Sometimes the best ways to protect your home are the easiest. Learn how without investing a lot of time or money.
IAMZHEM/GETTY IMAGES
Never Open Your Door to Strangers
When someone comes to your door, do you promptly open it, assuming it’s a neighbor or delivery person? if so, stop right now. Those with bad intentions can easily knock you aside and gain entry to your home.
Your best bet to protect your home is adding a video doorbell camera. These easy-to-install devices let you see and talk to whoever’s at your door through an app on your phone. You don’t have to open the door.
A bonus: You can talk to visitors whether you’re home or not. And the camera can catch package thieves, too. Here’s our list of the top video doorbell cameras to help you choose the right one for you.
WILLOWPIX/GETTY IMAGES
Hire a Home Sitter When You’re Away
Most people know you should halt your mail service and put lights on a timer when you’re away from home for long periods. Well, most thieves know those tricks, too.
Here’s a better way to deter potential break-ins: Hire a home sitter to make your place look lived in by shoveling snow, cutting the grass and bringing in packages. Plus, the sitter can water your plants and feed the fish. Just make sure you hire someone from a trusted agency or a well-known friend or relative.ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT
WITTHAYA PRASONGSIN/GETTY IMAGES
Trim Your Bushes and Plant Smart
Your landscaping can make your home safer. Overgrown bushes give thieves an ideal place to hide. Keep them trimmed to give those with ill intentions less coverage. Even better, plant spiky bushes and plants like cacti, yucca and roses underneath windows to deter thieves.
PERRY MASTROVITO/GETTY IMAGES
Light Up the Night
How many times have you forgotten to turn on the porch light before you left the house? Darkness is a thief’s best friend because it gives them cover to shimmy through windows undetected.
Protect your home at night by installing motion-sensor lights on each side. Many use batteries or solar power so they don’t need to be hard-wired. Here’s our list of the best motion lights on the market.
HELIN LOIK-TOMSON/GETTY IMAGES
Keep Your Door Locked … The Smart Way
Okay, you know to lock your doors, but chances are someone in your family constantly forgets. No problem. Invest in smart locks.
Smart locks can automatically lock the door behind these forgetful loved ones. You can even lock the door when you’re not home using an app. Here’s our list of the best smart locks for your home.
Visit FamilyHandyman.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from FamilyHandyman.com, © 2022 Home service Publications Inc. , Brandford, Alina 10/28/2022