5 ways to make your home safer

For most people, their home is their biggest asset, so taking care of it and your belongings has to be a priority. You have, most likely, spent a lot of money decorating, buying furniture, and maintaining your home over the years, so you should do everything you can to make it as safe as it can be.

Here are 5 ways to make your home safer.

Doors and windows

When you leave the house, it’s important to make sure your doors are locked. If you are only going out for a short time, it might be tempting not to bother, but that’s a decision you could very quickly regret. It takes minutes for someone to enter your home and steal or damage your belongings. Leaving a door unlocked may also invalidate any home insurance that you have and render you unable to claim for anything that has been affected. Similarly, you should close and lock your windows – particularly those on the ground floor which are easily accessed.

Home alarm systems

A home alarm is an excellent deterrent to unwanted visitors in your property. Motion detectors are fitted around your home and, once the alarm is switched on, they will detect any movement and, when triggered, sound the alarm. Whilst an alarm will provide a warning to anyone trying to break in or cause damage to your property, that’s as far as it goes. If you prefer to know that any such activity will be acted upon, then additional security measures, such as alarm monitoring systems from Vivint, may be the perfect solution. They provide 24/7 protection giving you peace of mind that your home and your family are safe.

Get to know your neighbors

Having a good relationship with your neighbors can provide many benefits. If you and those around you are on good terms, they will be far more likely to act upon or report any suspicious behavior. If you are going on holiday, having a neighbor pop by every few days to check on things will not only give you peace of mind but will deter anyone who might be watching the movements around you home. Many communities take part in Neighborhood Watch schemes and erect signage in their local areas to let people know that it’s being monitored. Its widely used as a preventative measure and has been known to substantially reduce crime levels.

Smart doorbell

A smart doorbell works like a normal bell but has video equipment built-in, which allows you to see who is visiting. Many smart doorbells come with audio facilities that allow a two-way conversation to take place. If you feel uneasy about answering to a stranger or think that someone is acting suspiciously, you can make them aware that they are being recorded, which should deter them from proceeding any further. Another great feature of a smart doorbell is that you can use the video and audio functions remotely so, even if you are at work, you can see and hear what is going on.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

You should never underestimate how important smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in your home. Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of your home to ensure that your whole property is protected. In the event of a fire or excessive smoke levels being present, they will release a high-pitched alarm. If you are unsure where to put them, contact your local fire brigade who should be able to help. Carbon monoxide detectors should be used when you are burning any type of liquid or solid fuel. If, for example, you have a gas boiler or an open fire that isn’t working as it should, a carbon monoxide detector could save your life.