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If someone were to ask you how secure your home is, how would you respond? If you are like most people, you don’t give home security much thought on a day-to-day basis. You do not tend to think about it until something bad or unpleasant happens. But guess what? You can know just how secure your home is by employing a simple scoring system.

You can find different scoring systems online. You can also create your own. For the purposes of this post, I am relying on a scoring system embedded in a survey on the SafeHome website. You can use it yourself. Just answer the questions and let the tool rate your home’s security. The higher your score, the more secure your home is.

Scoring a home is as simple as looking at the various home security devices and strategies you utilize. You get a point for each one. The trick is looking at your home objectively. And of course, you might not know what to look for. That is why the SafeHome survey and rating system are so valuable.

Let’s Start With Your Lighting

Scoring your home’s security needs to start somewhere. Let us start with lighting. Here are a couple of sample questions from the SafeHome survey along with my explanations of why they are asked:

1. Are some of your lights on timers?

Timing or programming lights is a way to confuse burglars. If they see lights going on and off at various times throughout the day, they cannot tell for sure whether someone is home.

2. Are entry points well lit?

Criminals prefer darkness because it obscures their activities. Therefore, making sure all the entry points into your home are well lit can make you safer.

3. Do you utilize motion sensitive lighting?

Motion-sensitive lighting can be effective in scaring away burglars. You can also save money on exterior lighting by keeping lights off until they are needed.

Increasing safety with lighting requires both equipment and the right strategy. Motion sensitive lights and lighting that properly illuminates entry points cover the equipment side of things. Making the effort to program your lights addresses the strategy side.

Take a Look at Your Windows and Doors

First floor windows and doors are favorite entry points for burglars. That is why companies like Vivint Home Security include window and door sensors in every home security package. But do not rely exclusively on electronic home security. There are other things to consider.

1. Do you utilize deadbolts?

Deadbolt locks are a must-have for any homeowner looking to secure his property. They are not impossible to breach, but they are a lot tougher than standard handle locks. A deadbolt is really the bare minimum for locking a first-floor door.

2. Do your first-floor doors close tightly?

How a first-floor door fits into its frame is very important. A door that is not snug is a door that can be easily breached. Make sure all your first-floor doors close tightly and fit snugly in their frames.

3. Is your sliding glass door secured?

A sliding glass door makes an attractive entry point, especially if it is only protected by the factory lock. It is much harder to breach if it is also secured by a bar that prevents it from sliding open even if the lock is picked.

Protection Against Fire and Carbon Monoxide

Most people think of burglary and home invasion when the topic of home security comes up. Homeowners should also be thinking about fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Both can be deadly.

1. Do you have appropriate detectors?

Every home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector and two smoke detectors. A carbon monoxide detector can pick up CO emissions from a furnace, a gas stove, etc. As for smoke alarms, there should be one near the kitchen and another in the hallway outside of the bedrooms.

2. Do you have fire extinguishers?

Every home should be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Believe it or not, cooking fires are among the most common types of residential structure fires. Not having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen just does not make sense.

The View of Your Home From the Street

What criminals see of your home from the street can influence a decision to break in. Do not make the view inviting. If anything, the view from the street should discourage would-be burglars and home invaders.

1. Can packages be seen from the street?

Packages left on the porch are an open invitation to porch piracy. There are ways to keep packages out of sight, including remote storage lockers and having deliveries sent to a neighbor’s house.

2. Can passers-by see into your home?

Open blinds and garage doors give passers-by a clear view into your home. Your possessions might be an invitation to burglary. So close those blinds when you are away and keep the garage door closed whenever possible.

Electronic Home Security Equipment

It is possible to make a home very secure without any electronic equipment. However, electronic devices can enhance security considerably. Every electronic device added to a system creates another level of security and safety.

1. Do you use video cameras?

The wireless video camera is arguably among the most popular home security devices now on the market. Cameras are effective because they provide evidence. As such, they are a deterrent to both burglary and home invasion.

2. Do you pay for monitored home security?

Home security devices enhance safety and security when they are working properly. They are even more effective when they are monitored by a professional service provider. Professional monitoring offers 24/7 coverage regardless of whether you are home.

Hopefully, you now have a good idea of what a home security scoring system looks like. Whether you create your own system or use one you find online, scoring is a good way to tell just how secure your home is.