Your home is your sanctuary—a place that protects you and your family from the elements, intruders, and other dangers. Although your roof may be stout, your foundation sturdy, and doors and windows secure, stuff still happens. Elevate your home’s safety with the following budget-friendly tools and tricks.
1. Secure Your Doors and Windows
Even though your exterior doors have locks and deadbolts, a determined intruder can get in with a few strong kicks. Make it harder by strengthening your doorjamb with longer strike plate screws and a door edge guard. Anchor the strike plate screws into the stud right behind the doorjamb. To install a door edge guard, measure the thickness of the door and ask for assistance at your local hardware store.
Reinforce the garage door with a plywood reinforcement panel and then place 2x4s in bar-holder brackets. To keep double-hung windows secure, install inexpensive pin locks.
2. Install a Doorbell Camera
One of the most inexpensive ways to secure your home from intruders is to install a doorbell camera. They come with smart integrations that allow you to see who’s on your porch and at your front door. They work by detecting motion and feature remote video and audio capabilities all for the low fee of about $20 per month.
3. Keep Your Property Well-Maintained
If your property has a weedy, overgrown lawn and dead trees, intruders may mistake it for a vacant property. Overgrown shrubs near the house make it easier for those with bad intentions to snoop around your home unnoticed.
4. Have Adequate Outdoor Lighting
Intruders don’t like being in the spotlight. Scare them away with plenty of outdoor lighting. You’ll also lower the risk of you and well-intended visitors stumbling and falling. Choose from motion-activated lights, energy-saving solar-powered lights, and smart light bulbs on a timer.
5. Sign Up for Pest Control
Some of the most dangerous home invaders don’t walk on two legs. Mosquitos, roaches, rodents, and other pests carry diseases that make you sick. Insects like mosquitos and carpenter ants can destroy the structure of your home. Mice can chew electrical wiring and create a fire hazard. Stay safe by signing up with a professional pest control service.
6. Regularly Inspect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Responsible homeowners add smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to their homes. But if they have dead batteries or are malfunctioning, these devices will do you no good. Inspect and test them regularly. If you hear a beep or chirp, change the batteries. Following the practice of changing batteries with the time changes is a good idea.
7. Download a Free Wi-Fi Camera App
Do you have a still-functioning old smartphone? Install a free Wi-Fi camera app. Hide your old smartphone and connect it to your current phone. It will give you access to motion detection, remote viewing, two-way communication, and a loud siren.
8. Invest in a Document Shredder
Identity theft is a huge problem these days. Shred personal papers, bank statements, and other tell-tale documents with a document shredder. You can purchase one at an office supply store for around $20.
Daniel 
Sarah Ross