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7 Tips for Securing an Empty House

Posted On Monday, 28 December 2020 20:42
7 Tips for Securing an Empty House

Whether a house is empty because its residents are away on vacation or because it's an investment property waiting for new owners or fresh tenants, it's critical to secure it in order to protect it from those with malicious intent. 

Not only will a home that’s been broken into require expensive repair, but it will also lose value on the property market. In addition, a house with poor security is usually more challenging to rent out, especially if it’s a family home. 

On the other hand, a secure home has higher value — anyone who comes to see the property will be impressed by how safe they feel. Here are some tips that can help you secure an empty house: 

1. Consult Security Experts

One of your best options is to consult experts who specialize in securing empty homes. However, this may not be cost-effective, especially in an extremely competitive housing market where profits are thinner by the day. 

Alternatively, visit a platform like Security Picks — this trustworthy website is the definitive resource for security information and offers the latest updates, guides, and data. Here, you can find various options in security to suit your budget.

2. Use Sophisticated Locks 

While many homeowners rely on key boxes to help their real estate agents show their properties to potential tenants and buyers, such devices are easily breached — burglars can easily break into key boxes, take keys, and enter homes to steal furniture and other precious items. 

An electronic padlock that opens with a pin code is much safer than traditional lockboxes. More advanced electronic locks also pair with smartphones to send alerts to homeowners whenever they're activated. 

Of course, homeowners must never leave spare keys in planters, under mats, or in bird boxes as these are the first places criminals check for keys. Similarly, garage doors should be hard-locked from the inside with a deadbolt as automatic garage doors are vulnerable to intruders. 

3. Invest in Cameras

You don’t have to break the bank to secure a house with cameras. If you can’t justify investing in a professional alarm system, consider buying self-install security set for hotspots such as the front door, backdoor, and other entry points. A good set comes with alarms, cameras, and sensors. What’s more, it takes a few hours to install and doesn’t require proficiency in electronics. 

4. Install Sophisticated Lights

Nothing makes an empty house more inviting to crooks than darkness. In the cover of the night, thieves feel confident when planning nefarious activity. However, you don’t want to leave the lights on in an empty house and rack up the energy bills either.

• Motion Detector Lights: Install motion detector lights to light up pathways, the yard, backdoor, and other key points of the property. For greater energy efficiency, you can find solar powered motion detector lights that charge up during the day and activate, if necessary, at night. An added benefit of motion detector lights is that they'll keep other unwanted guests away from finding a way inside, like squirrels and raccoons, especially during the winter. Remember, critters that live in empty homes can be a nightmare to remove.
• Timer Lights: For the inside, consider adding a light that switches on with a timer in order to make the home look occupied in the evenings. If you invest in smart lights, you can even activate them remotely, though admittedly, this option is more labour-intensive.
• Energy Efficient Light Bulbs: If you want something simple, turn on an energy-efficient lightbulb in a room with the curtains drawn to make the house seem occupied. 

5. Pay Attention to Maintenance

Pay attention to upkeep, even if no one is living in the house. In warmer weather, the lawn should be watered and mowed regularly — an automatic sprinkler system can be useful in this situation. Meanwhile, you must have the driveway cleared regularly during the winter.  

While a well-maintained home is more secure because it looks occupied, it also has more curb appeal and higher market value. The neighbours of such a property will also be more appreciative of your efforts.

6. Stop the Mail

A house looks inviting to crooks if its mailbox is overflowing or a big pile of packages and large envelopes sits on its porch. You can stop a house’s mail by contacting the post office if you can’t regularly collect the mail yourself. 

7. The Homeowners Should Keep a Low Profile

With criminals growing more sophisticated by the day, homeowners need to keep a low profile about their empty houses. They should avoid sharing information publicly on social media, answering machines, and with strangers.  

Although an empty house faces many security threats, these seven tips can help you keep it secure until it's occupied again. Not only are most of these measures easy to adopt, but they're cost-effective as well.

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