When you take steps to protect your home from burglars, you can save yourself tons of money on your homeowners insurance premiums in many ways. But protecting your home doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money. Here’s how to burglar-proof your home without spending a dime.
When you hear the words “burglar-proof your home,” expensive, high-end home security devices come to mind. But what if having these devices is beyond your budget? Does that mean you have to leave your home vulnerable to unwanted intruders?
If you think the answer is yes, then it simply means that you are allowing them to take control of their lives. The truth is, there are other free and inexpensive tricks you can employ to protect your possessions and your life.
Here are some helpful tips on how you can keep your home safe that won’t cost you money.
Start from outside your house
Strategic landscaping is the key. Why? This is the first thing thieves see. Look around your garden. Does your landscape offer them a place to hide? Do the trees create shadows that could camouflage their presence? Let’s make it harder for thieves to get to your door by doing the following:
- Cut low limbs from large trees on your property
- Regularly trim bushes to prevent thieves from hiding behind them.
- Decorative trellises should be kept away from windows or porches. Burglars sometimes use them to climb into second story windows.
- Thorny bushes should be useful when planted under windows (first floor). Check if they are close enough to the house so that no one can get between the bush and your house.
- Trees next to exterior windows and doors should be removed. Thieves could hide in these places when you open the door.
- Never leave ladders and other garden tools outside your home. Thieves can use them to their advantage.
- If you’re not willing to spend on expensive solar motion and security lights, go to the nearest store and get the cheapest light you can afford. Find the brightest and largest light to install in the entrances and patio of your house. But never forget to turn them on, especially when you’re away.
- If you use solar-powered lights, they won’t add anything extra to your electric bill and will be within our guidelines at no cost.
Let’s go inside your home
- To burglar-proof your home, make sure all your windows are secured. Burglars love to use windows because they are easy to open. Here are some tips on how you can strengthen your home security:
- Use window locks. Make sure the keys are away from the window.
- Leave your keys with a trusted neighbor for use during an emergency. Don’t climb out your window just to get your part. You are giving thieves ideas on how to break into your home.
- Here are some more tips to protect your home from break-ins
- Don’t forget to close and lock all doors and windows when you’re away. This includes the doors and windows of your garage and basement.
- Don’t forget to cover your garage windows. You can use dark paper or curtains so burglars won’t know if you’re not home by looking out the window.
- Never leave notes on their doors. This is a sure indication that no one is inside.
- If you are going to be away for a long time, postpone all deliveries.
Start a neighborhood watch program
- It won’t cost you anything to get your neighbors together and agree to start a surveillance program. You can each volunteer to take on certain times when you will watch the houses on your street.
- You can even get neighbors to volunteer to walk around the neighborhood at certain times.
- Share with your neighbors the makes and models of your cars and those of your friends. That way, if cars of a different type remain in the neighborhood, everyone will know to be on the lookout.
Having a burglar-proof home shouldn’t be difficult to achieve. All you have to do is follow these tips. Good luck!