20 Genius Traps to Shield Your Homestead When Chaos Strikes!
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Securing your homestead can save you nights without sleep or surprises. Deep Sentinel reports that rural areas often surpass their urban counterparts in property crime, primarily burglary and theft.
If you need to protect your property from intruders or natural disasters or just to feel safe, there are ways to prepare for any situation. Here are 20 creative, effective security measures that you can put in place to protect your home.
Install Motion-Activated Lights
A sudden beam of light is a perfect way of saying, ‘You’re being watched.‘ Simple but powerful, motion-activated lights will deter human trespassers as well as four-legged predators. Put them strategically close to entryways and even on walkways for maximum coverage.
Use Thorny Plants as a Natural Defense
Looking to ante up on your landscaping and security without cracking open your wallet? At windows and the boundaries of your property, plant thorny bushes, like roses or berry shrubs. These barriers are beautiful but not ideal for anyone to sneak through.
Add Noise-Making Gravel Walkways
Have you ever attempted creeping across a gravel path without being heard by every member of the neighborhood? Exactly. Building gravel walkways around your home is a noisy alert system you don’t need to monitor.
Upgrade The Doors With Deadbolts And Stops
Your first line of defense is a secure door. Of course, you need deadbolts, but why just stop there? You can get an extra layer of protection against forced entries with chain stoppers and foot-operated door stoppers.
Reinforce Sliding Glass Doors
Of course, sliding doors are convenient, but when it comes to security, they’re a weakness. Prevent unwanted access with secure tracks and steel pins or with wooden dowels.
Set Up Smart Security Cameras
Security cameras don’t just watch anymore; they communicate. When choosing cameras, go for connected cameras that will automatically notify your smartphone about activity in your home so that you can view it live. And bonus points if they are night vision and weatherproof!
Don’t Forget Battery-Operated Alarms
Battery-operated door and window alarms will work wonders if traditional security systems are not an option. Bonus? They are super affordable and very easy to install.
Use Infrared Driveway Alarms
Infrared driveway alarms allow you to keep an ear (or eye) on what is going on outside your property. These systems let you know when somebody or something comes into your driveway. 60% of burglars say they would seek an alternative target if they determine an alarm is on site.
Install Locking Gates
You should secure your front door and other entry points on your homestead. Locking the gates at property entrances can prevent would-be intruders from getting near your home in the first place.
Post Clear Signage
A simple ‘Private Property’ or ‘No Trespassing’ sign sometimes is all you need to keep strangers at bay. And the extra flair won’t hurt if you pair it with a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign, even if Rover is just a goofy, lovable dog.
Keep It Looking Lived-In
A property that’s unkempt screams’ nobody’s home’. Put a car in the driveway, set your lights on a timer, and increase outdoor decor. Doing this little thing could help your space not look like a target but a fortress.
Create Natural Fire Breaks
If your homestead is in a wildfire-prone area, then create defensible zones around the house with green grass, rock formations, or dirt patches. These breaks can slow or halt a fire’s advance toward your home.
Choose Fire Proof Building Materials
If you are building or remodeling, invest in fire-resistant roof and siding materials. You won’t need them often, but when you need them, they’ll be invaluable.
Store Firewood and Hay Properly
Remember, nothing is better for feeding a fire than unmanaged stacks of hay or firewood leaning against your walls. These materials should be stored at a distance from any buildings on your property.
Install A Fireproof Safe to Keep Valuables
Your important documents and keepsakes should have more protection. In a case of disaster, a fireproof safe will make sure your essentials are safe.
Invest in Surge Protectors
Natural disasters can even cause a strong electrical system to fail. Protect your electronics with surge protectors so you avoid replacing them.
Set Up Backup Power Systems
Chaos doesn’t have to be the norm when power goes down. Even when the grid goes down, you’ll keep running smoothly with solar panels or gas-powered generators.
Multiple Water Access Points Should Be Created
Fire hoses are not just for firefighters. Small fires or emergencies can be dealt with easily with placing long water hoses at key access points all around your homestead.
Secure Your Garage Like Fort Knox
Home security often disregards garage doors, which have become a known weak point. For even more protection, add slide bar latches or padlocks.
Maintain Good Relationships with Neighbors
A kind of the ultimate free security system? Friendly, watchful neighbors! Create a community network where one watches the other’s property. It’s old school, but it works.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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