Let’s face it, we live in South Africa, a country in which crime is a reality. Security measures are therefore actually selling features, as people want to feel safe and secure in their own homes. If your house is free standing and not located within a security estate or complex, it is even more important to improve your property’s security measures. You will increase your peace of mind and the appeal of your home for potential buyers if you do decide to sell.

The following basic and free measures must always be applied:

Start by securing your home from the outside in, as you want to avoid intruders from even wanting to enter your yard and preferably eliminate your house as a target.

  • Trim shrubs and bushes to eliminate hiding places and cut overhanging tree branches, if possible, to prevent easy access onto your property;
  • Don’t leave things lying around outside, pack them away;
  • Lock garden tools away in the garage or tool shed, as these can be used as a means of gaining entry or even weapons;
  • Does your house look well-kept and well lit? A well-kept periphery conveys the message that the owners pay attention to the property which by connotation denotes that security measures are probably in place. If your house is well lit, it would be easier for neighbours to see if there are intruders lurking in front of or inside your garden.
  • Mount 24 hour armed response security boards on your front wall (assuming you have contracted a security company to provide such service).

The following more sophisticated and costly measures can be applied: 

Next, you need to deter intruders from choosing to gain entry to your home by making access to your property more difficult and time consuming, as this will add to their level of frustration and chances of being caught in the process.

  • Firstly, make sure that your perimeter walling is secure and solid and install electrified fencing. Although an electric fence is penetrable, it is very visual and it is the earliest way in which your alarm can be triggered if the fence is tampered with. An electric fence is the first visual deterrent which will hopefully prevent criminals from targeting your property. Ensure that the fence is installed by a registered electric fence installer. The new law says that electric fences must now be certified with an electric fence system certificate of compliance (EFC). In terms of this new law, all properties with an electric fence can only be transferred after 1 December 2012, if an EFC has been lodged with the conveyancing attorney;
  • Should the criminals somehow manage to bypass your electric fence, you want to prevent them from even being able to approach your house. Install external motion sensor lights and beams around your house which will trigger your alarm if such beams are passed in your garden;
  • All windows and doors should be fitted with secure burglar bars or security gates and strong locks;
  • Fit visible cameras at gates, entrances and on external facades of your house which link up to a CCTV system. Not only are these visible deterrents, but should you hear a noise or your alarm is triggered at night, it is a lot safer to view what’s happening on TV rather than going outside and potentially jeopardising your family’s safety.

Measures to be applied inside the home:

You need to protect your family from harm; or safeguard your belongings should you or your family be absent from home during a break in.

  • An alarm system connected to an armed response company and wired to doors, windows and internal motion sensors is important as the blaring of an alarm siren could scare an intruder from trying to get further into your home;
  • If your house has a tiled roof, it is possible for intruders to remove roof tiles and gain access via the trap door or even breaking the ceiling. Consider placing sensors in the roof to detect intruders early;
  • Strategically place panic buttons at various positions in the house so that the alarm can be activated and the armed response company notified should an incident occur;

Try implement the following measures in your suburb:

Keeping your suburb safe as a whole could have a positive effect on all the property values.

  • It is important that residents act as the eyes and ears of authorities and report any suspicious persons or situations to them. Implement a neighbourhood watch;
  • If possible try getting the local residents to apply for an area or suburb to be gated off and access controlled. This will entail a fee to be paid by all residents to cover the costs of erecting fences, gates, application and approval costs. A further monthly levy will need to be paid to cover the costs of security guards etc. This measure will be more time consuming and difficult to implement, but if achieved, it will make a world of difference to crime statistics in your neighbourhood and make properties in the gated off area preferable;

Ensure there is sufficient street lighting and notify the municipality of any lights which are out of order.