Oregon

How to Make a Home as Safe as Possible

Feeling safe when a person is in their home is vital. It can be all about the neighborhood one lives in, or it may rely on the types of security measures a person takes to make their home as safe as possible. However, since most people don’t live in a Mayberry type town where people can leave their doors unlocked and windows open at night, being secure in a home is usually a combination of a good neighborhood and good security measures. That’s why, whether a person is looking for top home security systems, or they want to implement their own security measures to make their home safe, there are some important considerations to make.

Practical Safety Measures

Being safe doesn’t always include spending top dollar for a state of the art security system. Sometimes it’s as simple as getting to know the neighbors a little better. Befriending a next door neighbor, or the neighbor across the street, is not only polite, it may be the cheapest way to protect a home. When neighbors look out for each other, suspect people loitering about around a home can be brought to the attention of local law enforcement. It may not be a foolproof way of preventing all break ins, but it can discourage potential theft if people notice watchful neighbors.

Knowing the Neighborhood and Surrounding Areas

For people looking to buy a new home, a good way to ensure a level of home safety is to carefully consider the neighborhood where a home is being purchased. Fortunately, with many online research tools available, anyone can do a search for a specific area to learn about overall crime statistics. They can also get a detailed breakdown of the various crimes that have taken place in the area.

This can be extremely helpful in determining just how safe a neighborhood is. This sort of information is good because, many times, a neighborhood may look peaceful, quiet and well kept. However, if the surrounding area deals with higher than average property crimes or violent crimes, the look of a neighborhood my belie the crime it experiences.

DIY Security Measures

There are instances where a person is living in a community that has seen a recent spike in breaks-in and other types of property crimes. This can be alarming and problematic. Conventional wisdom might dictate that a person should simply move to a safer community. However, as most people know, this is not practical and, in some cases, it’s simply not an option. In these situations, there’s a number of things a person can do to improve the security in and around their home.

Short of investing in a security system right off the bat, there are a few simply things that can be done. For example, if a home has been broken into, knowing where the thieves have broken into the home and fortifying those areas is a good start. Whether it was a back door, window or some other entrance, better quality locks, window bars or simply having outside lights around these areas can be helpful in discouraging would-be thieves.

Some people consider purchasing a weapon to protect themselves and their home. While this isn’t necessarily a bad idea, it may not be a good option for everyone. Safely storing a weapon when it isn’t being used is imperative. However, accessing that weapon on a moments notice can prove challenging. If someone is either breaking into a home, or has already entered the home, a person will have very little time to access their firearm. There are bio-activated safes that a person can use to access their gun quickly, but these are expensive, and this needs to be considered before buying a gun for protection.

A Dedicated Security System

Many people choose a security system. However, with so many options available, it may be difficult to choose which system is best suited for a person’s security needs and budget. Home security measures can include motion activated lights for the exterior of the home and motion sensors for the inside of the home as well. Windows can be outfitted with window bars, but what is even more effective are sensors on individual windows that sound when a locked window is forced open.

This won’t prevent the window from opening, but the alarm is usually enough to discourage a burglar from proceeding. Even HD cameras with night vision to monitor main entrances of the home or sections of the exterior of the home can be included. In addition, security providers can even monitor a home system 24 hours a day for things like break-ins or fire detection when a person is away from home.

A Turn Key System

The top home security systems come in packages to suit a homeowners budget. There are also great systems that can be pieced together. However, the best systems are those that can be added on to in the future. If the homeowners budget is limited, they may only be able to afford a scaled down version of a security system. If the homeowner wishes to add on more sensors, cameras or they wish to include remote activation and monitoring in the future, the best systems will allow them to do this without much hassle.

There are many ways to secure a home. In the end, even with do it yourself security measures, for many people, the best option is for a dedicated home security system. With so many options that offer comprehensive security at affordable prices, and with the option of expanding the system as needed down the road, anyone looking to make their home more secure can do so with a dedicated security system.