How To Secure and Protect Your Home

Home is where we unwind and spend time with our families. If you own a home in the United States, buying is likely the most significant transaction you will ever make in your life. If you rent and you have a security deposit with your landlord, you are still not likely to have any bigger monthly expenses than your place of residence.

And whether you rent or own, you deserve to feel safe in your home and apprise yourself of relevant laws regarding real estate; that includes consulting with a qualified real estate attorney. To better protect you, your loved ones, and your home, however, there are some steps that you will need to take yourself.

Make Sure You Have Insurance Coverage (Renters Too)

Even if you take every other step in this article, there are no guarantees. If you own a home, you will have to have homeowners’ insurance as a condition of getting a mortgage.

If you paid cash and won’t be worrying about foreclosure, there is no requirement that you have homeowners’ insurance, but after spending that much, you should still want to protect your investment.

Be on the lookout for any exclusions in policies that you are reviewing, and be aware of what that could mean if something happens, such as a flood.

There are coverage options for renters too. Many insurance companies offer renters’ insurance that will cover the loss of any of your property should your rental home or apartment be broken into or if a natural disaster strikes.

If your claim is denied, you still have the right to appeal and take legal action if necessary.

Physically Securing Your Home

In addition to insurance coverage that can secure your family financially should a break-in occur, there are several steps to take to make your home safer.

Secure Your Doors and Windows

The entry points into your home deserve the most attention. Every window must have a lock on it. If your home has glass doors or old windows with flimsy pin locks, consider replacing them with something more substantial, especially for any first-floor window or door. There are also smart locks and window sensors that allow you to keep windows partially open but still locked, so no one will be able to get through them.

Additionally, ensure every door has a strong deadbolt lock on it, whether it requires a key or a code. It would be best if you also secured all entryways and any devices used to open them, such as the garage door opener or the house keys. Remembering to lock your house at night and when you’re gone will go a long way in protecting your valuables.

Install Outdoor Lighting

It’s easier to hide in the dark. Installing lighting that illuminates your house and yard will make it a less inviting target. If you are worried about running up an electric bill, you can install motion-sensor lighting, which will only come on when movement is detected.

Hide Your Important Documents

Many of life’s most important documents can be time-consuming and expensive to replace. Keeping your most important documents in a safe deposit box when you do not need them will keep them out of the reach of thieves. These include:

• Birth certificates
• Social Security cards
• Passports
• Marriage license
• Tax documents
• Financial statements

Securing these documents will help protect your family from the ongoing financial harm that thieves can use these documents to inflict on you through identity theft. It will also make it easier to organize essential documents if you are ever in a position to divide the family home in the event of a separation.

Get To Know Your Neighbors

It truly does take a village. While you don’t have to participate in a neighborhood watch group if you don’t want to, getting to know the people around you will encourage you to keep an eye on each others’ homes.

Buy a Security System

There are tons of options out there for choosing a home security system, so there should be some options that fit within your budget. These include:

• Alarm systems, including burglar alarms and smoke alarms
• Doorbell, nanny cameras, and security cameras
• Mobile phone connectivity so you can check on your home when you’re away
• 24-hour customer service that will also contact authorities when a break-in occurs

For renters, you will want to talk with your landlord about installing a security system. Doing something yourself could cause problems with your lease.

Secure Your Internet Connection

It’s also important to remember that thieves don’t have to physically break into your house to get at your belongings. That means doing what you can to keep your internet-enabled devices secure.

It would help if you always secure your home network and periodically change your network password. Also, remember to choose complex passwords for all your online accounts, making it more difficult for people to guess. (Hint: “Password” isn’t a good password.)

Make a Plan With Your Family

If you live with anyone, whether family or roommates, you should take the time to talk together about the above steps. Simply ensuring someone is always in charge of locking doors and windows when you’re leaving the house will go a long way. If you have a security system, ensure everyone knows how it works.

Know Who To Ask for Help

If your children live at home with you, make sure you teach them about dialing 911 and speaking with the police if a break-in occurs. Also, there are companies out there that provide house counsel and can look at your home and help you understand where any potential vulnerabilities are.

Pay Attention

While this article covers a lot of ground, it isn’t intended to make you paranoid about the danger lurking behind every corner. However, break-ins do occur. That means keeping an eye out for unusual or suspicious behavior such as trespassing is essential.

If you are still uncertain or need legal advice, speaking to a real estate attorney is always a significant first step toward protecting your residence.