Whether you live in a seemingly safe neighborhood, or the area you live in has witnessed its fair share of crime, there are some serious precautions you need to take to protect your home and other belongings from threats. Unfortunately, locking your doors and windows at night does not provide as much security as before. If you do not have any safeguards in place, then it is time to rethink your home safety and change some things around. The following list of tips will help you rest easier knowing your home is protected whether you are at home or away.

1. Install a Security System

The first and most sensible thing to do if you want to guarantee your home's protection is to install a security system. A good security system will ensure that both you and authorities are alerted if the alarm is triggered. Security systems range from simple alarms that give you a heads-up that something is wrong by blaring out a siren to deter criminals, to more advanced systems that not only send notifications to you updating you about home security but also immediately contact the authorities for help to ensure your safety. Installing a security system can be costly, so it is important to do your research before committing to the right kind of system for your peace of mind.

2. Apply for Home Insurance

Home insurance is a service provided by many insurance companies to help people rebuild after disasters. Whether you face a natural disaster, fire, or a burglary that ruined your home in some way, your insurance company can compensate you for different costs. Another great service is a home warranty, which is quite similar to home insurance, but also includes belongings such as appliances in their coverage. Just like any insurance package, home warranty costs differ depending on the kind of service being provided. Choosing the right package will give you a chance to replace any belongings that are broken or stolen from your home without having to pay out of pocket.

3. Check Your Locks

As mentioned above, a security system can be costly, and sometimes paying for home insurance can be out of your budget. In such cases, it is important to constantly check your locks. If you have old locks in place, then you need to replace them with an upgraded version as soon as possible. You should have more than one lock in place for added security. Often people also include a deadbolt so even if the locks are picked, there is added protection in place to slow down anyone trying to break in.

4. Add Security Cameras

Security cameras not only stop people from breaking in, but they also capture everything to ensure that any suspicious activity is recorded. Burglars usually case a place before they decide to go in. Having security cameras in different places outside your home is going to result in clear video evidence for you to figure out who the thief is and have the authorities deal with them quickly and without hassle. Security cameras can have memory cards that save videos, and you can access them later, or you can get a system that gives you a live feed and connects to your computer directly.

5. Install Outdoor Lights

Anyone knows that most crime occurs under the cover of darkness. You can protect your home by installing outdoor lights. This will make anyone trying to break in reconsider their plans. Simply lighting up your yard gives you a sense of safety because you will be able to see everything happening in your yard, and it eliminates a lot of hiding places since any unscrupulous person will be seen from a distance.

6. Trim Nearby Trees and Bushes

Speaking of hiding places, trees and bushes make for the best hiding spots for someone casing your home or planning to break in. If you have a large tree that is near a window or bushes that lead up to your backdoor, then it is time to do a little trimming. You do not have to get rid of the entire tree, but pruning off branches that can provide access to someone trying to get in is crucial to maintaining your home’s safety.

Using these tips, you can rest assured that your home will be completely safe from any kind of suspicious activity. Most of these tips are quite simple and do not even require professional help, so you can implement them right away. Now you can go to bed without having to constantly worry about your locks not being enough protection for your home.