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Common Residential Security Systems Mistakes – and How to Avoid Them

In recent years, there have been 4,000 reported home burglaries across the country. While this may seem like a frightening statistic, let it empower you to take the proper measures in ensuring the protection of your home.  

Residential security systems are your first line of defense against burglary, theft, home invasion, and property crime. The good news is more and more homeowners are installing residential security systems to protect their property.

And according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, property crime has decreased by 45% between 1993 and 2017. And with more innovations in residential security systems, we can only hope for these figures to continue to improve.

While residential security systems were developed to be user-friendly, they are still sophisticated pieces of technology.

In today’s post, we’ve compiled some common mistakes homeowners make with their security systems. We’ll also provide the easy solutions to ensure better protection for your property.

Leaving your windows and doors unlocked.

This may seem like a simple and obvious home security measure, but you’d be surprised. About 75% of burglars enter through an open window or door. However, with automated residential security systems, you can control the locks of your windows and doors remotely. This is the perfect solution when you forget to lock your doors after you have already left.

About 75% of burglars enter through an open window or door.

Also, many home security systems will produce a warning or signal notifying you to lock your doors and windows.

Even so, you should get in the habit of ensuring your windows and doors are locked at all times – even when you are home.

If keeping your house key is an issue, or if your kids or other members of the household lose theirs, get a keyless door entry, which you can control remotely with an app.

Leaving a ladder in your backyard.

When you’ve just finished cleaning your rain gutters on the roof or putting up or taking down seasonal decorations, you may forget to put away your ladder and leave it in the backyard. This is a security risk; it serves as easy access to your second story.

Burglars and home invaders are always on the lookout for unattended ladders in the backyards of homes. They know that homeowners don’t always lock their second-story windows, so when you leave your ladder, you’re practically handing them the keys to your house.

Put away your ladders in your shed or garage, and keep those places locked as well. Additionally, make sure that your upstairs windows are secured.

Don't leave your garage door open

Not locking up your garage door.

Residential security systems always include closing the garage door. Since the garage is a very common access point for burglars and thieves, security specialists recommend that even with residential security systems installed, don’t leave until you’ve seen your garage door completely shut.

Another bad habit we should avoid is leaving our car door open while the garage is exposed as well. A thief may enter and reach for your garage door remote. This scenario is particularly worrying if you use your garage to enter your home.

Hiding your house key under a planter, doormat, or fake rock.

Even with residential security systems in place, many homeowners still do this security cliché. And we’re telling you now. Please stop from doing this. You may be doing this because you’re worried about being locked out of your home. However, there’s no hiding place that a persistent thief may not find.

Remember the keyless door entry? It’s an option now that you should really be taking advantage of. Residential security systems usually include keyless entry; all you need is to set an entry pin for easy access.

Overly complicated residential security systems.

Security systems can range from simple to excessively sophisticated. However, overly complicated systems may not always match your security needs. It’s pointless installing a residential security system with multiple steps when an alarm is activated if the people using it don’t understand how it works.

When you have your residential security systems installed, make sure that the security company guides you on how to use it properly. You should also know the right measures to take in the maintenance and repair of these security systems.

A reputable and reliable security company will give you all the necessary information you need in operating the system. Don’t take chances when it comes to your home’s security.