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Common Blunders in Home Security by Homeowners and Strategies to Evade Them

Experts reveal common oversights homeowners often face in property security, offering guidance to help you fortify your own residence effectively

Errors in home security that homeowners often commit, along with advice on how to prevent them
Errors in home security that homeowners often commit, along with advice on how to prevent them

Common Blunders in Home Security by Homeowners and Strategies to Evade Them

When renovating or updating your home, proper planning and thinking through a security system can pay dividends. Here's a guide to help you avoid common mistakes and ensure your home remains secure.

Incorrect Camera Positioning

One of the most common errors is installing cameras too high or at wrong angles, which may miss capturing faces or entry points. To avoid this, install cameras with a clear, comprehensive view of all vulnerable access points and ensure proper angles. Following manufacturer recommendations or seeking professional guidance can help prevent this problem.

Neglecting Firmware/Software Updates

Cameras and security devices must have their software regularly updated to maintain functionality and security against cyber threats. Neglecting these updates can render your security system ineffective.

Insufficient or Poorly Placed Lighting

Relying on a single floodlight usually at the front door leaves side paths, back doors, and garages dark and vulnerable. Motion-sensitive lights distributed at all entry points and dark areas improve visibility and deter criminals.

DIY Installation Pitfalls

DIY setups sometimes fail due to unconnected cameras or poor network integration, resulting in no actual recording. Ensuring devices are properly connected to power, Wi-Fi, and recording systems is critical. Testing the system after installation can reveal problems early.

Use of Fake or Misleading Security Signs

Displaying signs for high-end systems without the proper hardware, or signs mismatched to actual devices, can alert experienced burglars that the system is fake and invite them in.

Over-reliance on Single-Point Locks

Security should be layered; relying on one lock type without reinforcing doors/windows weakens protection.

Improper Mounting Hardware or Location

Mounting cameras or sensors on unstable surfaces leads to poor stability and issues with device operation.

Avoiding these mistakes involves planning the security layout carefully, incorporating layered protection (cameras, lighting, locks), ensuring correct installation practices, keeping all software current, connecting devices fully, and using authentic security indicators. Professional installation or at least consultation is recommended for complex setups.

Smart Locks and Security Systems

Upgrading to a multi-point locking system is recommended for improved home security. The Chrome Conexis L2 smart lock can be unlocked with a key tag, phone tag, or smartphone, while the Yale Linus smart lock L2 enables keyless entry and auto-locks when the door is closed.

Installing the 'best home security systems' can make homes more secure, but it's important to do it correctly. Simpled Smart locks offer digital access control for doors, while Infrared Security Beams from Amazon are an example of external detection devices.

Perimeter Security and Other Tips

Perimeter security, including external detection and internal sensors, provides better coverage and peace of mind. Motion-sensor timer set lighting in vulnerable areas such as by front doors, back doors, windows, and garage entry points is important for visibility and security.

Gravel driveways and paths are a simple, low-cost way to create noise and alert homeowners to unwanted visitors, acting as a top deterrent for intruders trying to move quietly around the property.

It's important to be aware of home CCTV and garden lighting laws to avoid unintentional invasion of neighbors' privacy. Even one of the 'best video doorbells' can make a real difference and help bring criminals to justice, as demonstrated by Amy Willis's Google Nest camera that caught a thief stealing her avocado sink.

However, consider the potential vulnerability of doorbell cameras to hacking before purchasing. Relying too heavily on off-the-shelf, DIY security products without professional design can lead to unreliable protection. Having a professionally monitored system ensures emergency response when the homeowner is away.

In conclusion, proper planning, layered security, and correct installation practices are key to maintaining a secure home. Stay updated with software, avoid fake security signs, and ensure your lighting and cameras provide adequate coverage. Professional guidance is recommended for complex setups to ensure maximum security.

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