There is nowhere that is more precious than your home and that is why it’s so important to keep your home safe. One of the best ways to ensure long term security when it comes to your home is by investing in a home insurance policy. By researching an effective home insurance policy and by purchasing one, you protect yourself against financial loss if something unexpected happens to your cherished abode. However, by taking additional measures to maintain and protect the security of your home, you can reduce your home insurance premium and also reduce the risk of a claim. 

Unfortunately, one of the more common threats to your home is burglary. According to the Central Statistics Office, there were a total of 16,722 burglaries committed in Ireland in 2019. Having someone break into your home while you are away can be scary and it can feel violating. Many people even experience anxiety about an additional break-in the months after the original event happened. While burglaries are undeniably scary there are a number of steps that you can take to massively reduce the risk of a break in. Some methods are more expensive and some methods are lower cost. At insuremyhouse.ie we have put together some keen advice to help you protect your home and the ones you love.

1.First-up: Protect the points of entry. 

Oftentimes when we think of burglars, we imagine them head to toe in black and being crafty enough to climb through all sorts of crevices. However, in reality, the most common point of entry for a burglar in Ireland, is the front door. The most basic advice that can be given when it comes to protecting your home from burglary is investing in a secure lock system. Before we even get down to alarm systems, lights and technology, it’s vital to get the fundamentals right. Check your doors regularly and ensure your locks are working as they should. Locks wear down over time, they get loose or they get stiff and they just simply become less effective. Chub locks are a handy way to marginally increase the safety of your home for example. These are an additional lock that can be put in place to make your door more secure. 

You should also ensure that your back door, sliding door or any other entry points to your home are sufficiently locked at night. It’s a good idea to remember to never leave windows open while you are asleep or alternatively when you are leaving your home as these can also enable burglars to gain entry to your home. 

2.Invest in an alarm system. 

Naturally one of the most common methods to improve the security of your home is an alarm system. By doing your research and investing in an alarm system not only can you prevent burglary but you can also reduce your home insurance premium. 

There are a number of different alarms that are available in Ireland which can give you and your family peace of mind. 

A security alarm system is generally split between two options, a wireless alarm and a wired alarm. Monitored alarm systems includes sensors, telephone lines and broadband. The house security company then alerts you or the emergency services when the sensors or the alarms are triggered during an attempted break in. Typically for this method you have pay an initial installation fee and the subsequently, a monthly or yearly monitoring and maintenance fee. 

Another option which is available is a smart home security system. A smart home security system contacts your smartphone or tablet app, when the alarm goes off. It typically involves an annual or monthly contract. An Irish provider of a smart home security alarm is Smartzone.ie. Smartzone provide app control so that you can control your entire home alarm system via your phone or your tablet. They also offer professional monitoring which means that your home is secured 24 hours a day. You might be scratching your head at this method and wondering what happens if the broadband goes down? Well in that instance, there’s no need to worry because Smartzone.ie alarms work off GSM and IP internet communication ensuring that if your internet is down or just a bit dodgy, your home will remain protected. Finally, all of the sensors provided by Smartzone.ie work in harmony with one another. This means that you can avail of additional products to create an even smarter and techy savvy home. What’s not to like? 

3. Lean on your neighbours. 

While innovative technology is definitely enabling us to have safer homes, there’s nothing quite like a set of human eyes. Friendly neighbours are an invaluable resource when it comes to protecting your home, especially if you are planning on heading away for a while. When you’re planning for a trip, consider popping next door to see if your neighbours wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on the house. If your neighbours tend to be obliging, then it might also be worth asking them to remove any post or parcels in your absence. Mounting post in front of your door is a clear sign to burglars that you have gone away, and you don’t want to give them any ideas! 

Bonus tip: 

On a spin off from building relations with your neighbours, do some research to see if there is a neighbourhood watch programme in your area. Neighbourhood watch programmes are a lot more beneficial and effective than you might think. These programmes can significantly reduce the amount of crime in your neighbourhood. 

It’s even worth making a phone call to the gardai to ask them if they could call to your next gathering for a few minutes and provide you with inside advice on how to protect the homes in your area. Failing that, you could also ask them to provide advice via phone. They’re always happy to help. 

At insuremyhouse.ie we think it’s very important to take all the steps necessary to protect your home and also your family. Don’t be afraid to mention any additional steps that you take to increase security in your home to your home insurance broker, it could result in a discount.

For a quote on home insurance or for any further advice please contact insuremyhouse.ie.