Top 5 security mistakes home owners make

There is a lot to think about as a homeowner, and unfortunately, that often means that certain things simply get overlooked. If you have installed a security system or continued the monitoring services for the existing system in your home, you probably are feeling pretty good about the safety of yourself, your loved ones, and your residence.

However, many people overlook a few simple habits that will dramatically enhance your home security.

Here are five of those mistakes that you can simply rectify.

1. Hiding a key to your home on the property. Hide-a-keys, fake rocks, even if you are just tucking it into a planter or under the doormat, if you can find your key there, so can a potential intruder. It may seem like a simple solution for people who often lose their keys, but leaving a key to your home on your property is the fastest way to undo your other home security efforts.

2. Overgrown landscaping. Lots of people are trying to make cutbacks in light of the slowing economy, whether that means getting highlights and hair cuts less frequently or cutting back on the costs of maintaining your yard. However, when plants, bushes, and trees are left to themselves, they can create dark areas where it is easy for intruders to position themselves without being seen. Maintain your hedges and trees; it’s an easy way to keep your family safe.

3. Broken or insufficient locks. If the lock on an infrequently used door or window breaks, it can be easy to overlook the problem while attending to other matters. However, old locks and broken ones make for easy entry points for a potential burglar and reduce the overall security of your residence. Replace old or broken locks in a timely manner.

4. Forgetting about the garage door. When installing a new system or upgrading your current one, it is easy to forget about the garage, but this is an entry that should be secured just as well as the other doors into your home. If anything, the garage should be better protected because the tools and equipment found there can be used to open windows and doors. Make sure that you include the garage in your overall home security plan.

5. Not turning on the alarm system. One of the main reasons that people with home security systems still become the victims of crime is that they simply do not turn the system on. Make sure that whenever you are home, the system is on. It is a good habit to get into and will make the best use of the money you spent to feel safe.

While this is not a comprehensive report on home security, these five tips are a great place to start if you want to make your residence safer for the people and possessions inside. Change your habits today!