If you have a family and/or valuable possessions, you will need to invest in home security. In decades past, only wealthy families could afford things like surveillance cameras and other high-tech security features. But now that technology has flourished, is produced more efficiently, and offers more diverse choices to consumers, there are plenty of ways for any family to make their homes safer.
Do you need home security?
First, let's explore whether you need to invest in additional home security measures:
- Possessions. If you have valuable possessions in your home, you need to invest in home security. This could be an accumulation of cash, or even jewelry.
- Family. Security also works as a deterrent, making would-be thieves think twice before breaking into your home.
- Neighborhood. Like many Americans, you probably classify neighborhoods as "good" or "bad," but this is a bit misleading. Crimes can occur even in good areas, and even in bad areas, crimes are only committed by a small fraction of the population. Still, living in a good neighborhood or high-profile location could make your home naturally safer.
- Home condition. The basic condition of your home can also affect your security decisions.
In most cases, it's less about whether you should invest in home security and more about how much to invest in home security.
High-tech security options
Here are some of your best options, especially if you're new to the game:
1.Better cameras (interior and exterior). These days, cameras are cheap, or at least, most are. You can install indoor surveillance cameras to keep an eye on the rooms in your house and one or two outdoor cameras to keep an eye on people approaching your house. Together, they can give you an automatic early warning when a potential threat is approaching and help you identify a thief after the fact (if the crime goes that far). You can even invest in screening visitors' identities before opening the door.
2.High-tech alarm systems. Alarm systems have been around for a while, but today's models are much more nuanced. When armed, they can accurately detect threats, notifying authorities and dispatching the police (or fire department, if necessary).
3.Smart locks. Locks are one of the most basic and important security measures in a home, so it may seem like a "smart" version isn't necessary. However, smart locks open with a keypad and password, rather than a key, so you don't have to worry about hiding a spare. You can also create custom or temporary codes, so you can let a neighbor into the house while you're on vacation.
4.Smart lights. Smart lights can also help deter thieves. By orchestrating the times your lights turn on periodically, whether or not you're home, you can make your home look busy. Considering that most cases of theft occur when the owners are not home, this can be a powerful measure.
5.Smart speakers. For example, Alexa Guard now works with all Amazon Echoes and can passively monitor for distracting sounds, like If you're okay with those smart speakers listening in on your
Of course, these are best combined with low-tech security options, such as:
- Better locks. Installing a new lock is not expensive, but it can greatly improve the security of your home. Make sure you have proper locks on all your doors, and your windows too.
- Good lockdown habits. Blocks don't mean much if you don't activate them. Make sure your family practices good lockdown habits when you leave the house or go to bed at night.
- Lack of mindfulness. When you're away, on vacation, or at work, make sure the house is protected in some extra way, like having a neighbor keep an eye on the place.
- Correct concealment and storage. It is also important to properly hide your most valuable belongings when storing them. While you're at it, avoid hiding a spare key in obvious places.
In the future, home security technology will become even more advanced, putting affordable options in the hands of almost any homeowner. While there are still some industry issues to iron out (such as how security images are stored on third-party servers).
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