We’ve talked before about making sure that your family is prepared for emergencies. Today we’re going to talk about the different things you can do to make your home safer—even if you’re on a limited budget.
An Alarm System
If you live in a house (as opposed to a condo or an apartment), you need to have at least a basic alarm system installed. Even if you can’t afford a bunch of bells and whistles, a basic code and blaring alarm are often enough to do the trick—especially if you live in a close knit and relatively crime free neighborhood. Properties with home burglar alarms are two times less likely to experience home invasions or break-ins.
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Motion Sensor Lights
Motion sensor lights are great for a couple of reasons. They reduce your electric bill (you don’t have to worry about keeping a light on all the time) and they scare away intruders. According to DoItYourself.com, thieves are attracted to dark houses and places where it looks like they’ll have the cover of darkness to keep their break-in from being discovered. Motion sensor lights immediately flood your front porch and the areas around your house with light whenever the sensor gets tripped. This by itself is usually enough to send thieves running.
Fire Extinguishers
Not everybody knows that you shouldn’t ever toss water on a grease fire. What everybody does know, though, is that fire extinguishers don’t discriminate between fire types; they just put them out.
Buying smaller home-sized fire extinguishers is easy. You can get a few for a relatively low price at any home supply store like Home Depot, Lowes or even in the home departments of stores like Target or Walmart. Get at least two for your kitchen and then one for every floor of your house (and the attic and basement). Check them regularly to make sure they aren’t expired and replace them when they do expire.
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Landscaping
Don’t let your flower gardens or shrubs grow too close to your house. Many thieves like to find windows that are located behind overgrown hedges or other plants (like rose bushes) for their entry points. The plants give them cover.
Make sure that you have at least twelve inches of space between your home and your lawn, shrubs, etc. This way if someone tries to break in, they’re more likely be seen. This space also helps deter other pests like mice and bugs.
Befriend Your Neighbors
The closer knit your neighborhood, the safer everybody is going to be. You’ve undoubtedly seen the data on how having a neighborhood watch reduces crime. Beyond that, though, consider this: friendly neighbors keep track of each other. This means that if you have an accident in the home, someone will be nearby to come help you. If your houses are close together they might even be able to hear you call for help. If the neighbors see something unusual they’ll be more likely to report it to the authorities. You can leave a spare key with them instead of trying to trust a “hide a key.”
These are just five of the things that you can do to help keep yourself, your family and your home safe. What are some of the budget-friendly things that you’ve done to improve your “safety rating”?
