Home security is a vital component for comfortable family living today. The assurance that all your door bolts, window locks, floodlights and perhaps even connected security technologies are working as they’re supposed to, can naturally provide Aussie families with immense peace of mind – especially during the winter months where we’re most likely to go on family trips to escape the cold, or at the very least be in good need of some long and comfortable nights of sleep.
It makes sense to want to feel safe, secure, and comfortable at home. That's why investing in securing your home is essential. But what security measures and tips should Aussie homeowners be looking into when it comes to making robust investments in their home security? We’ll be answering just that question today by outlining some basic tips for safeguarding your property effectively.
Invest in Home Insurance
Not all threats to your home take the form of robbers or vandals. In fact in most cases, the biggest contender in your property’s risk assessment will be environmental dangers.
That’s why it’s always worth securing home insurance for your property. A home insurance policy will guarantee the cost of repairs or a complete rebuild should your property fall victim to a house fire, a flood, storm damage, or other acts of nature that can cause any level of destruction or disrepair.
For the majority of people, your property is quite simply the largest purchase you’ll ever make, so it makes sense to purchase insurance to safeguard your home and protect your family financially in the event that an insured incident does occur.
We strongly recommend working with your selected insurance provider to develop a robust home insurance policy that caters to the unique insurance requirements of your property and household.
Update your Deadlocks
Next, the natural first line of defence for many Australian homes are the locks on our front gates and doors. Working with a local locksmith with great testimonials is paramount for ensuring that your property’s deadlocks – on both front and back doors and all other points of access to your home – stay in good working order.
Deadlocks are specialised, sturdy locks that typically boast keyholes on both sides – making them difficult to unlock without their proper key due to their sturdy locking mechanism. The absence of a mechanism that can be manipulated by lock-picking kits makes deadlocks a great low-cost measure for deterring trespassers from entering your property.
There are other safety benefits to investing in deadlocks, too, including the fact that they require a key to lock fully, making it less likely that a member of your household finds themselves locked out of the house without a key. In addition, if someone does enter your home via a broken window, they won't be able to leave via the front or back door due to the deadlock. This makes it hard to get away with your heavier valuables. All of these above factors make deadlocks an essential home security investment for the savvy homeowner.
Install a CCTV System
Another excellent investment for your house's security defences is installing a CCTV or smart security camera system at all entrance points. These will monitor entry to your home, including yard and garden spaces, and will capture footage of anyone entering your camera's field of view. Some nifty modern smart home security systems also boast thermal or heat sensing technologies so that they can detect heat signatures in dim or low lighting.
Smart security cameras are also able to communicate with your phone or computer, sending you notifications in the event that a figure is detected around your property while you're out and about. And thanks to the recent developments in artificial intelligence, some CCTV cameras now even have AI facial recognition technology that can be trained to recognise yourself and your family and friends.
Having a CCTV system installed on your property can also be yet another excellent deterrent against housebreaking because any would-be bandits will spot the security cameras and decide to opt for an easier, softer target. In addition, if someone is silly enough to rob your home while your CCTV system is active (no matter what time of day or light conditions they’re working with), you will be able to capture footage of them that can then be turned over to the police, drastically increasing the likelihood of them being able to catch the culprits and maybe even retrieve your stolen property.
Invest in an Alarm System
Similar to retail store alarms or other business-type alarms, a personal home alarm system usually works by emitting a piercing, shrieking alarm when any windows or doors are opened, or other motion is detected inside your property. In contrast, the alarm is armed, and you are out and about. This loud siren will serve two purposes – firstly, it will startle any intruders who might bolt for it, and secondly, it will also alert your immediate neighbours and perhaps even your local police in the event of a confirmed break-in.
Installing an internal alarm system in your home is an undeniably effective method of bolstering your home's security rating. The immediate cacophony of sirens that will be triggered to greet unauthorised persons in your property will naturally inspire a sense of panic that will, if anything, reduce the amount of time that the trespassers stick around. Not to mention that modern home alarm systems can even send alerts or notifications directly to your mobile phone or email, allowing you to stay on top of your home security even when travelling abroad or interstate.
Protect your Property & Family with these Home Security Measures
Equipping your property with these home security basics will not only help ensure that your family, home, and assets (i.e. your contents) stay secure, but that you can also come and go from work, the school run, and all your other weekly responsibilities without feeling overly concerned about a break-in occurring while your home may be vacant.
Be sure to conduct your own independent research when looking for the home security solutions that are best suited for your property and household.