in place for a one time cost. It increases the value of the property and it's not difficult!
Home security can include video surveillance via your smart phone and computer, installing motion detectors outside that turn on exterior lights (I call them boogie man lights) that can also be activated manually from inside the house; well thought out barrier plantings around the house and property including rose bushes under windows, thorny bushes along the fence lines and perimeters and good quality fencing of course as well. Iron doors & door frames can be attractive and you can have a custom, more attractive door fabricated for little more than a standard door, and are very secure. Good quality locks into steel frames are an excellent investment, and the new electronic locks that can be remotely activated are very cool.
Alarmed screens aren't very expensive, tied into your security system for vulnerable points. A dog makes all the difference of course. And you can even just pretend you have a dog by leaving HUGE dog toys visible and enormous dog dishes in sight as well. Even very large men's shoes next to a door can be a visual clue that makes crooks think twice.
Never forget that signage is an excellent deterrent, simple commercial signs saying 'this property under video surveillance' and 'caution, guard dog on duty' at all vulnerable points make a huge difference. Automatic lights and appliances are excellent and cost effective and you can now run most of them via your smart phone.
Bars do work on the windows of course, but they're not pretty and I think they make the home feel like a prison. I also worry about fires or emergency access with bars too.
Those are just my tips and tricks for good home security. None of it has to be ugly and obtrusive, most of it is DIY and it just has to be thought of and put to practice!
= new reply since forum marked as read
