Seven New Year’s Resolutions to Improve the Security of Your Home
With a New Year just around the corner, people all across the globe are setting their New Year’s resolutions for the year ahead. The most popular resolutions often include losing weight, eating healthier, taking up a new hobby or changing career paths – but one thing we forget about is our home.
Your home’s security is extremely important and it should be a top priority. As a homeowner, it can often feel like your to-do list is endless, especially with the festive season fast approaching. However, it’s important to set time aside to keep on top of your home’s security and make sure you, your family and possessions are as safe as possible.
To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of New Year’s resolutions to improve the security of your home.
Test your alarm systems and smoke detectors
The first thing you should do when heading into the New Year is take the time to test your alarm systems and smoke detectors. Many people forget to regularly check their alarms, but it’s absolutely crucial you do so in order to stay on top of security and make sure your alarms are in top working condition.
The effectiveness of your alarm system lies in your hands; getting into the routine of regularly checking your alarm system and setting an alarm whenever you leave your home will greatly improve your security and ensure your alarm is being utilised to the max.
Invest in new locks for the year ahead
The New Year is the perfect time for new locks. Over the years, many of us get spare keys cut for a number of various reasons, whether it’s to give a family member a spare key to your home while you’re away or because you’ve lost your own key. When you lose a key, you can never be sure who has picked it up and it can be difficult to know exactly how many are in circulation.
Make it your mission to upgrade your locks this year. If you can’t remember the last time you installed a new lock or it’s something you’ve been meaning to do for a while, now is the perfect time. Over the years, door locks have significantly advanced and improved to heighten security and keep your home safe. If you’re currently using an outdated or old lock, it’s time for an upgrade.
Install a CCTV system
Many years ago, CCTV systems were seen as a luxury security addition suitable for large properties that covered a lot of ground. However, today, CCTV systems are vital security components for properties of all sizes. Whether you live in a small ground floor bungalow or a three story house, a CCTV system can be extremely beneficial and help you boost your home’s security.
Not only is a CCTV an effective deterrent for burglars and intruders, but it also ensures you have footage recorded should anything happen. Today, high-tech CCTV systems can detect motion and record audio – and you can even link it up to your smartphone so you can monitor your home at all times, even when you’re out of the house.
Be careful what you show on social media
We live in a time when everyone puts everything on social media. Whether you’re a big fan of using social media or you log on every now and then to keep in touch with friends, it’s important you are mindful of exactly what you put out there. You never know how far a picture can go or how many people it can reach, so it’s important you only put things out there that you’re happy for the world to see. According to research, bragging about expensive belongings or holidays online could greatly increase your risk of being robbed.
Avoid putting pictures of expensive new items in your home online. This only alerts people to the fact you have expensive items and it can make you more of a target. If you’re heading off on holiday, refrain from telling your friends via a Facebook status. Stating that you’re going to be out of your house for two weeks only lets people know that you’re not there, but your expensive items are!
Stay mindful when disposing of Christmas packaging
The holiday season is a time for giving and exchanging presents. Once the festive fun is over, it’s crucial you are careful when disposing of present packaging. Whether you treated your child to the latest games console, bought an expensive new coffee machine for your partner or bought the family a big new television, stay mindful when getting rid of the boxes and packaging.
A great big television box or the packaging of the latest games console only advertises your recent big purchases to people passing by. Should the wrong person pass and notice you have a house equipped with expensive gadgets, you could be in trouble. As you enter the New Year and clear out after Christmas, be careful with your post-Christmas packaging.
Light up your home
Make sure the year ahead looks bright and safe by ensuring all entryways to your home are properly lit. Lighting is an extremely effective way to deter burglars from your property; they don’t want to be seen and security lighting only highlights their presence. To keep your energy bills low and prevent any annoying light from shining in through windows while you’re sleeping, we recommend investing in motion-sensored lights.
Motion-sensored lights will switch on and illuminate the area should they detect any movement. Not only is this effective for detecting any intruders near your home, but it can be a huge helping hand when you’re rummaging through your bag trying to find your keys at night too!
Get into good security habits
Finally, one of the most important New Year’s resolutions you can make for yourself, your family and your home is to get into good security habits. Improving your security habits doesn’t cost a penny, but it can save you a whole lot of hassle and money. The New Year is the perfect time to change your habits and get into new routines.
Make sure keys and any valuables are kept out of sight of windows, avoid hiding a spare key in obvious places (or avoid hiding one at all if possible), double check all windows are closed and locked before you leave the house and make sure your home security system is set whenever you leave home. If you have children, it’s a good idea to get them involved too – having a chat about the importance of locking doors, keeping hold of keys and not flaunting expensive items on social media can make all the difference to the security of your property.
Keep your property safe with Campbell & McGovern
At Campbell & McGovern, we provide extensive security and locksmith services in Liverpool, serving customers in Bootle and beyond. Whether you’re in need of long-term security solutions to improve the security of your property or you’ve lost your keys and you need a reliable locksmith, look no further than us.
We’re proud to be experts when it comes to keeping properties safe. Whether you’re looking for an extensive security system for your property or you need anti-snap locks for your home in Liverpool, our dedicated team has got you covered. To learn more about us, visit our website.
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