture invasive, exorbitantly expensive apparatuses that are difficult to install and even harder to maintain. While there was a time where many security systems fit this description, home security has improved by leaps and bounds over the last decade. These days, most security systems are minimal and can be maintained and monitored through smart phones and other mobile devices, thereby ensuring maximum convenience for homeowners. Knowing that your home is protected by a cutting-edge security system can provide both you and your family with tremendous peace of mind.
Protect Your Home Network
In the digital age, protecting your home network has become every bit as important as securing your actual residence. If cybercriminals are able to gain access to your home network, they may be able to infiltrate assorted internet-enabled devices and make off with a bevy of personal information.
In the quest to secure your home network, there are a number of steps you’ll need to take. For starters, make sure your network is password-protected. Additionally, be selective about who you share this password with, and instruct your family to follow your example. You’ll also need to invest in a dependable home network security system, which can often be purchased for under $200. With one of these, you’ll be able to protect every device connected to your home network and ensure that your household is able to surf the web in peace.
Don’t Share Vacation Plans Online
As any home security expert can attest, advertising when you’re going to be away is one of the most foolish decisions a homeowner can make. So if you’ve got a big vacation planned or are simply going to be out of town for a few days, be selective about whom you share this information with, and avoid posting it online at all costs. Announcing travel plans on social media and in other public forums telegraphs the fact that your residence is fair game for burglars.
Additionally, avoid sharing vacation photos during the actual trip. The temptation to share them immediately is understandable, but there will be plenty of time to show off your pictures once you get back. However, when doing so, make sure to emphasize that the vacation has already occurred and you’re currently back home. In the age of interconnectedness, many of us don’t think twice before sharing personal information, but for the sake of security, we could all stand to be a little more careful.
Even if you don’t announce to the world that you’re away from home, there are hints that seasoned burglars pick up on. For example, allowing newspapers and/or mail to pile up often serves as an indicator that no one’s around. Many burglars take notice of houses whose lights are off for extended periods. With this in mind, the next time you’re going to be out of town, arrange to have paper and mail delivery canceled or entrust a neighbor with the task of collecting your mail and newspapers. Furthermore, set various lights throughout your home on timers, so they turn themselves on and shut themselves off at regular intervals.
Safety and security should be among the foremost priorities of every homeowner. Having one’s residence vandalized or burglarized can be a deeply upsetting experience that causes people to feel unsafe in their own home. Fortunately, keeping disreputable characters at bay doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. A little bit of effort and ingenuity can go a long way in thwarting the plans of criminals and ensuring the long-term safety of your home.
