How to keep your home safe without an expensive security system | Expert opinion
Despite what thriller movies might suggest, most burglars enter homes by simply opening unlocked doors or windows.
Do you have good dead bolts on all your doors? Strong latches on your windows? Are you diligent about keeping doors and windows locked? Have a barky dog?
If you can answer “yes” to the first three questions, you’re way ahead when it comes to home security (and get extra credit for the dog). Despite what thriller movies might suggest, most burglars enter homes by simply opening unlocked doors or windows — or pushing and kicking locked ones until they open.
Very few pick locks or circumvent alarm systems. Intruders prefer empty homes, visual obscurity, silence, easy entry, and quick exits. So your primary objective when planning home security is to beef up your locks and latches and maintain good security habits.
You can also DIY your own system by using home security components controlled by a smartphone app or similar interface. Dozens of companies now sell security system components that can easily connect to smart home hubs.
All this competition and choice means lower prices. You don’t have to pay a home-security service $750 to $3,000 for a professionally installed system plus $1,500 or more each year for monitoring. Instead, for $400 or less, you can assemble a basic DIY system and then pay as little as $200 per year to have it monitored — or nothing at all if you monitor it yourself.
Keep in mind that many people get annoyed by the alerts that self-monitoring requires and end up turning them off or not replacing batteries if they run out. If this will be you, don’t waste your money on the tech.
Here are some simple steps to secure your home.
1. Secure the perimeter. Make your doors and windows as difficult to penetrate as possible. Although intruders prefer unlocked doors and windows, many can quickly and almost silently pry open locked ones. Some break a pane of glass so they can reach in and unlock the window or door.
Double-hung windows, for example, can be secured by screwing together the two frames.
Solid-wood doors are much sturdier than hollow ones. Many homeowners in high-crime neighborhoods install metal bar doors.
2. Get a security audit. Most police departments provide free advice and will send someone to evaluate your home for weaknesses.
3. Lose lousy locks. Key-in-the knob locks are inadequate. Install good deadbolt locks on all your exterior doors. The locks on sliding glass doors are notoriously flimsy — many doors can be lifted right off their tracks. Numerous how-to videos online can show you how to make yours more secure, or you can pay a locksmith to install reinforcements.
4. Keep valuables out of sight. Place articles of value out of the view of your front door or front windows. Stash cash and expensive jewelry in unlikely places — for example, in a large envelope or among many paper files. Select containers no one will accidentally discard.
5. Rent a safe-deposit box. A box may be inconvenient, but it provides a level of security against theft and fire that cannot be duplicated at home for less than several thousand dollars.
6. Keep your landscaping in check. Doors and windows hidden by garages, bushes, fences, and trees are attractive targets for intruders who prefer to invade unseen.
7. Light it up. Many burglars will flee if they activate an outdoor light connected to a motion detector.
8. Keep track of your keys. An AirTag key chain is a good idea if you’re forgetful.
In addition to improving your home’s physical security:
Evaluate your insurance. Consider adding replacement-cost coverage to your homeowners insurance policy for your personal property. If burglars clean out your home, this coverage could save you thousands of dollars. If you own expensive jewelry and other similar items, consider taking out additional policies.
Get to know your neighbors. Neighborhood watch groups are one of the most effective ways to protect all the homes in your neighborhood. At the very least, get to know your neighbors and share information on your not-at-home schedules and vacation plans, so everyone can look out for suspicious activities.
Keep up appearances. Because most burglars strike when no one is home, make sure your house always appears occupied. Leaving on lights and a TV helps. If you go on vacation, work with neighbors or friends to prevent mail from piling up and to keep your yard maintained.
Still want a professionally installed system?
If you decide to go pro, you’ll want a company that ensures your system is effective, convenient, and unobtrusive; minimizes false alarms; and controls costs.
Have several companies come to your home to propose systems and quote prices. When Checkbook’s undercover shoppers collected proposals from companies for a specific alarm system and three years of monitoring, they were quoted prices ranging from $2,200 to $4,200.
Read the contract before you sign. Some companies make it very difficult for customers to switch monitoring services by refusing to provide programming codes or to reset systems to their default modes. Choose a company willing to contractually agree to provide you with programming codes.
Discuss payment terms. The more you can pay after the job is complete, the better.
Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers it evaluates. Until Sept. 5, readers can access Checkbook’s home-security ratings and advice free at Checkbook.org/Inquirer/home-security.