We all know to lock our doors before bed and to turn on the alarm system when we leave the house, but is that enough to stave off a potential burglar? While the prevalence of home invasions in Canada has steadily decreased over the years, a break in still occurs every 90 seconds in Canada. As homeowners and renters, we need to do our best to ensure our home is safe and secure.

We’ve included a few of our most important home safety tips for keeping your home safe at all times.

Meet the Neighbors.

When it comes to keeping your home safe it is always a great idea to introduce yourself to your neighbours even if you’ve been living in the neighbourhood for years. Invite them over for dinner or simply stop by for a coffee break and introduce yourself. Having a few trusting eyes in your home can never hurt, we’re sure they will feel more secure knowing you have their back as well.

Light Up the Garden and Yard.

While proper landscape lights can showcase your beautiful gardening efforts they can also provide an extra layer of protection from potential intruders. Motion sensor lighting systems are a great way to light up darker areas and can alert you to potential visitors, welcome or not. On another bright note, it is commonly known that keeping a few lights on when you leave for vacation is a good idea but keeping every light on even at night can make your home look empty and unattended. Invest in a few time-activated light switches to help make your home look occupied in a more natural way.

Stop Announcing Your Empty House.

When on vacation it is only natural to share your good times with friends and family over social media. But keep those posts until after you have returned home. By posting social media status updates and uploading numerous images you are letting the public know that you are away from your home.

Secure All Doors and Windows.

When leaving for an extended period take a moment and do a quick run over of the doors and windows in your home. Extra home protection can never hurt, place a stick or rod in the track of a sliding door or window to have a little extra backup security. Young children and even rushed homeowners can often forget to lock doors and windows after opening them, every little extra effort helps!

Invest in Home Security Services and Technology.

With today’s technology, there are numerous home security systems for every budget for keeping your home safe and sound. Live exterior cameras, in-home alarms, and Wi-Fi cameras are just a few of many possibilities when searching for the right security tool for your home. If you are still on the fence about purchasing surveillance or alarm technology, know that 83% of home invasion criminals take the time to scope out a home before breaking in and a known security measure acts to stop approximately half of those.

We know that home security is always a top priority for homeowners and we want our community to feel safe and secure in their homes. The Ray Otten Team prides themselves on being a strong community leader.

Want to know more about home security? Call us at (613) 288-2455, or email us here and we will connect you with a trusted professional.