12 Tips to Keep Your Home and Valuables Safe

Imagine – you just used almost all your life savings to buy and furnish your dream house. You filled the house with top-of-the-line appliances, TVs, family heirlooms, furniture, and art, and then disaster strikes. Whether that disaster is the house being burglarized while you are on vacation or a hurricane barreling through your city, you want to make sure your home and valuables are protected. Of course, homeowner’s insurance is a type of protection that can help replace some of the lost or damaged valuables, but the goal is to prevent the initial disaster from wreaking havoc in the first place. After all, how can you ever replace a family heirloom?

So – Here are our top tips for protecting your home and valuables:

1. Install a security system: Research the top security firms in your area. Whether that’s Vivint, ADT, Frontpoint or a local security company, a security system with motion sensors and lights, intrusion protection, cameras, and alarms can deter burglars and alert you and authorities if someone tries to break in. Make sure that the security system not only alerts occupants in the home with noise, but also delivers push notifications to your cell phone as well as emergency responders, so everyone receives immediate updates!
2. Install and maintain smoke alarms: Early detection of fires in your home can prevent the whole house from burning down. Make sure fire extinguishers are also placed strategically in the home for easy access and use.
3. Use strong locks (and make sure they are being used): Invest in high-quality deadbolt locks for your doors and windows. These are more difficult for burglars to pick or break. Don’t leave your house without locking all windows and doors
4. Use smart home technology: Smart home devices like security cameras, doorbell cameras, and smart locks can provide an extra layer of protection for your home. They can also allow you to remotely confirm whether you did lock your doors or turn on your alarm. This feature also comes in handy if you are out of town and someone is house-sitting for you. You can confirm the house is locked and secure after each of their check-ins.
5. Install weather-proof protection: If your area is prone to hurricanes, make sure to invest in hurricane proof windows. If your area is prone to flooding, consider investing in foundation vents or a sump pump. Flood sensors can detect moisture and alert you if your house is wet where it shouldn’t be, and an automatic shutoff valve can stop water from flowing from your water supply if it detects a leak.
6. Have a great landscaper: Overgrown bushes and trees can create hazards on a couple fronts. Trees with branches with longer branches that touch or approach your roof can 1) allow rodents to enter your property and 2) create hazards if a high windstorm comes through.
7. Keep valuables out of sight: Leaving valuable items in plain view from the street can tempt any passersby to look for any access points that would allow them to easily steal the item (and any other nearby items).
8. Buy a safe: A safe doesn’t need to be uncrackable (and cost a fortune) to provide the level of protection needed. A small, fireproof safe bolted into the floor or wall can keep your most valuable items secure from burglary and natural hazards and give you peace of mind.
9. Install timer lights for indoors: If you are going on vacation, timer lights can help provide the illusion that you are still in town, so no one marks your home as vacant/easy to burglarize.
10. Keep your garage door closed: An open garage door is an invitation for burglars, especially when you consider that most people do not lock the door from the garage to the home. Make sure to keep it closed, especially when you're not home.
11. Get to know your neighbors: Neighbors are often the first to see something suspicious occurring in your home. While no one likes a snoopy neighbor, letting your neighbor know you’re going out of town can allow you to have a set of eyes on the property as an additional layer of security.
12. Install a fence: Burglary is sometimes known as a crime of opportunity. Something as simple as a fence can be cheap to install and create enough of a barrier to make it just a hair too difficult to burglarize your home instead of a nearby home with easy access.

You’ve worked hard to buy and furnish this home, and, to use a sports analogy, you don’t want to fumble at the goal line. Taking these reasonable steps can make a world of difference when it comes to asset protection.