Common Home Security Mistakes That Put You at Risk

Everyone dreams of buying a home, and for many, this dream comes true. Your home is your safe haven. A place where you can relax and feel at peace. This is why you want to protect your home and make it as safe as possible. It doesn’t matter if you live in a nice neighborhood or not; you still need to take some precautions in order to preserve its safety. You must take this seriously and try to find the best solution for your home. To help you do this in the best possible way, we have prepared a list of common home security mistakes that put you at risk. At the end of this article, you will know all there is to know about home security, what mistakes to avoid and how to do it the right way. So, let’s get started!

Top 12 home security mistakes to avoid

There are many home security mistakes that put your home at risk, but some of the most common are:

1. Hiding your keys outside
2. Leaving your ladder outside
3. Installing cheap locks
4. Turning your alarm clock when you are at home
5. Failing to maintain your security system
6. Installing a security system yourself
7. Growing thick bushes around your property
8. Leaving the garage door open
9. Installing static lights
10. Exposing your valuables
11. Sharing too much on social media
12. Failing to install security cameras

Don’t hide your keys outside

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is leaving their keys outside. Some decide to keep their spare keys under a mat, in a plant pot, or under a rock in the garden… even though it is clever to have a double key in case you lock yourself out of your home, hiding your keys outside is not a good idea. If someone wants to break into your house, they will look for the double key in one of those places, and they will most likely find it. You will be an easy target, so avoid doing this. You don’t want to compromise the safety of your home.

If people that are close to you know where you keep your keys, they may rob you while you are not there. One of the shocking burglary statistics is that most people are robbed by the people they know. Don’t let this be you!

Don’t leave your ladder outside

If you are someone that uses their ladder a lot, make sure that every time you are done using it, you put it back inside. Even if you know that tomorrow you are going to use it again, don’t be lazy and make sure to put the ladder back in its place. You are making it easy for burglars to get into your home. They can easily climb up the ladder and barge in through your windows.

Installing cheap locks is one of the common home security mistakes

One thing on which you shouldn’t feel bad spending money should be your locks. There are many different kinds of locks on the market. You don’t have to buy the most expensive ones, but don’t buy the cheapest model you find. Quality locks will keep your home safe from intruders and give you a piece of mind. This is one of the best ways to improve your home security. Hire a professional locksmith to install your locks. They will make sure that every lock is properly installed.

Don’t turn off your alarm!

One of the best things you can do to protect your home is to invest in a quality home alarm! If someone tries to break in, the alarm will go off, and you will be alert about the situation before things get worse. Moreover, once the alarm goes off, you will get a call from the security company. You need to give them a code for the alarm; if you don’t know it, they will send the police. This way, even if you are not at home at the moment your alarm goes off, you will not have to stress since the police will be on their way.

But if a home alarm is so good, why did we include it in this list, you may wonder? Well, some people decide to turn it off when they are home, thinking that nothing can happen while they are inside. This is one of the biggest mistakes one can make. Leave your alarm on all the time to ensure the total safety of your home.

Not maintaining your security system is a huge mistake

To ensure your safety, investing in your home security system is key. When you know that you have a high-quality security system, you can sleep like a baby knowing that your home is protected. But just like with everything else in your home, you need to maintain it. Often people forget to check their security system to see if there are some malfunctions. It is essential to do regular checks. This way, you can be sure that it will work in case of an emergency. Mark in your calendar “security maintenance” to remember to check your security system. This will only take a few minutes of your time, so make sure to do it!

If you hire a professional company to install your security system, they will know when the batteries need to be changed. They will receive a message from the alarm that the batteries are low. This allows them to arrive on time and change them.

Installing home security alone

This is one of the most common home security mistakes people make. Many people opt for this option due to its affordability. But before you decide to install a home security system on your own, you need to be aware of the risks.

One of the biggest drawbacks of installing a security system on your own is the fact that you will not get the automated emergency calls that we talked about at the beginning of this article. Without automated calls, you will not be able to contact the police as fast as you would if you had them. Moreover, if you are not a professional, it is easy to make a mistake.

By improperly installing a security system, you can make it vulnerable. Also, every time something is wrong with your alarm, you will have to fix it on your own. Furthermore, the security system that you will get is not a professional one, so it may not be very reliable. It can also be easily compromised. Burglars know how to deactivate such systems, which will give them access to your home. As you can see, there are many risks of DIY home security installation, therefore, opt for a safer option and hire a professional company to help you secure your home.

Growing bushes around your home

Just like other people, you want to have privacy in your own house. You don’t want people from the outside to be able to see you. This is why many people decide to grow tall bushes. Even though this is a good way to create a more intimate space where you will be protected from the looks of your neighbors, this is not the best thing when it comes to security. This is because tall fences and bushes are a perfect plank for intruders. Anyone can hide there and observe you. If you are not suspicious, you will not go to check if someone is behind the fence. Burglars can hide there and wait for you to leave to break into your home. Therefore, it is crucial to keep this in mind before you opt for tall bushes and fences.

Leaving the garage door open

If your garage is attached to your home, this one is for you! It is very convenient to access your garage from the inside of your home. However, you need to make sure that you lock the garage door from the inside and outside every time you go out. Someone can easily break into your home through the garage. Another thing you need to pay attention to is the quality of your garage door. Make sure to add an alarm or a camera to your garage door. You never know when this can be useful. There are many affordable home security systems, so once you install one in your home, make sure to install it in your garage too. 

Static outdoor lights

Believe it or not, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. You may think that by adding static lights, you will protect your home, but you are wrong. Lights will create strong pockets of shadow, which are perfect hiding spots for burglars. Instead, you should opt for motion sensor lights. Whenever someone walks by, the light will turn on. If someone is sneaking around your house, this will make them go away. If you look through the window, you will be able to see the person and will have enough time to call the police.

Also, one of the advantages of installing sensor outdoor lighting is that you will lower your electricity bills. You are saving energy and protecting your home at the same time!

Don’t expose your valuable items

You become a target of burglars when they know that you have valuable items in your home. This is why it is important to expose as little as possible items that are valuable. Windows are a great source of light, but everyone can see into your home. Therefore, it is important to add curtains. Also, make sure that any high-value items are far away from the windows, especially those on the ground floor.

Watch what you post on your socials!

Social media is great for connecting with people. You get to talk with your friends and meet new ones with a few clicks. But social media is also great for spying on people. If you are someone that frequently posts stories on Instagram, you can become an easy target. Posting stories in real-time on social media platforms give burglars an insight into your life and daily habits. If you post that you are going on a vacation, you are letting people know that your home will be empty. For this reason, don’t post about your vacation until you are back. The safety of your home is more important than sharing photos and videos on your socials.

Not installing security cameras

If you think that adding an alarm to your home is enough, you are wrong. People often think that since they live in a peaceful neighborhood, they don’t need to have cameras. Well, you never know what might happen. Therefore, it is always better to have video proof. There are different types of home security cameras, and most of them are affordable. You can connect them to your phone. This way, you will be able to see what’s happening in and outside your home at all times! And if nothing happens, you can always use the footage from your cameras to create candid family videos. You will capture incredible moments that you will cherish!

Avoid common home security mistakes and protect your home!

Now that you know what some of the most common home security mistakes are, you will know what not to do to avoid compromising the safety of your home. Invest in a professional home security system and make sure to maintain it regularly. To learn more about home security, we invite you to check our blog section. At Consumer Opinion Guide, we have many tips for you regarding home security, so make sure to take a look at our other articles!