Home Alarm System Review – Security Plan Checklist

So, this is the first home where you've decided to apply a security plan - Good for you!

No matter what this plan includes:

• personal safety policies,
• DIY home alarm,
• window protection,
• external burglar-proofing

you will do well to begin with a simple checklist.

Use the do it yourself home security system checklist below and you build yourself a security plan that covers your property and its weak spots.

Your first security point is the externalsThis doesn't sound glamorous yet it is vital both as prevention and as backup, if you ever need it.

Here you need to cover the following in your plan of action. Tick them off as you deal with each one.

• Tools and objects. Do not leave these lying about the grounds of the property, especially tools that give a wannabe burglar a helping hand. For example, gardening tools, ladders, and items that are handy when breaking a window.
  If possible put a lock on your garden shed, garage or workshop. If this is where your tools are stored, don't make it easy for a burglar to access them.

• Lighting. Expose burglars with motion detection lights. They like to reduce the risks in their profession, so being visible under lighting is not part of their M.O.

• Hidey holes. Take a fresh look at the shrubs and trees around your property. Are there any that snuggle up to the building and make good hiding places for a burglar to wait - for the right time to break in; for a resident to arrive home; while they work on a door or window to break in or pick the lock?
  Prune these back, or relocate valuable plants if desired. This is the same approach as with the gardening tools, don't give burglars a helping hand. Do yourself a favor, clean up and expose your property to clear scrutiny.

• Finally, in this "Externals" category, make a connection with your local Neighborhood Watch. Attend some meetings, meet the key players, meet your neighbors, talk security, listen to what's been happening and what others are doing about it. Become informed, it will help you make some of those choices that will come up from your security plan.

The second point on your security plan checklist is Entry Points

Identify all the entry and exit points on your property. 

Remember to include the tiny window in the bathroom or any 

other pokey entry-point around the house. 

Once you have a list of these - doors and windows included - 

you need to undertake a matching exercise of these against 

a range of DIY home alarm options. 

While you can go the more expensive, monitored and hard-wired 

security route, first off take a look at what's on offer in 

the DIY wireless home alarm range. 

There are excellent choices available these days due to the 

reliable and solid technology about. You will get high-value 

performance from a smart match between your access points and 

one of the motion detector alarms or window alarms, window 

locks or other options.

For more detail on how to assess your individual windows and 

doors and select the best home security for them, use this 

window and door alarms link.

Your third point of consideration is keys. Yes, keys. These 

are the small, easy to lose tools that give anyone who has 

them direct and free access to your home.

So, who does have a copy of your keys? And where do you keep 

them? Does everyone and their dog have a copy? Are they under 

the mat or the flower pot? You might think this sort of 

INsecurity measure went out with old 1950s movies, but some 

folk still persist.

Once you've worked your way through your security plan 

checklist, this will be a thing of the past.

If you live in a rental property, consider having the locks 

changed so previous tenants, who will almost certainly have 

a key to the front door, cannot be tempted to try a bit of 

easy theft.

If you have children, or adults with poor management skills, 

who hold copies of house keys, increase the stakes for 

failing to manage those keys securely. 

How about you make them responsible for paying for new 

key copies, if they are lost, or, make them responsible for 

paying for some of the cost of having the locks changed due 

to them losing their keys and putting the house at risk?