Your home should be a place where you and your family feel safe and comfortable. There are smaller updates that can make your home more secure if installing an alarm isn't a feasible option. Below are 3 tips:

1. Update Your Doors

The doors are the first entry point for the home and the first place you should update in order to keep your home safe. Start by checking out the doorplates on the doorframe. If short screws have been used to keep the doorplates in place, replace them with longer screws. This will make it more difficult for intruders to kick-in the door.

While you're looking at your doors, check out the hinges. Hinges should always be on the interior of the home. Otherwise, it's too simple to pop the pin out of place from the outside, causing the door to come right off and create instant access to your home.

2. Put a Timer on Your Lights

Most burglaries occur between 10 am and 3 pm on weekdays. During that time, intruders know most people will be at work or school, leaving the perfect opportunity for committing theft. Burglars will often pass through a neighborhood and take note of which homes have the lights off during the day. A simple solution is to put your lights on a timer. The timers will turn on lights in your home at random times during the day, making it appear someone is inside.

Homes are also vulnerable when your family is on vacation. Again, burglars will take note of which homes remain dark for multiple days and whether any cars come and go from homes. Light timers can make it appear someone is home while you're away. It's also a good idea to let a family member or trusted neighbor know when you'll be away. They can pop over to your house or park a car in your driveway to deter thieves.

3. Install Shades

Most burglars aren't interested in taking a big risk. Instead, they observe and make a plan before breaking into a home. That plan starts with determining whether anyone is in the house. Light timers are a great way to create the illusion that someone is home, but some snooping could still prove that no one is inside. Shades on the windows will block the view and make anyone think twice before trying to enter. Choosing the right shades can add style, function, and security to your home. There are also motorized shade options, which can be controlled via your phone so you can raise and lower your shades at different times.

What do you do to keep your home safe?
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