10 Simple Ways to Secure Your New Home

Decorating your new home is definitely more fun than setting up security measures. But burglars strike every 25.7 seconds, so home security should be a top priority.¹ To help you get back to the fun stuff, here are 10 simple things you should do right away to secure your new home.

1. Secure the Doors

Don’t help a burglar stroll in through the front door (34% of them do!).² Inspect all of your exterior doors to make sure the door frames are strong, the hinges are protected, and—if your door has a mail slot—that someone can’t reach through it to unlock the door.

If you’re moving into a residence that someone else used to call home, change the door locks. That way you won’t have strangers out there with a key to your house, and you can make sure your locks are the best on the market.

Here are some quick reinforcements we recommend to help you shore up these vital entryways.

• Install a deadbolt. (Here’s how.)
• Add a strike plate.
• Upgrade to smart locks.
• Boost security with a video doorbell.

2. Lock the Windows

Doors and windows are the most common entry points for burglars. Unfortunately, manufacturer latches on windows aren’t always effective—and sometimes they’re downright flimsy. If you don’t like the looks of your window latches, beef up security with locks or key-operated levers. But you don’t have to stop there.

We have some other good ideas to help make your windows burglar-proof.

• Reinforce glass with window security film.
• Install window or glass break sensors.
• Add window bars.
• Plant prickly bushes under first-floor windows (but be sure to keep them trimmed).

3. Light Up the Landscape

Vandals, burglars, and other criminals don’t like to be in the spotlight. Keep bad folks at bay with ample outdoor lighting. Place lights around your front and back yards, along pathways, and near the garage and other outdoor structures. Not only will you make intruders skittish, you’ll also cut down your risk of a stumble on your way up the front steps.

Make your outdoor security lights even more effective with these tips.

• Use motion-activated lights.
• Save energy with solar-powered lights.
• Put outdoor lights on a timer.

4. Don’t Forget the Garage

This entry point to your home is becoming more popular with criminals. And even if they can’t access your house, chances are you have plenty of good stuff stored in the garage. Make it a habit to lock all doors to the garage—both interior and exterior.

You may also consider keeping your garage door opener in the house. That way a burglar can’t grab it out of your car. And if you use a security code to open the garage, make sure you keep it secret and never enter it in front of delivery people, neighbors, or anyone else.

Here are some more easy ways to secure the garage.

• Upgrade to a smart garage door opener.
• Cover windows to hide the goodies inside.
• Secure garage doors with extra locks (or even zip ties!).
• Use home automation—and never leave the garage door open again.

5. Set Up a Security System

Your new home should have some form of a security system, whether it’s a basic DIY system or one that comes with professional monitoring and home automation. Today there are plenty of home security options for every budget and every level of protection.

To choose a system that you’re comfortable with, evaluate the needs of your neighborhood and your house. You can contact your local police department for neighborhood crime statistics and help doing a home security evaluation of your home.

And keep these factors in mind as well:

• DIY installation vs. professional installation
• Customer service and brand reputation
• Smart home capabilities
• Up front and monthly costs
• Extras like smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring

6. Lock Down Your Wi-Fi Network

Your home wireless network is a doorway to your personal and financial information. And if you use home automation, it can also make your house vulnerable to a break-in. If your Wi-Fi network is connected to smart home gadgets or your security system, it could give criminals direct access to your home. 

But you don’t have to leave yourself vulnerable. Use our tips and tricks to keep hackers off your home network.

• Secure your wireless router.
• Enable WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or WPA2 encryption.
• Rename and hide your home network.
• Use a firewall.
• Install antivirus and anti-malware protection.
• Create strong passwords.

7. Eliminate Hiding Places

Trees and shrubs may give your house curb appeal, but they also give burglars a handy place to hide. Trim down trees and plants close to your home that could be used for cover. Opt for smaller flowers and bushes instead. If you have trees near windows, either remove them or reinforce those windows with extra security.

And don’t neglect the rest of your home’s exterior—use these best practices to keep things locked up tight.

• Always put away stools and ladders.
• Lock gates, sheds, and other outdoor buildings.
• Don’t tempt thieves by leaving pricey goods on display in the yard.
• Add security signs and stickers.

8. Add Security Cameras

You’ve probably seen headlines about burglars being foiled by security camera footage. This is one home security solution that works as both a deterrent and a means to get justice. You can get security cameras that are part of a complete home security system, or you can use cameras that work on their own.

Whichever way you go, we recommend using a security camera with a mobile app, so you can see footage in real time and store it if you ever need to go to the police.

Check out our other must-have features:

• Motion detection
• Night vision
• Wi-Fi capability
• Two-way talk
• Local or cloud storage
• Weatherproof casing for outdoor cameras

9. Get a Safe

In the event that someone gets by your other home security strategies, make sure that valuables are protected. An in-home safe is a secure depository for everything from jewelry to vital documents like passports. You want a safe that is fire-resistant, waterproof, and heavy enough that a thief can’t walk away with it.

Follow these suggestions to get the most protection from your safe.

• Look for safes with redundant locks (that’s two locks on one safe).
• Select the right size safe for the valuables you want to protect.
• Decide if you want a portable safe or one that’s anchored.

10. Use Home Automation

If you’ve been tempted to turn your regular house into a smart home, security is one compelling reason to follow through. Home automation can give you remote (or scheduled) control of lights, door locks, security cameras, smoke alarms, and other safety devices. You can get real-time alerts about suspicious activity, so you can respond quickly and thwart potential thieves.

Here are some of our favorite ways to use home automation to increase security.

• Schedule lights (and your TV) to turn on and off when you’re on vacation.
• Scare away porch pirates with two-way talk through a smart doorbell.
• Get an instant video feed whenever someone walks up your driveway.
• Check on a smoke or CO2 alarm and cancel false alarms from your smartphone.

Before You Go

Figuring out how to secure your home doesn’t have to be a chore. Use these tips to get started. And relax—you don’t have to do everything at once.

Identify which strategies are most important to you, and make a plan to add the rest later. Being aware of potential security risks and taking action early is the best way to keep your home and loved ones safe.

And if you’ve got a great security tip that we missed, let us know in the comments!

Sources:

1. FBI, Unified Crime Report, “2018 Crime Clock Statistics”
2. PRWeb, “Home Security Store Releases Third Infographic: The Most Common Entry Points for a Break-In”
3. US Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Firearms Stolen During Household Burglaries and Other Property Crimes, 2005–2010”