10 Common Home Security Mistakes & How to Fix Them [Part 1]

We’ve been helping homeowners create safer homes for over 70 years now, so we’ve seen everything from secure, to risky, to downright dangerous.

In this two-parter, we’re going share the 10 home security mistakes we see the most. We’ll also give you the tips our security experts share with customers, and their own friends and family.

Read on for numbers 1-5. The next 5 are coming soon in Part 2!

Home Security Mistake #1: I don’t need professional monitoring. I can monitor my home security myself.

If you already have a home security system, that’s fantastic! But if the responsibility of monitoring your system’s signals is 100% on you, then you’re basically taking on a full-time job.

If something happens and you’re not available — for example, you’re in the shower, asleep, on vacation, or in a meeting — who is going to jump in and help?

Chances are, you won’t be able to single-handedly watch for alerts, 24/7/365. That means something major could slip through the cracks.

Try this: Get 24/7 professional monitoring.

You already have job-house-kids-friends-errands on your plate. And there are dedicated experts who focus on security monitoring 24 hours a day.

So let the professionals take this one. You can just take it easy.

Home Security Mistake # 2 : My home has “too much” privacy.

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Everyone loves that house that’s set far back from the street, the one hidden under a canopy of trees. It looks so deliciously private!

But anything that obstructs the view of your house is risky. Overgrown bushes, shrubs, and trees can signal a good hiding spot for intruders.

Try this: Tame that gorgeous greenery.

Maintain clear visibility around your yard by keep bushes and hedges trimmed to 3 feet or shorter. This makes it difficult for anyone to move around your yard without being noticed.

If you’re installing a fence, consider choosing a design that that’s not completely solid (often called privacy fences). It sounds counterintuitive, but if the pickets are completely closed, you and your neighbors won’t be able to spot prowlers.

Home Security Mistake # 3: I don’t know my neighbors.

A Pew Research study in 2018 revealed that about a quarter of adults under 30 don’t know any of their neighbors.

If you’re calling your neighbor “hey… guy” or “lady with the blue Honda,” it’s probably time to introduce yourself. And not just because it’s the classy move.

Try this: Get to know the people who share your community. These relationships not only improve overall personal well-being; they can also make neighborhoods safer.

More friendly, familiar faces equals more conversations, increasing the likelihood that neighbors will speak up if they see something out of the ordinary. Consider every new buddy...