Most people feel comfortable only when they feel absolutely safe. And while it’s normal to feel safer in your home than any other area, there may be missing pieces and weak points that make your household insecure – or vulnerable to specific types of threats.

What steps can you take to make your household safer and more secure?

Invest In Firearms (And Firearms Training)

In many home invasion scenarios, intruders are frightened off by the mere presence of a homeowner or resident. But there’s always the chance that these intruders have more violent intentions or are not easily rattled by the presence of another human being. In many cases, the only reliable self-defense is going to be a firearm, so it makes sense for many households to have at least one firearm available.

What type of firearm to secure is largely a function of your personal risk assessment, your needs, your budget, and local laws.

Also important to recognize that merely having a firearm available isn’t necessarily going to make your house safer. You need to know how to operate the firearm quickly, consistently, and safely if you want to be effective. 

That’s why firearms training is also indispensable for improving home safety, and it’s something every adult in your house should pursue. Even if no one in your household ends up shooting a firearm beyond target practice, firearms training can help you learn how to respect the power of firearms and handle yours safely.

Set Up A Basic Security System

Next, consider setting up a basic security system. This should include a few cameras pointed at the main areas of your house or main points of entry, as well as automatic alerts if and when someone attempts to enter your home through the main points of entry. Modern security systems utilize the latest technology and convenient apps to make it incredibly easy for even uneducated or inexperienced homeowners to greatly upgrade their home safety.

Practice Routine Safety

Perhaps surprisingly, 34 percent of burglaries occur when a burglar enters through an unlocked front door. It’s tempting to imagine that all or most burglaries happen as a result of lock picking or breaking and entering, but the sad reality is that many burglars are mere opportunists. Because of this, you can deter many threats simply by practicing routine safety mindfulness. In other words, keep your doors and windows shut and locked whenever your house is unattended.

Check Your Doors And Windows

While you’re at it, take a moment to check all your doors and windows to make sure they’re shutting and locking properly. If your doors won’t latch correctly, a thief could easily break in. If the locks on your windows no longer work, you’ll need to replace them. You should also consider the quality of the locking mechanisms on your doors and windows; if they seem old or cheaply made, you might consider fully replacing them.

Install Outdoor Lighting

Remember, many burglaries and would-be criminals are opportunists at heart. If the outdoor section of your house is sufficiently lit, most of these criminals won’t even bother messing with your household. Installing motion-activated lights around your outdoor area could be the perfect defense.

Invest In A Safe

If you have anything in your house that you want to be absolutely safe, you should invest in a safe to house it. Many safes are designed to be extremely tamper resistant and difficult to move, preventing or at least delaying burglars from getting your possessions inside. Many people use their safes to store cash, jewelry, precious metals, and other valuables, but also personal documents, sensitive information, and firearms. 

Keep in mind that even if you aren’t concerned about theft, safes can often keep your valuables and personal items protected in the event of a fire.

Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

Many people underestimate just how vulnerable an unprotected Wi-Fi network makes them. This is especially true in today’s era of countless interconnected devices. One of the easiest ways to keep your network secure is to add a sufficiently strong password – so do it now if you haven’t yet.

Install And Routinely Check Smoke And CO Detectors

Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are critical for modern safety. No matter how fire-resistant your house seems or how much effort you spend on fire prevention, it’s impossible to prevent all fires. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors can alert you to a problem before it’s too late. Once installed, you’ll need to routinely check these detectors to ensure they’re operating as intended and, if necessary, change the batteries.

Pay Attention To The Neighborhood

Finally, make a commitment to pay more attention to what’s going on in the neighborhood. Talk to your neighbors regularly and exchange information about anything strange or suspicious that you’ve seen. 

Pay attention to posts about your neighborhood on social media, even if some of them are trite or annoying, to notice any odd activity patterns or proactively detect potential risks. In line with this, consider starting or joining a neighborhood watch program.

These are just some of the most accessible ways you can make your household safer, and many of them are inexpensive or easy to learn. Even a small commitment to making your house safer can decrease your risks and keep your household more secure.