Posted by By Oretta Croushore, Property Manager for Home Rental Services
Safety is a universal concern. We take all kinds of measures to keep ourselves, and our families, safe. From washing our hands to keep germs at bay, wearing a seat belt, locking the car doors, to taking self-defense classes, conceal carry, and security systems. Every day, we make conscious and subconscious decisions to protect ourselves in one way or another.
If you’re interested in making your home a safer place there are some products out there that can help:
Security Film
My mom’s dream home is probably an all glass house. You know the ones with wall to wall, floor to ceiling windows. For me, this sounds like a torture chamber. I require total darkness to sleep.
We put a piece of painters tape over the obnoxious blue light on our bedroom TV which is brightest when the TV is off. I have blackout curtains and they need to be securely tucked around the window so no sunlight can sneak in uninvited. My husband has referred to me as a vampire as a harsh overhead light actually causes my flesh to sizzle.
Other than my aversion to bright light, an uncovered window makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t feel secure in a place where I feel like someone can see in. I recently learned there is a security film you can purchase for the glass in your home. It’s similar to a screen protector for your phone. It’s sticky on one side to adhere to the glass. It actually prevents the glass from shattering when struck. This could be especially useful where there is a window in the door. This film keeps the glass together if it’s struck which keeps someone from breaking the window and reaching in to unlock the door.
On Amazon, I found it comes in both 4 mil and 8 mil thickness. (Shop for Security Film here.)
Security Bars for the Door
The first kind of security bar starts from the floor and goes up to wedge under the door knob. It keeps someone from being able to open the door from the outside. The bar is easy enough to remove if you need to make an emergency exit. This can also be taken with when you travel. You can use it in a hotel room or a vacation rental. (Shop for the vertical door bar here.)
There is also a horizontal style of security bar. It does require you to install some hinges in the door frame. It creates a barricade better than any dresser you might push in front of the door. It’s also easier on your back. (Shop for the horizontal door bar here.)
Barrier Style Door Locks
A barrier style door lock makes me think of what you would see in a hotel room. It flips out to literally keep the door from opening all the way. It can withstand 800 pounds of force and is kick resistant. (Shop for the barrier style door lock here.)
Traditional styles of barrier locks, like the good old fashioned chain, do provide a good second line of defense. You wouldn’t want to rely on them to be your only lock when you go to sleep at night. In conjunction with a knob lock and/or deadbolt they will definitely make it harder for an intruder to get through.
Our home came with an upgraded version of the barrier lock. It’s the kind where the lever on the door frame flips over the piece on the door. It also has a little peg you can put into the mechanism that keeps the lever from being flipped without removing the wedge.
If you have ever lived in a house with a slider, you are probably familiar with the wedge style of lock. In my house, it’s called “The Stick” because it’s basically a cut down dowel used for hanging clothes in the closet. It fits perfectly between the space between the door that slides and the frame. If you’ve ever tried to open the slider for an anxious pup who wants to go out right now without removing “The Stick” you can attest to its effectiveness. In my early days at HRS, our locksmith told me this is actually one of the best locking types to keep intruders out.
Travel Barrier Locks
Earlier I mentioned the door wedge could be used for travel. This is a smaller version that could easily fit into your suitcase. One of the HRS family members has a hubby who travels for work a lot. He frequently travels internationally. They got this for him to use in hotel rooms.
If you start to research this thing, you will find all the ways a person can break into a hotel room. It’s unnerving. This little guy is inexpensive and provides peace of mind. (Shop for the travel barrier lock here.)
Security Systems
There are endless types of security systems on the market. Just like about anything else, the limit is only your imagination and your budget.
On the low end, there are sensors you can put on doors or windows which alert you when they are opened. These can be great if you have tiny escape artists in your house.
On the higher end of the spectrum, you can set up security cameras around the house, smart doorbells like the Ring, to complete systems that include all these components like SimpliSafe. Many of these security systems are permanent, but often have solutions for short term installations like a person might want in a rental property.
Safety First!
There are countless products out there to increase your home’s safety and help you sleep easier at night. I encourage you to look at how these systems work, consider installing some of these options and make sure everyone in your home knows how to use them. (Remember, safe egress in an emergency is as much a concern as keeping intruders out!)
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