Protecting Your Rural Home: 6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Safe | United Country Real Estate

6 Simple Ways to Protect Your Rural Home

Rural living has become popular in the past years during the pandemic because of the feeling of most people of the need for a more laid-back life with less crowd and pollution.  

But there are lots of security issues to deal with in rural areas.

Although the crime rate in rural areas is relatively lower than in urban areas mainly because of the size of the community, it can still happen.  

In fact, it was reported by the National Rural Health Association that rural areas or non-metropolitan areas have similarly high rates of violent and property crime. 

So how do you safeguard your home if you live in a rural location?  Protecting what is yours and most especially making sure that your family and those who live with you are safe will give the assurance and peace of mind that money cannot buy.  

We have some solutions to help you keep your homestead in the rural setting more secure and protected.  

These suggestions will help prevent opportunistic criminals from taking advantage and to make sure your rural home is not an easy target for them.

1. Security Survey and Assets Inventory

Before you list down things that you need to do to secure your rural home, it is wise to conduct a security survey and assets inventory.  

You can ask for help from the local sheriff’s station if they offer a free security survey or if they can provide a checklist that can serve as a guideline if you conduct the survey on your own.

A security survey would include:

• A complete perimeter check to identify potential entry points where outsiders can gain access to your property.
• A complete evaluation of the security of your home and determining points of easy entry
• A complete assessment of your home’s security system if you have one and determine if it is still working well.

An assets inventory involves tracking everything you own in your home including personal belongings.  A complete home inventory can expedite the insurance claims process after theft, damage, or loss.  

There are three ways to maintain a list of things you own:  written, digital, or visual.  

Pay special attention to your most valuable possessions like antiques, art, jewelry, collectibles, and electronic equipment.  

Keep a copy in a fireproof safe, safety deposit, or digitally in the cloud.  Send a copy to your insurance agent.

2. Tag Your Assets

Another important step in protecting the things you own, particularly those you listed in your asset inventory, is to tag them.  

Tagging can be done in several way:

• Branding
• Etching
• Engraving
• Metal ID Plates

Tagging your assets will help you and your insurance agent properly identify an item, in case it gets lost or stolen.  Tag things you own discreetly, in a place not easily noticed.  

The tags should match the details on your home inventory document.

3. Install a Good Security System

One of the crucial steps in developing home security to prevent crime from happening and to protect your assets is to install a good security system which includes:

• Security Cameras

Having CCTV installed in your home will immediately make your home safer.  There are many CCTV systems that will record footage of who is coming and going from your home with malicious intent.  

CCTVs are not only for business establishments.  

They also work well for domestic properties in rural locations to get any activity caught on camera.

• Motion Sensor:  Activated Lights and Security Lights

Motion sensors can be installed attached to alarms and security lights which can drive away thieves.  

They can be part of an effective alarm system in your rural home to deter intruders and send a signal to your security system provider or to the police.  

The more security lights you have around your home, the less the risk for robbery.  A sudden brightness and alarm will startle any thief.  So, even when you’re away and the alarm goes off, someone is able to come and check on your home.

A good security system that is properly installed will help keep you and your family and property safe, especially while you are away.  

Statistics show that a property is five times more likely to get burgled if there are no security measures in place.

4. Place Security System Signs Around Your Home

When thieves see security signs that tell them any activity around your home can be detected, it will give them a warning signal to look elsewhere for easier pickings. 

Include placing signs on the perimeter of your fence, if you have one, on your gate, and other locations on your property where they can gain access to your home.

5. Take Action on Discouraging Burglars from Targeting Your Home

There is no perfect location where crime and theft are not a problem.  Rural homes are also at risk.  

Other ideas that you can do to discourage burglars from targeting or entering your home include

• Always make sure that all windows and doors and portals of entry into your home are locked when you are away.
• Getting a watchdog or a guard dog (that barks and makes a lot of noise) as a means of defense.
• Add locking gates to all driveways and portals of entry along the perimeter of your fence.
• Build a perimeter fence on the homestead which can serve as a visual and/or physical barrier to reinforce your property line.
• Leave a radio or TV on when you are out for a quick errand.  You can set them on a timer to come on frequently while you are away during the day.

6. Take Necessary Precaution Using These Tips For Home Security If You Will Be Away For An Extended Period

Burglars can tell if you are not home, especially for an extended period of time.  Some burglars check on your property to identify days when you are not present.  Make sure you don’t give them the right signals by

• Contacting the mail and newspaper service to pause deliveries while you are not around.
• Disposing of your garbage and leaving your garbage cans out of view.
• Placing lights on a timer at night or during the darker times of the day.
• Have the shrubs and grass cut by your service provider.
• Leaving notification information to your trusted neighbor that you will be gone for an extended time.

Create Your Home Security System

If you need to invest in the security of your home, it is wise to do so.  A security system and security fitting will last for a long time and can add value to your property.  

Home security improvements will help you secure your rural home while you are on your property and while you are away.