Securing your home involves a multi-layered approach: fortifying entry points, upgrading to smart technology, and practicing smart daily habits. These core strategies will create a comprehensive defense to keep your property and family safe.
Securing your home involves building a layered defense, starting with reinforcing your physical doors and windows. Supplement this by installing motion-sensor lighting, keeping shrubbery trimmed to eliminate hiding spots, upgrading to smart or monitored security systems with cameras, and always locking up to prevent easy access.
To burglar-proof your home, focus on deterrence, delaying entry, and early detection. Use solid-core or metal doors with 3-inch deadbolt screws, secure windows with security film or wooden dowels, install motion sensor lights, and set up smart cameras like a Ring Video Doorbell to monitor entry points.
Here are a few tips on how to make your home more secure:
To secure your home throughout the year, consider installing the following:
A good place to hide valuables could be the entrance area, for example, as it is often overlooked. An unused fireplace can also be used as a hiding place: simply remove the cover, place valuables inside and then close it again. It is unlikely that a thief will look there.
Deep clean – While most contracts require the house to be broom swept, hiring a deep cleaning service is an appreciated courtesy for new homeowners. A deep cleaning service will clean the areas of your home you may have overlooked and is also one last task you must complete.
Burglars hate anything that makes a break-in noisy, time-consuming, or highly visible. Criminals look for the path of least resistance; if a target requires too much effort or poses a high risk of getting caught, they will simply move on to an easier home.
Putting your house in a trust can protect your property from probate, but it carries notable drawbacks. Primary disadvantages include upfront costs ($1,000 to $3,000+), complex refinancing and mortgage procedures, and potential loss of control or inflexibility if an irrevocable trust is chosen.
Never hide money in easily accessible, predictable, or climate-variable locations. Common spots like under mattresses, inside dresser drawers, freezer bags, or toilet tanks are the first places burglars check. Furthermore, avoid electrical appliances, as hidden items pose a serious fire hazard.
The first place most burglars look is the master bedroom [2]. Many burglars then move on to a study, library, or office where electronics are located. Bathrooms are also popular, where the thief goes through your medicine cabinet. Various cabinets and drawers throughout the house.
Burglars often "case" or watch a home to learn your daily routines and check for security vulnerabilities before attempting a break-in. Watch out for these specific warning signs that your house is being monitored:
Home Security Cameras
Our best deterrent for burglars is the presence of an outdoor security camera. Having cameras mounted around your exterior home is a great way to prevent burglars from entering your home!
Avoid keeping your items in the prime spots like your master bedroom, bedroom closet, desk drawer in your study room, your jewelry box, or the cabinet in the hallway. These are the most common places where burglars search for these items.
Alarms. Consider an accredited burglar alarm system with audible alarm boxes mounted high at the front and rear of your home. Two visible audible alarm boxes are better than one. Mount them at the front and rear of your home, high up to resist tampering.
Sadly, and surprisingly, the answer is yes. Scams are becoming all too common and range from phishing and hacking to false billing and identity theft.
Once your home is in the trust, it's no longer considered part of your personal assets, thereby protecting it from being used to pay for nursing home care. However, this must be done in compliance with Medicaid's look-back period, typically 5 years before applying for Medicaid benefits.
If you die within 7 years of making a transfer into a trust your estate will have to pay Inheritance Tax at the full amount of 40%. This is instead of the reduced amount of 20% which is payable when the payment is made during your lifetime.
For most families, the best way to leave a house to your children is through a Revocable Living Trust. It allows you to maintain full control of your property while you are alive, completely avoids expensive and public court-supervised probate, and provides major tax advantages.
Finding ways to make it look like you're at home even when you're not is a great way to deter burglars. But it's also important to try to change up your routine every so often for the times you are home. Though burglars don't always stake out homes before they choose to break in, it does happen.
Perfume and fragrance: costly products that are relatively easy to steal. Small electrical goods and accessories: electric toothbrushes, smart speakers, iPads, headphones, shavers, data sticks. Smartphones are slightly less likely to be stolen because of robust security devices.
Nighttime Burglaries
Around 21.8% of burglaries happen at night, between midnight and 4 a.m. Some reports say the numbers are closer to 53% during the day and 47% at night, showing that while burglars prefer daytime, the danger is there all the time.
Homebuyers: Look for Signs of Poor Maintenance
Bringing good luck to a new home involves traditional housewarming gifts, ritual crossings, and symbolic decor. Universal practices include entering with a new broom to sweep away negative energy, and stocking the kitchen with bread and salt to ensure the home is always filled with prosperity, abundance, and long-lasting relationships.