If you are a homeowner or property owner then the chances are you are at risk from intruders. Every property will experience some risk from the threat of thieves or opportunist burglars. But how do you mitigate that risk? Here are some top tips on securing a home from intruders to help you.

What are the best tips for securing a home from intruders?

Open doors are always a risk

Does your home have security features in place to slow intruders down, or would you classify your home as an easy target for intruders? If you would like to change that narrative, securing your home should become your topmost priority.

How do you begin? Learn more by checking out our top seven home security tips below.

1. Lock up your house

Make sure that intruders cannot enter your home by picking your locks. Invest in quality door locks that will give intruders a hard time. Check reviews online and get a specialist lock pick tool set to test different locks before settling on the best one. It may sound strange to select or pick your own lock, but it can give you a sense of security to know that you’ve chosen the best locks for your home.

One of the factors that make your home an easy target for intruders is easy access to your house. Since many intruders prefer a hassle-free break-in, they will usually go for the doors and windows.

Ensuring you lock all your doors and windows whenever out on a short errand, at work, or on a long vacation is a critical safety measure. Intruders don’t discriminate and can strike within the shortest window of opportunity. Working closely with a locksmith for necessary lock and key configurations would be a great solution.

2. Safeguard your home valuables

Intruders can almost sniff valuable possessions in your house from a mile away. If you have full-length windows or glass doors, an intruder can easily sneak peek at your most prized goods.

Valuable items like laptops, jewelry, phones, and purses should be stored away in a safe somewhere. They present an overwhelming temptation to intruders.

Installing some of the best kitchen cabinets in your house might also come in handy when securing excessive utensils, cutlery, electronics, and foodstuff.

3. Consider motion sensor lights for your home

These security lights should be placed both inside and outside the house. The most ideal spots to plant them are the front and back doors of the house.

Essentially these lights detect movement, immediately spotlighting any intrusion attempts. When placed indoors, they restrict intruder movements and easily scare them off.

4. Take stock of your locks

Updating your locks is imperative especially when moving into a new home. Additionally, when you suspect your old locks might have been compromised, an upgrade is quickly warranted.

If the house has had previous occupants, an extra key could be floating around somewhere. And guess what? In the hands of a complete stranger. Now, that’s not very comforting, is it?

The best solution would be to upgrade to a new set of tamper-proof locks for all your home’s access points.

5. Secure your garage door

Leaving your door open not only exposes your valuables like bicycles and tools but also creates an extra access point into your home.

Beyond serving as an access point, an intruder can enter the garage to search for an appropriate tool to tamper with your lock, smash your window, or even climb through your upper windows.

Shutting your doors is fundamental for securing a home from intruders. Whenever undertaking outdoor activities like lawn mowing, always remember to shut this important door. Always!

Furthermore, if you happen to have another door linking your garage to the main house, constantly keeping it locked will help you seal another entry loophole.

6. Don’t expose your keys

If you have the habit of leaving your house or garage keys or openers inside the car parked in an open drive away, you are seriously inviting an intruder. Remember, what makes an intruder a pro is their ability to sniff out hidden treasures.

Be smart about how you hide your keys. Avoid the obvious spots like a flower vase, inside a car, or beneath a doormat or rock.

If you cannot afford a combination lockbox for your doors, you surely can afford to trust a neighbor or devise more creative ways to hide your extra keys.

7. Screen your house after workers leave

Whether you had invited over a plumbing technician, a cleaning service, or a person to mow your lawn, double-checking your access points after they leave is a critical security measure.

A crew member may have an ulterior motive of planning to invade your house later on. Since they have mastered all your entry points and how they are locked, they may have an advantage during the actual invasion.

8.  Find housesitters

If you are going away for the holidays and your home will be empty then you need to find housesitters.

Advantages of housesitters

Housesitters will stay in your home and will look after you property and pets. The most important factor is they will keep your property safe because it appears occupied. Empty properties are vulnerable especially in the holidays. What is more you can communicate with them on a regular basis while you are away to check on your property and pets!

Join a housesitting website to check online listings 

The reason online networks like HouseSitMatch.com exist is to facilitate matches between home and pet owners and checked sitters who can help you care for your pets and property when you can’t. These networks are easy to join. Simply register online, create a profile and then create an advert which describes your dates for the assignment. Detail routines for your pets and what is required. The network will then share your assignment advert with the registered sitters and then they apply.

Why is home safety important?

Home intruders account for 18.2% of the total property crimes. That’s not all. Home burglaries alone account for more than half of all the burglary cases reported in the US.

That essentially says you cannot continue in ignorance. Home safety is the backbone of your home’s existence and should be given critical thought.

And the good part is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. With these inexpensive expert tips for homeowners, you can confidently find the best ways for securing a home from intruders. And you might scare away any opportunist intruders in the process.

Further reading about home security, housesitting and housesitters

At Housesitmatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about security, housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.

Home security systems to consider

Modern home security for peace of mind

Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money

What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities

Top 10 tips for cat sitting

Top dog sitting tips for beginners