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Renting? That Doesn't Mean Your Home Shouldn't Be Protected

Written by Posted On Thursday, 08 June 2017 08:16
Renting? That Doesn't Mean Your Home Shouldn't Be Protected

When criminals determine which homes they want to target for a home invasion, burglary or other crimes, they do not know or care if your home is leased or owned by you. They simply want to get inside and conduct their business. With this in mind, renters must pay as much attention to home security as homeowners. If you are renting your home, you can follow these easy tips to improve your level of security at home.

Purchase a Renter’s Insurance Policy

If your home is broken into, you may lose thousands of dollars or more of belongings through theft as well as general damage. Your landlord’s property insurance policy may pay to fix a door that was busted in or a window that was shattered during the break-in, but that policy will not pay to replace your personal possessions.

A renter’s insurance policy typically includes reimbursement for financial loss related to theft. Ensure that your renter’s policy is in force, and also ensure that it has a reasonable value that will fully reimburse you for a total loss scenario.

Focus on Landscaping

The landscaping in your yard can dramatically impact your level of home security. Many criminals use the cover provided by vegetation to conceal their activities as they enter and leave the home. For example, they may cower behind a tall, thick bush while they break a window.

Take a closer look at the front of your home from the street. Focus on any bushes and tree branches that are blocking the view of doors and windows. Talk to your landlord about trimming these back to improve home security. Another idea is to add solar-powered lighting around your flower beds to further reduce the likelihood of criminal activity on your property at night.

Put Your Lights and TV on a Timer

Criminals most often target homes when the residents are away. This decreases their chance of getting caught. You can create the illusion that you are in the home even when you are traveling or are simply out for the evening by putting a few of your lights on a time.

For added benefit, consider putting a timer on your TV as well. Ensure that the timer turns the lights and TV on during the dusk hours and turns them off at a reasonable bedtime hour. Outdoor lights should also be switched on at a reasonably time each evening and should be left on until morning.

Invest in Home Automation

When you automate your home, you can link everything from your coffee maker and lights to your TV, HVAC system and garage door to your smartphone. These among other home automation ideas gives you the ability to ensure that you have closed the garage door properly at night while you are laying in bed, when you are sitting in a meeting at work, and more. You can also turn lights or the TV off and on as needed if you stay out later than you planned or in other similar scenarios.

When your home is automated, you can have complete control over many prime features in your home from anywhere where you have an Internet connection.

Final Word

Home security is most commonly a concern for homeowners, but anyone can fall victim to theft, home invasion, and other crimes. Renters must take steps to protect and secure their belongings and their home in many of the same ways that a homeowner does. Take time today to assess the current security level of your home. Then, make proper changes and upgrades as needed to improve the security of your rental home.

 

 

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Jamison Hutton

 

 

 

Jamison Hutton is a business and real estate enthusiast. He's a freelance journalist and loves writing about trends in the tech industry. He lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and son.

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