Is the neighborhood safe or crime-free? Were any renovations made and finalized before you officially moved in? Have you changed the locks already? These are the questions that new homeowners may possibly ask themselves upon moving into their new homes. 

 

Indeed, one of the main things you should consider when choosing a home is the sense of security and safety you feel whenever you’re in it. This is important because you’re not just simply going to spend a few nights in this new place. It’ll be your home for several years or probably until you finally retire from your work and settle into being a stay-at-home person. 

 

 

However, you might think that ensuring your home’s safety would mean additional spending enormous amounts of money. No, you won’t. Well, aside from spending on a home alarm and security system, as well as motion detector lighting, there are many cheap tricks and ideas you can add to achieve that peace of mind you’ve wanted since you moved in. Sometimes, you just need to be wise and leave all the worries behind! 

 

And, of course, we’ll help you with that! Without further ado, here’s a compilation of the different ways to make your home safer.

 

When you’re at home:

1. Immediately change all door locks

One of the first things you need to do upon arriving in a new home is to change all locks. Knowing that you’re the only one with access to your home can give you a great sense of security and safety. 

 

2. Put your door hinges inside

Home intruders don’t just simply resort to lockpicking anymore. Sometimes, they assess the situation and do the alternative instead. 

 

Have you noticed how door hinges are placed outside and can be seen by anyone who passes through your door? This is how doors are traditionally installed in your homes. However, this has been proven to be an unsafe measure. 

 

When the door hinges are outside, home intruders can just easily remove the hinge pins and gain access. By putting your door hinges inside, you’re limiting access to the home intruders into your home. 

 

2. Have security signs displayed at the front door

Unless you’re working on a secret mission that would entail hiding a security camera to see who’s sneaking in, it will help make your home safer if you display security signs at the front door. This will make the intruders think twice about whether they’ll rob your house. Well, how could they possibly go on with their mission if they see signs that your house has a functional alarm system and that possible intruders are monitored? 

 

3. Put fake alarm decals at your front door [alternative for number 2]

If you’re new to the area and just moved in, there is a possibility that you have not installed a home security and alarm system yet. So, if you’re worried that you may attract intruders into your home, you can use fake alarm decals to paste on your front door. That way, you can still attain a sense of security. 

 

However, keep in mind that this trick won’t last long. Some intruders are smart enough to assess your house fully and discover that there is no surveillance camera present. Resort to this measure for only a few days, and install your home security and alarm system immediately.

 

 

4. Don’t leave tools and ladders unattended

If you’re feeling secure and already comfortable in your area, you may leave your tools and ladders unattended with confidence that no one will take an interest in them. However, if you want to ensure that your home is always secured, you might have to reconsider doing this again.

 

Do know that tools such as hammer, saw, screwdrivers, axes, and ladder are potential weapons that intruders may use. Leaving them unattended may give other people the idea and equipment to break into your home. So, to avoid such things, ensure that tools are kept away in a secure area when not in use. 

 

5. Install a peephole in your door

Although this may seem a little traditional, this can still be of great help to achieve a sense of security in your home. Installing a peephole in your door can help you get a look at the person who knocked or rang your doorbell. Nothing is more reassuring than knowing that the person on the other side of your door is a delivery guy, right? 

 

When you’re away from home:

1. Don’t share your whereabouts.

When you’re on vacation, it’s very tempting to post a selfie or a social media update of the place you’re currently staying, right? Although usually considered harmless, posting pictures or sharing information about your whereabouts may do more harm than good when it comes to you and your home’s security. This is especially true when your home is already a target of intruders. 

 

Therefore, avoid posting on social media about your vacation or whereabouts, especially when you’ll be gone for several days. We believe that those cute selfies can wait until you go home. 

 

2. Cancel newspaper subscriptions and contact your post office to hold your mail and packages temporarily

As you know, piled-up mail and packages on your porch or front door might signal to other people that you’re not home. Therefore, to avoid unwanted attention from home intruders, cancel your newspaper subscriptions in the meantime. 

 

Also, contact your post office to hold your mail and packages temporarily. You may also ask a close neighbor or a family member to check and claim your packages for you regularly. That way, you can avoid getting deliveries while you’re away. 

 

3. Make it look like you’re always at home

When you go out, there is always a tendency for you to turn off the main switch so as to save energy. However, leaving your house completely blacked out for several days might gather unwarranted attention from intruders. 

 

One common way that people usually do to ensure home safety and security is to leave at least one light on. As common as it may seem, this trick is still effective. But if you’re having second thoughts about resorting to this, there are still ideas that you can follow, such as: leaving a car in the driveway and using timed lighting all over the house set at different times.

There you go! We hope these tips will help you get that sense of security and safety in your new home. Don’t worry about spending too much because most of these won’t cost you anything. 

 

Knowing that your house is always secure and safe is vital in attaining a good quality of life. Although it’s also important to always stay vigilant since you can’t still predict what goes in the minds of intruders, it’s still good to think that most days, you won’t have to stay up late at night constantly worrying about somebody breaking into your home while you’re asleep. You also won’t have to sacrifice enjoyment when you’re away because you know that, most probably, nothing will happen.