Home security is talked about as if every property needs to resemble a fortified bunker, however in reality a reasonable combination of habits, lighting, secure entry points and a few structural changes that discourage casual offenders are normally best. The aims should not be to turn the property into a fortress but simply to reduce the evident weaknesses, without making the property unwelcoming and difficult to inhabit.
Start with the obvious entry points
Front door, side door, the garage and any accessible windows should be the first areas considered. While a good lock is of course helpful, they are only as effective as the door and frames surrounding them. Any compromised hinges, decaying timber and poor strike plates will diminish the effectiveness of even a highly secure lock.
Often windows are ignored particularly on the side or back of the house where they can be less observed from street level. Even small actions such as fitting window locks and trimming vegetation so that visibility is clear will still have an impact.
Use lighting to improve visibility
When trying to enhance the security of your home without drastically changing its daytime look, lighting an area outside the house is one of the most practical solutions. If motion sensor outdoor lighting at garage and side paths areas have light to diminish dark corners and other areas. Hardened but still soft illumination at door allows inhabitants to identify guests more efficiently. And definitely try not to illuminate the whole territory completely.
Think about layered window protection
Window security does not need to rely on a single solution. Curtains and blinds can improve privacy, security screens can add a physical barrier, and external shutters can provide another layer when the house is unoccupied or when residents want greater control over light and privacy.
When researching the different styles available, it is useful to look at real residential examples rather than treating shutters as purely commercial products. Companies such as Roller Shutter People show how modern systems can be integrated with ordinary Australian homes without making every window look industrial.
Make the property look occupied
An obviously lived in house would seem far less tempting to the opportunistic burglar. Utilize the use of timer switches on lights within your house as well as automatic lighting on the exterior together with a simple code on with a neighbour (and ensure that a trusted neighbor keeps an eye on your property on your behalf).
You want to minimize anything which indicates your absence- a filled letterbox, garbage bins outside for multiple days on the row, or parcels still remaining by your front entrance. These often seem like minor items, but reveal what someone is after more effectively than you may want to imagine!
Do not forget the garage and side access
Within the garage you have valuable goods like bikes, tools etc that are very easily resold but they may be secured less well than the house. Ensure garage doors within the house are locked. Take out controls out of reach and see if the side gate is easily opened from the outside.
On houses that have tight side passages a good secure gate and well planned outside lights make undetectable access to the garden quite difficult.
A balanced approach works best
There’s almost never a single (costly) home security gadget that guarantees a perfectly safe home. Instead, safety involves stacking defenses. Think more secure doors and windows, improved lighting, habits and physical obstacles wherever necessary. Many of the most effective security upgrades will naturally become part of the home’s regular routine; a security feature that’s clunky or ugly is far more apt to be overlooked.