Do you ever think about how easy your home would be to break in to? It’s good to remember that thieves are opportunists and will look for the easiest target. How, then, can you make your home less appealing to an intruder? Here are a few simple ways to do so:
Cut back trees and shrubs that are hiding entry points on your property. A burglar will want to break into your home without being noticed by neighbors or passersby and an excess of foliage covering the areas of your doors and windows will provide an ideal shelter. Fencing is another area to consider. Although it does a good job of deterring a would-be intruder, some styles of fencing also make it a good place to hide from view.
Lighting is a very good way to discourage a burglar. If you go away overnight, make sure you leave a few lights on in the home to give the impression that someone is inside. Motion sensor lighting, when fitted to each side of the exterior of your home, will also prevent someone from being able to approach the house without being noticed.
What is the condition of your home’s windows and exterior doors? If they are showing signs of rot, warping, or other types of deterioration, they will become easier to break into so, try to keep them as well maintained as possible. Another security measure you can take is to add window bars or heavy-duty wire screens to your ground-level windows which will make them very hard to break into. Just make sure, though, that these do not prevent the ability to exit the windows in case there is an emergency inside the home.
Make it as hard as possible for a thief to break into your home. If you would like to make sure your home is a secure one, why not have it inspected? Your home inspector can provide you with suggestions and advise you on areas that need improvement.