How Many Home Safety and Security Tips Can You Name?

Home security, safety, and fire preparedness are top-of-mind for most homeowners. And while many tips can feel obvious, the not-so-obvious ones can also be among the best things you can do to protect your house. From helping to deter would-be burglars to ensuring your home is easy to escape from during an emergency, here are tips you probably know, tips you probably don’t know, and fire-prevention tips to help your home stay as safe as possible.

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You Might Already Know These Home Security Tips…

But hey, it’s never a bad thing to review the basics! Plus, even the most cautious among us are apt to forget an item or two from time to time, so it is worthwhile to refresh your knowledge and see if there is anything you have gotten out of the habit of doing for home safety, security, and overall preparedness.

• Keep all of your doors locked — a no-brainer, right? But make sure you are practicing this habit when you are home, too. It takes two seconds to unlock a door if you suddenly must go outside. Daytime home invasions are not uncommon.
• And for those locks, use a solid deadbolt system.
• It’s best to use a deadbolt that does not require a key to open from the inside, should you need to quickly escape from the house.
• Consider a keyless entry. Otherwise, don’t hide spare keys; burglars know all the places to check. Have a trusted person hold onto spare keys.
• Even when windows are locked place a “Charlie bar” in the sliding track.
• Always keep the garage door closed when not in use.
• Never leave notes on doors saying things like “be back shortly.”

You Probably Don’t Know These Home Security Tips

With the basics covered, you can now upgrade your game. Some of these are becoming more common — video doorbells, for instance, have all but eliminated the need to open the door to see who’s there — and others may have you thinking about a trip to a big box store this weekend to add to your home’s safety, security, or to make a general plan for emergencies.

• When your doorbell rings and you’re not expecting anyone, do you usually jump to answer it? Slow down. Think first. See who it is through the peephole (you have one of those, right?). If you don’t recognize the visitor, you are under no obligation to answer. So don’t. Home invaders have been known to ring the bell first.
• Does your house have an abandoned look? Even if you never travel, don’t allow your house and yard to look like you’re away a lot. Keep the grass mowed, shrubs manicured, etc. Don’t let mail or newspapers accumulate.
• Are your house’s address numbers visible to paramedics should you need emergency help? Make sure they’re big and noticeable.
• But consider not having your name on your mailbox. Maybe put it on a sticker inside the mailbox. This way a criminal can’t just drive-by and 411 your phone number (if you still have a landline, that is) to see if you are home or not.
• Don’t just rely on a deadbolt. Door jams can be kicked through more easily than you think, so reinforce the door jam with something like a “Door Devil.”
• Keep curtains and blinds down unless you are actively using that extra light in the room or need it for something such as for plants. Cover all windows come dusk.

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Home Security and Fires: What to Know

Sometimes the home intruder is non-human: a fire. Make sure no dried up brush piles up on your property. Never smoke in bed. Always rinse cigarette butts before tossing out or make a plan to quit smoking. Here are some other key tips to help prevent home fires:

• Hide matches and lighters from kids. This is easier than many people think. Simply lock them up in a small safe. If you rely on them to smoke, then commit to unlocking and locking them up every time you indulge in your vice; a number of home fires are started by kids “playing with” these devices.
• Keep all outdoor flammable items away from the house.
• Have smoke detectors throughout the house. Upgrade them to combo smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
• Have fire evacuation drills with the entire family so that if a fire really occurs, nobody will panic and become inefficient.
• Never venture outside, even for a few moments, while the fireplace or a candle is burning.

The best thing you can do to keep your home safe and secure? Consider a home security system, especially one that also automates lights and thermostats and detects water leaks.

By Robert Siciliano, personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.