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7 Home Security Tactics That Will Help You Feel Safe When You Live Alone
Living alone can be empowering, enabling you to build up your independence and fully control your personal life. However, it can also be scary when going to sleep at night and hearing too many odd noises around the house.
Your home isn’t always safe unless you take the proper steps to get added security. Even if you live somewhere that doesn’t experience much crime, you need to protect your home and all of the assets within. Not to mention, being the only person in the house can make you feel vulnerable to intruders and thieves. You can keep your home and belongings safe by utilizing these home security tactics.
Install a Security System
For starters, it’s important that you optimize your home security by purchasing an alarm system. Buying an alarm system takes a huge concern off the table since you’ll know you invested in the best security that the market currently has to offer. Home security alarms are outfitted with sensors that can let you know when someone has opened a door, shattered a window, tripped infrared motion detectors, and more. The kind of alarm you get will depend on what you feel is best for your home, and a security professional can help you kick around some ideas. They will give you a quote on the alarm installation, and you can expect to pay about $40 or $50 per month in alarm monitoring fees.
Reinforce Entryways
If you’re allowed to, change out your locks when you first move into a new place. If you live in an apartment, know who has access to your residence and when they’re allowed inside. New, higher security locks can provide more resistance when someone tries to get in and can alert you and your neighbors to the commotion.
Even if you can’t change out the lock, you can change out the screws that hold it and the strike plate in place. If the screws are short, the lock can easily be broken if a thief tries to kick it in. Choose longer screws—three or four inches—to replace the ineffective screws.
Brace Your Doorways
Patio doors have flimsy locks that are easy to break quietly. Invest in door jams that can be laid flat in the track or propped against your front door to keep intruders out. You can also find portable door locks you can bring with you to hotels and door jams that let out loud alarms when triggered.
In addition to door jams and portable door alarms, you can find security bars that reach from one side of the door to the other. Unless the would-be intruder is capable of breaking through the wall studs on either side of the door, no one is getting in.
Adopt a Dog
Dogs are natural deterrents for intruders who don’t want to risk being bitten or injured. You don’t have to adopt a dog that looks or acts mean to still reap the benefits. Dog barking and signs that a dog lives in your home will help keep intruders away. Dogs are excellent for passively protecting the home while being excellent companions.
There are many trainers who provide classes or even board your dog for several weeks in order to teach them guard dog duties. If this is something you are interested in, it can be a great added security precaution. However, this is a long-term commitment, so be sure that you are ready to be a good pet owner!
Arm Yourself
Consider buying a firearm if you need extra protection you can access right from your bedroom. Guns can provide protection when in a dire situation and dissuade intruders from coming closer. Weapons can even cause thieves to flee the residence immediately. Look up gun ownership laws in your state now to keep you safe when living alone. Licensed dealers, like Security Centers Inc, can advise you on training, ownership, guns, gun safes, and everything else you might need. Make sure you know how to use a gun and how to use it safely if this is your first time buying one.
Watch Your House When You’re Away
Today, there are several steps you can do to keep an eye on your home while you’re at work or on vacation. For one, you can invest in a digital doorbell that connects to an app and alerts your cell phone or computer whenever someone rings it. This lets you access the camera and take a peek at whoever rang. You can even communicate with them remotely by speaking into your phone. They’ll hear your voice just as if you were on the other side of the door. If you want to go more high-tech, there are IP cameras and high-end video surveillance that will let you view your entire property remotely, and have evidence if someone broke in or vandalized your home.
Know Your Neighbors
Being friendly with your neighbors and recognizing them by face can give you a safety net in case anything goes wrong. You’ll also be able to spot if any new faces are around the area to be worried about. In the best-case scenarios, developing friendly and trusting relationships with neighbors allows you to give someone an extra key in case you get locked out. On the other hand, knowing the residents in your neighborhood can help you know who not to trust. Not everyone lives in a 100% safe neighborhood, and it might be the case that there will be neighbors who you might want to avoid.
Get ahead of security problems by taking an active role in your home’s safety. One of the best ways to do this is by joining or creating a neighborhood watch organization. This way, you and your neighbors can watch each others’ backs and keep each others’ property safe. Make changes to your home when necessary, such as changing locks and keys, getting sturdier doors and windows, and buying a dog that can make intruders think twice.
Don’t be afraid to live alone because you don’t yet know how to properly protect yourself and your personal belongings. Outfit your home with secure, quality locks and have a backup plan to be better prepared in an emergency.
