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5 Tips for Your Secure Home Plans

June 26, 2019

When you’re building a custom home, you should make sure to plan for the future. And this includes doing whatever you can to be sure you and your family are as safe as possible. A secure home plan is designed to provide protection against any number of potential threats. These threats could be natural disasters, accidents, or forced entry by intruders. There should be certain security measures available no matter what your budget is. And you usually won’t have to sacrifice the look you want for your home for safety. Read on to find some of our expert tips for secure home plans. Secure All Points of Access Make sure your doors, windows, and garage will all be incredibly secure. Reinforce your windows by using security film, which is a thin layer of plastic that helps prevent them from breaking. You can also use steel mesh or aluminum security shutters or bars. And you can even use landscaping to protect windows, by planting thorny bushes in front of them—but make sure to trim the bushes so they don’t completely block the windows either. When it comes to your doors, it’s of course important to make sure the locks are sturdy. If you’re not sure what material to use, a high-quality, very solid material such as metal or wood will be much more secure than something low-quality and hollow. Add a deadbolt and a strike plate. See if you can install a video doorbell or at least add a peephole. Intruders love when homes have sliding doors because they’re easier to break into. However, if you really want your home to have sliding glass doors, you can actually make those more secure as well. Add an adjustable security bar or a floor bolt. You can also use technology additions, such as door contact sensors or glass break sensors. Don’t overlook your garage. There could be many items stored in there that burglars would take if it isn’t sufficiently secure. Also, remember to lock any outdoor gates or sheds. Finally, while this may seem obvious, always make sure your windows, doors, and garage are locked at night or when the house is empty. Light Your Space Have a lot of light outdoors, especially near entryways. Burglars are more likely to target and frequent places with dark areas because that means they are less likely to be seen and caught. One popular option is to use motion sensing lights, which will automatically turn on if there’s any movement. These lights can scare potential intruders away. And because they only turn on when there’s motion, you’ll save energy and won’t annoy neighbors by having your lights on all night. Additionally, a well-lit path can help prevent any residents from tripping and injuring themselves. You can choose solar-powered lights for a more energy-efficient solution. Invest in a Security System Install a home security system and other technology, such as security cameras and various alarms. The home security system can be installed at the same time as the other electronics in your home. You can install this yourself or, if you’re worried you won’t do it correctly, have a professional install it. Check if you need to get a permit for an alarm system. This can include wireless window alarms, which go off when the windows are forcibly opened. Adding a home automation system can allow you to have control of this technology while you are away and can also give you alerts of any suspicious activity. Safeguard for Fire Fire resistance is extremely important. Add a sprinkler system, a fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, fire and smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. If you have multiple stories, purchase fire escape ladders for each room. If you really want a wood-burning fireplace in your home, use a screen. These tips could end up saving lives. Get the Most Out of Your Floorplan When you’re building a custom home, you can design it with a secure home plan in mind. If you’re building on a lot, designers can do an assessment and let you know about any potentially vulnerable spots. Ask if you can position rooms in a way that will throw off potential intruders. An open living area can allow you to keep an eye on your children, and make sure they’re safe, at the same time you’re cooking dinner. A panic or safe room could potentially be included in your secure home plans, since one of the benefits of designing your custom home is that you can add as many extra rooms as you want. Make sure the stairs are safe, as children or elderly family members could easily fall down and suffer serious injuries. At the very least, make sure your staircases have railings. Also, consider keeping valuables in a vault or in other special hiding places, such as built-in storage with locks. Alternative energy and sustainability systems are also part of secure home plans. Here at New Tradition Homes, we are a national leader in energy-efficient home building, so we always encourage sustainable solutions. You can use alternative, off-grid energy systems, such as wind turbines that are made for rooftops or portable power generators. Having a backup system will also help in case of power outages and storms. And speaking of backups, try to have emergency supplies of food, water, and medication, just in case. It’s always in your best interest to be extra cautious, and after all, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Of course, one of the benefits of designing your custom home is that you can include these secure home plans from the ground up, instead of adding them on later. When you build a custom home with us at New Tradition Homes, we’ll be sure to do whatever we can to make your home as safe as possible. After all, we’re one of the biggest homebuilders in the state of Washington for a reason. We’ve been building homes since 1987, so you can trust our experience and expertise, including with your secure home plans. You can find additional information on our custom homes and more on our website.