It is never a bad idea to look at improving your home security, especially when you have kids in the house. Making small adjustments and tweaks to your property can help to keep your family safe from intrusion. Here are six easy ways you can improve your home security and make sure that your home is as safe as possible.

  1. Install a Security Alarm

If you do not already have a security alarm installed, this is an excellent way to upgrade the security of your home. After setting up a variety of sensors and contacts around your home, just switch on the alarm every time you leave the house or when you go to sleep. It will be triggered with movement or shock contact. You can disarm the alarm with a code or a key fob, whichever is easiest for your family.

  1. Get a Good Fence

Setting up a perimeter fence around your backyard is an excellent way to keep out intruders—as well as any unwanted wildlife that may pose a threat to your pets. With the added bonus of extra privacy in your garden, a quality fence will make it harder for people to climb into your property and access your house.

  1. Join a Neighborhood Watch Scheme

Many local areas offer neighborhood watch schemes in which people within an area agree to keep an eye on each other’s homes and report any suspicious activity to the relevant law enforcement agency. Join your local neighborhood watch scheme for an extra set of eyes on your home. You can even purchase neighborhood watch stickers to place in your homes and around your area to deter burglars.

  1. Always Double Lock the Doors

When you leave the house, simply pulling the door closed behind you is not secure. You should always make sure that you lock the door properly. An easy upgrade to improve your home security is to install additional locks and a door chain. All this will make it significantly more difficult for any potential intruder to access your home.

  1. Install Motion-Activated Lights

Outdoor lights that switch on when motion sensors are triggered are a fantastic way to increase the security of your property. If someone approaches your home at night, a bright light will come on that will deter anybody trying to sneak up to your front or back door.

Be warned that these lights can be triggered by animals, so you may not need to call the police every time they turn on! Just use the light as a warning signal to yourself and take a look out of the window to make sure.

  1. Consider a Key Safe

If someone in your family often forgets their keys or you like to have a spare hidden outside, consider purchasing a key safe instead. Hiding a key in a flowerpot or under a rock is often very obvious and is a huge risk to your home security. Installing a small, code-operated safe in an inconspicuous location is a perfect solution. It will allow your forgetful resident easy access to a key without the risk of leaving one out in the open for anyone to find.

With these simple tips and small upgrades, you can make your home a more secure place to live. Knowing that you are doing what you can to prevent break-ins will give your whole family peace of mind.