How can I best secure my home?
It is widely advertised on radio and television, and it is also a question that many people ask themselves: Should I spend money on securing my home? In the commercials on TV you often see someone who has just been burgled and who regrets not having secured their home sooner. In this way, companies create a fear among people who do not yet have any security, who are then inclined to spend money on it anyway. But is this right, and is securing a house really necessary?
Let’s start with the fact that the chances of a burglary or robbery in this country are not very high. Statistically, the chance of your house being broken into is not very high. On the other hand, the impact of a burglary is very great. Both on a material level and certainly for the people who are the victims. They often suffer for a long time from the consequences of a burglary. Think of fear and uncertainty, and sleep problems as a result. That is why, despite the small chance, it is a very important subject.
The figures on burglaries vary widely, but it probably doesn’t matter how big the chance of a burglary is. You want to do everything you can to prevent it. That is why securing your home is a good solution to minimise the chance that burglars will be able to get into your home. It is worth mentioning that even after securing your home, the chances are never zero. Nevertheless, there are many solutions which can also be useful in terms of burglary prevention. After all, you would prefer to prevent a burglary, which has far less impact.
Studies show that houses which are properly secured are much less likely to be chosen by burglars for a break-in. This is mainly due to the deterrent effect. Studies have shown that just screwing a sign to the wall that says “This house is secure” is enough to deter many malicious people. For people with a small budget or who do not want to buy an expensive system, this can be a good solution. There is a large market for these kinds of items, think of dummy cameras, signs with a guard dog on them or sensors that turn lights on and off in the garden. This already has a huge effect, without having to spend a lot of money.
If you want to go a step further, you will probably end up with a specialised company. There are also many gradations possible here. From just hanging up a few cameras to keeping an eye on your house 24 hours a day. Most people will choose a solution that lies somewhere in between. There is constant innovation in this field, because it is a very large market. Criminals are not sitting still either, and it is very important for security companies to always have an edge.
Do some research beforehand, so that you know exactly what you want and there are no surprises. The thing you hope to achieve of course is a feeling of security, so it is good to determine in advance what that actually means for you. For example, would you like to have an emergency button in your home with which you can call someone from the security company? Or would you like cameras to be able to watch over your house so that you can intervene in case of suspicious situations? This is all possible, but it all costs money, of course. That is why deciding what you don’t want is just as important as deciding what you do want.
Once you have completed all the preparations, it is time for the next step. You can now start looking for a company that you would like to work with to secure your home. There are companies that offer security for a relatively low price, but there are also companies that offer very advanced systems, which are of course more expensive. We advise you never to go with the first company you meet, but to always choose several companies. If you request a quote from at least three companies, you will then have a good idea of what is possible. That way, you can also compare prices in a fair way.
A good indication of whether the company can actually meet your expectations is to read the reviews and ratings of other people. You can find a lot of information about larger companies in particular. Make sure the reviews are written independently. This is very important for obtaining an objective and clear picture of a company and its services. This way you avoid disappointments. Installing a security system is a costly affair that does not happen often, so it is worth paying more attention before you decide to buy one. Often there is also a subscription involved, so you will have to deal with the company and their customer service on a regular basis. It is therefore important that these experiences are pleasant and run smoothly.
The above piece is all about securing homes. Securing business premises or industrial estates, for example, is a completely different matter. There are companies active in both segments, but they usually do not excel in both. If you are looking for information about securing your business premises and not your home, other criteria are important.
Nothing is as important as feeling safe in your own home. Therefore, take this very seriously, but do not be frightened by everything you hear and see. Try to make a well-considered choice as to what is important for you and then try to implement it as well as possible. Securing your home can be a very pleasant step and make you feel much more secure, but it will probably only work if you pay enough attention to it beforehand. Therefore, keep informing yourself until you are no longer in doubt about your choice, then the chances are greatest that you will still be happy with your choice afterwards!
