We live in a day and age when violent crime is relatively low. However, there’s been a dramatic uptick in US crime since 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, crime rose by 28.64%!
This is why it’s more important than ever for homeowners to protect their property with the latest technology. It’s not enough to live in a safe part of town or rely on watchful neighbors.
This is true for your primary residence and any rental property you might own. Security technology can help protect you and your tenants. And with the right property management company, you can delegate all your security needs.
So without further ado, here are 4 technologies that will help keep you and your property safe:
Smart locks
Smart locks are locks connected to a wireless network. Once installed, they can be controlled by authorized users from devices like your smartphone or smartwatch.
The main advantage of having a smart lock is that it allows you to lock or unlock your door remotely.
Say you’re away from home and you’re not sure if you locked the door behind you. No need to worry. You can double check with your phone.
Or say a family member is locked out of the house while you’re away. Unlock the door for them from afar. This is far better than leaving an emergency key hidden under the doormat since that’s one of the first places intruders know to look.
Without a doubt, smart locks are safer than regular locks.
Video doorbells
Answering the door is always a risk, especially when you don’t know who it is. You never know if an intruder will try to force their way into the house or threaten you at the doorstep.
Video doorbells solve this problem. With the help of a small camera, they let you see who’s at the doorstep, and with the help of a small microphone and speaker, you can speak to them without opening the door.
This way, you don’t have to peer through a tiny peephole or open the door to talk. You remain safe behind the door until you feel comfortable enough to open it.
Plus, video doorbells can record and store suspicious activity while you’re away. Most even have an infrared camera, which lets you see who’s there even after dark.
Video doorbells are easy to install and often under $100. For the added security and ease of use, they’re well worth the cost.
Automated lights
Lights indicate that someone is home. So if all your lights are off, it could encourage intruders to break in.
Enter light automation. Automated lights can be programmed to turn on and off at random times to make it look like someone is home even if there isn’t. This is especially useful when you’re gone for an extended period of time, like on vacation.
In addition, outdoor automated lights can be programmed to turn on after dark. This helps illuminate the outside of your house and deter thieves who prefer to sneak around under the cover of night.
Though it may seem like a big project at first, switching to automated lights is an easy way to protect your home and will pay off big time in the long run.
Window and glass break sensors
Lastly, window and glass break sensors can alert you anytime a window opens or breaks. For example, you can set it up so you get a text anytime a window opens while you’re away.
The same goes for glass break sensors. Anytime they detect a glass break, you can be notified immediately.
Both of these technologies help you react to break-ins faster, whether that’s by calling the police, getting your children to a safe place, or confronting the intruder head-on. The earlier you know what’s going on, the better position you are in to react.
Final thoughts
Home security is a serious matter. You want to do everything you can to keep your loved ones and property safe.
So don’t delay. Implementing small security measures today can save you a lot of pain and loss later.