When out on vacation, the last thing a person wants to worry about is the security of their home. With just a few minutes of your time, you can reduce the likelihood of a break-in by securing one of the most common weak points of a home: the garage.

Garage door break-ins are on the rise, with one popular method only requiring a clothes hanger and a few seconds. Following these five steps can help keep intruders out of your garage, and ultimately, your home.

Secure the Garage’s Emergency Release

• To prevent intruders from engaging your garages manual release from the outside, place a zip tie through the emergency release valve as shown in this video. You don’t need to cut the handle off if the zip tie is there. Note that you should keep a tool within the garage that can break this zip tie in the event of an emergency.

Unplug Your Automatic Opener

• Garage door opener hacking is now a thing. To prevent this, just unplug the power cord on your opener while you’re away on vacation. Don’t forget if you’ve installed a battery backup for your garage door opener to also disengage that. 

Padlock the Track

• Inserting a lock, bolt, or clamp into the garage door track offers a physical means to prevent the door from opening.

Keep the Interior Garage Door Locked

• Many homeowners leave their interior garage door unlocked for easy entry. This door should stay locked, especially while on vacation.

Call a Garage Door Installation/Repair Technician

• Speak with your local garage door repair company and have them come over to inspect the door. Tune-ups are very affordable, and it can help to have a professional set of eyes examining your door for weak points. You should also deal with any potential repairs that the door might need at this point. If a garage door panel is damaged it should be replaced, if the track is acting up you should get it repaired etc. Any possible fault in your garage door can be taken advantage of by an intruder. 

Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Home!

Remember, securing your garage door is only one piece of the puzzle. Homeowners should also take other preventative measures including:

• Sign up for an alarm system.
• Install a camera with remote access and a motion alert system.
• Install exterior lighting with automatic sensors.
• Keep a few lights on when you’re away.
• Have a friend or neighbor keep tabs on your home.
• Try to keep valuables secured in heavy-duty safe.

By spending a little extra time securing your home, you can reduce the risk of break-ins and have some peace of mind while on vacation, but you don’t have to stop there. Now is as good a time as any to make big home improvements like fencing and a new gate to really secure your home anytime you’re out of the house!

Driveway Gates Are Back in Style and More Secure than Ever

While looking at other additions to your house to protect it while you’re away, have you considered installing a gate? An automated driveway gate with fencing is an effective barrier that enhances the security of your property. Besides having security guards on standby, it’s one of the best ways to give you peace of mind while you enjoy your time away. Gates serve as both a physical and psychological deterrent to would-be intruders. It stands tall making it clear that your home is well-protected.

A gate at the end of your driveway also adds an extra layer of security by restricting access to your property. Without a gate, your driveway offers an open invitation to anyone looking to approach your home. A closed gate, on the other hand, sends a strong signal that access is limited and monitored. They’re large and imposing additions to a home. They’re not limited to the extremely wealthy anymore and they can make any home more safe and secure. Most modern driveway gates come equipped with automatic locking mechanisms and integrated security systems. You’ll be able to choose from centralized systems such as cameras and intercoms that further enhance your home’s security. With modern options you can also remotely access both of these so that you know of any threat to your home immediately.

Fencing, when combined with a driveway gate, creates a comprehensive security perimeter around your home. A well-constructed fence makes it difficult for intruders to enter your property unnoticed, and the height and materials used in the fence can further discourage attempts to breach it. In addition to providing a physical barrier, fencing also limits visibility into your property. While you can get around it, the mere act of making it harder for anyone to assess whether your home is vacant is a strong deterrent. 

Driveway gates and fences also contribute to a sense of privacy, which can be crucial when you’re not around to monitor your home. By restricting views into your property, these features make it less likely that passersby will notice signs of your absence, such as piled-up mail or uncollected packages. Porch pirates can become a thing of the past (without your neighbor noticing someone trying to climb your darn fence).