6 Home Security Tips to Keep Your Family Safer

An alarm system provides a fundamental layer of security for your home. But it’s not the only step you can take to prevent your home from being targeted by burglars.

Small actions, such as keeping an exterior light on, can go a long way to deterring bad guys, so that your home never becomes a target in the first place.

In this post, we look at several of these simple, yet important ways to keep your home secure, along with tips on choosing the right alarm system.

1) Use a video alarm verification system

This is the foundation for all the other home security tips listed below. Without an alarm system, burglars could enter your home at any hour and you may never know it until it’s too late. But what kind of system should you use?

The ALARM-i video alarm verification system uses cameras to verify what’s happening at your home when an alarm is triggered. This verification is critical, because it provides instant evidence to our monitoring station dispatchers. When verified visually, the police can be dispatched with priority response – up to 85% faster than non-verified response.

2) Close and lock all doors and windows

Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often burglaries and home intrusions occur because doors and windows were simply left open. Always securely close your home’s entry points and windows, especially at night or while you’re away. Additionally, all exterior doors should have deadbolts to withstand forced entry.

3) Keep your home well lit

Burglars are on the lookout for dark, vacant homes, with the hope that nobody is inside. So by simply making your home look occupied, you can help to deter the bad guys. Consider keeping on at least 1-2 exterior lights, such as the front and rear doors, or use motion sensors to trigger the lights when movement is detected. Interior lighting can also be used at night to create the appearance that people are inside and awake. If you’re going away, consider using timers or home-automation systems to turn on the lights while you’re gone.

4) Add security film to windows

Window security film can make glass much harder to break. So if you’re away and an intruder tries to force their way through a window or glass patio door, you’ll have an added layer of protection to prevent them from getting in.

5) Increase visibility of your home

Don’t hide your house with a dense forest of trees and shrubs. This is a win for burglars, because it allows them to enter your property undetected by you and your neighbors. Trim landscaping and remove other obstructions to increase visibility of your home and also help you see your property from inside.

6) Don’t leave a clear view of your valuables

While your yard should be visible, your interior should not. Close blinds and shades at night and when you’re away, so that burglars can’t see your valuable items. Similarly, be careful what you reveal when you put out your trash each week. If you’ve purchased a new TV, for example, break down the box so that your house doesn’t become an instant target.

Find out more about ALARM-i

Learn more about protecting your home with an ALARM-i residential video alarm verification system and other home security solutions. For more information, call 1-844-416-7587 or contact us online.