The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S. recorded at least 1,401,840 burglaries in 2017. The report further stated that the victims of burglary suffered about $3.4 billion in property-related losses. When you’re living alone, your home is at a high risk of theft.
Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to ensure that your home is secure. If you have just rented an apartment or you have brought a house, you need to identify any potential risks and take the necessary precautions.
If you feel unsafe living by yourself, don’t fret. Here are helpful home security tips that you can consider for your peace of mind.
Brighten Your Home
Darkness can make you feel unsafe. Often, crime happens in the dark as the perpetrators know that you’ll hardly identify them. As such, it is vital to make your home and surrounding brighter.
You can install energy-efficient bulbs around your garden and yard to ensure that your home remains bright at night.
More importantly, it would help to invest in lights that have sensors to alert you in case of any motion within your compound. You can further keep nightlights on in rooms you’re not using; a burglar won’t know if you’re sleeping or awake.
Get a Security Camera
Having a security camera can discourage an intruder.
Your security camera placement should be a well-thought aspect as it determines the effectiveness of the surveillance. You can have a camera that focuses on the front side of your home, while another one should be at the back.
A doorbell camera is also a great addition as it will make you see anyone approaching your door. These cameras have video evidence, which enables a homeowner to see activities as they happen.
Once you know who is at the door, you can see whether it’s safe to let the person in.
Be Smart About Your Home Keys
If you’re living by yourself, you might want to ensure that you’re the only person with the key to your house.
Likely, the previous owner of the home you have bought or the apartment you have rented has a copy of the key. Remaining with the same locks can jeopardize your home security.
It is prudent to change locks for your new home as soon as possible. For a rented place, this change might be impossible, but you can request the property owner to install security measures such as deadbolts.
Ensure that your extra key is with someone you trust.
Familiarize Yourself With the Local Authorities and Neighbors
Having strangers as neighbors can heighten the feeling of being unsafe.
You need to know your neighbors as they can be the quickest response in case you had an intruder in your home. Once you move in, it might be prudent to introduce yourself, which will also make your neighbors feel safe with you around.
It would also be great to know the local police officers. Soon after settling in your new home, you’re likely to see police on patrol. Familiarizing yourself will enhance your feeling of security.
Assess Your New Home for Safety Checks
It would be best if you had a security checklist before you move to your new apartment. Confirm that the door is metal or solid wood. Are the windows made with sturdy material?
Ensure that the walkways are well-lit. If you’re unsure of your safety, ask your landlord to address the issue of concern. Regardless of the aesthetic nature of a home, never compromise on security when living alone.
Invest in a Security System
You can get an affordable security system that’s easy to set up. With the latest technology, you can use your smartphone to act as a monitoring system for your home. The security system alerts you in case of any movement or attempted break-ins in your house.
The advanced security system can record the activities within your home, detect movement, and notify the authorities when you’re in trouble. Investing in a home security system is a small price to pay for increased protection of your valuable assets.
Avoid Posting Your Activities Online
Going on a dream vacation without announcing to your online family feels almost like a crime!
You might want to think twice before posting with all the fancy hashtags to inform the world that you’re finally going on a vacation. Giving clues that you won’t be in the house when you’re living by yourself increases the chances of a break-in.
With more than 3.8 billion social media users, you don’t know who will see your post.
Some burglars are your followers and might know where you live, especially if you post every detail of your life. If you need to notify anyone that you won’t be in town, it should be your close friends and family.
Have an Exit Strategy
It would be essential to plan for emergencies even when your home feels safe. One of the home security tips that you shouldn’t ignore is having an exit strategy. The exit allows you to leave your apartment if there’s an intruder as some can be violent.
An exit can be an emergency ladder or upstairs window that will allow you to get out safely. You don’t have to wait for a real scenario to identify these emergency exits. It would help if you strategized on the exit plan in advance.
Get a Dog
If you’re living by yourself, getting a dog is a double-win.
You’ll beat the loneliness and add an aspect of security in your home. While you may want to choose a cute furry friend, a rottweiler, giant schnauzers, or German shepherds are amongst the best dogs for home protection.
You Need to Consider Extra Home Security If You’re Living by Yourself
Being home alone can be scary. With the cases of break-ins reported in a day, it is understandable to feel insecure. Living by yourself requires you to consider more home security.
The security tips will help you feel safe; however, avoid renting or buying a house in a place that ranks highly in crime cases. Prevention should always be a priority.
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I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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