6 Practical Upgrades That Actually Make Your Home Safer

Photo: AS Photography

Motion sensor lights are a solid option here. They stay off until something triggers them, so they won’t waste electricity, but they still do the job of catching people off guard.

If you only make one change after reading this, make it this one. A well-lit home is one of the biggest deterrents out there.

#2. Take a Closer Look at Your Doors

Here’s something most people don’t realize: many break-ins happen right through the front door. Not a basement window. Not the back fence. The front door.

So if you haven’t looked at yours in a while, now’s the time. The door itself should be solid – not hollow. The frame should be strong, and the deadbolt should go deep enough into the frame to actually hold if someone tries to kick it in.

If your door feels a little flimsy, reinforcing the strike plate with longer screws or adding a smart lock with stronger resistance can be a quick win. And if your garage has a connecting door into your home? Treat it like a main entry. Lock it, reinforce it, and don’t forget about it.

Photo: Di Weng

#3. Trim, Clear, and Tidy the Outside

Think about how your home looks from the street. Are there shrubs someone could hide behind? Is your front porch covered in packages? Do tools or ladders get left out in the yard?

Burglars aren’t usually working hard for a challenge. They look for opportunities. A messy or overgrown yard can make it look like no one’s home – or worse like no one’s paying attention.

#4. Lock Everything – Even the Stuff You Don’t Think About

You probably lock your front door. But what about the sliding door in the back? Or the window in the laundry room? Or the gate to the sideyard?

Most people forget at least one area, and that’s all it takes. Burglars aren’t always breaking in – they’re often just walking in where someone forgot to lock up.

One good habit is to do a quick lock-check before bed or when leaving the house, especially if you’ve had guests over or opened windows during the day. The goal isn’t to be paranoid – it’s just to remove easy access.

Photo: Michael Oxendine

#5. Make It Look Like Someone’s Always Home

Here’s something that’s easy to overlook: burglars often “case” homes before they act. That means they look for patterns – like when you’re usually out, how long lights are off at night, or whether the mail is piling up.

Even small touches can make a difference here. Use a timer to turn the lights on in the evening. Leave a radio playing in the background if you’re out during the day. Keep curtains in their usual position so it doesn’t scream “We’re not home.”

#6. Talk to Your Neighbors

This one costs nothing but might be one of the most underrated safety tools you’ve got. Knowing the people who live around you – and being known in return – can make your whole block safer.

If something unusual happens, they’re more likely to spot it and say something. If a strange car is parked out front or someone’s poking around your yard, they’ll know it’s not right.

You don’t need to organize block parties or form a watch group. Even just a casual hello, a shared heads-up, or a quick text, if you’re heading out of town, can create that informal circle of trust that keeps eyes on each other’s homes.

Let`s finalize: Small Steps, Big Difference…

Here’s the truth: no home is 100% secure. But that’s not the point. The goal is to make your home a tougher target, one that makes anyone with bad intentions think twice. Most of the steps we talked about? You can start them this week. And none of them require you to spend a fortune or install complex systems. It’s about being a little more intentional, a little more observant, and a lot more proactive.

You don’t need to feel anxious to take action. Think of it as simply taking care of your home, the same way you’d lock your car or close a window before it rains.