Home
Security Checklist
Before going through
the checklist to see what items you need to address,
you may want to ask yourself a few questions. What do you expect from
your home security plan? What is my home
security budget? Think about what you want to
get out of a plan as well as your feelings and
misgivings about your current plan. By doing a
little thinking upfront, you could save yourself a
great deal of time implementing a new plan.
Once you have decided
that you need a new plan, take a look at the home
security checklist below and see what areas you need
to work on and what areas satisfy your needs.
This checklist is also
great when you decide that you are going to consult
with a security professional to help build your home
security system and plan. You can develop
questions and be prepared to have a productive
consultation by looking your property over before
you hire someone from a
home security company.
Doors and Windows
Check for a
secure door design/construction - outside doors
should not be hollow
Strike plate installed properly
Door hinges installed properly and secure
Is
there a window in the door? Does the glass
need upgrading?
Deadbolt security -
check for proper installation. Is your
deadbolt safe enough?
Fencing/Gates
Check for holes and proper
construction. Is your fence for keeping things
in or keeping things out?
Security Devices
Check for the following devices and
ask yourself these questions - Do I need it?
If yes, how many do I need and why?
Cameras
CCTV
Recorders
Alarms
Panic buttons
Glass break sensors
Motion detectors - inside and outside
Door and window contact switches
Signage
Do you have appropriate signs on your
property? For example, if you have dogs, you
may want a sign on the perimeter of the property
warning people of the dogs' presence. You may
also want a sign saying that your house is monitored
24 hours a day or something similar.
Lighting Indoor and Outdoor
Outdoor lighting - are all areas near
the home well lit? If the lights aren't on all
the time, are they set on a timer?
Indoor lighting - when you are away
you may want to have a few lights on timers placed
around the home. Keep in mind that you should
vary the timing of the lights so that they don't
come on at the exact same time daily. Most
burglars will know what schedules lights are on so
try to mix it up.
Emergency Plan
Whether you are
a small family or big business you need to have an
emergency plan in place.
Where will you meet
in event of an emergency?
Contact person not within the group?
Food/medical supplies for at least 3
days?
The Department of Homeland Security
has a great Family Emergency plan you may want use.
http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/familyemergencyplan.pdf
