DIY Home Security Tips For Renters

Read Time:3 Minute, 49 Second

Make your apartment less attractive to burglars by closing curtains and locking easily-grabbable electronics like TVs. Also consider keeping an inventory log with photos, serial numbers and retail value so that if anything does go missing you can file a report quickly.

Find DIY home security systems that are simple to set up without damaging your rental and don’t require hardwiring, such as Ring Alarm, Wyze Home Monitoring or SimpliSafe. These options should make installation effortless!

Table of Contents

Install a Smart Light Bulb

Smart light bulbs are lighting devices capable of connecting with smartphones and other devices via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, though some also utilize Zigbee or Z-Wave wireless technology.

As they look similar to regular bulbs and fit seamlessly into existing fixtures, motion detector lights look much like any other bulb but will alert you whenever someone enters a room by turning on when there is movement detected by sensors in some models.

Installing a smart light bulb requires plugging it in and following the instructions on your app to link it with Wi-Fi. Some bulbs require their own hub while others integrate seamlessly into home security systems through phone apps. Once connected, voice controls or the app allow you to control lights with voice activation or mobile controls; many models even integrate alarm systems allowing arming/disarming systems through the light fixture itself!

Secure Your Valuables

If your apartment contains expensive jewelry, computers or electronics that you want to protect, investing in a safe may be a smart way to do it on a budget. A safe will deter thieves from taking them as well as offering extra protection from fire and natural disasters.

Burglars target vulnerable victims, so it’s wise to keep valuables out of sight. Closing curtains during both daytime and nighttime will keep them out, and will prevent anyone from looking inside your apartment and seeing what assets lie hidden within.

Ensure your own router if you share a Wi-Fi network in order to prevent anyone else from accessing your home security system and helping your neighbors steal from you. Doing this will prevent neighbors from potentially accessing any home security systems belonging to other users on that network and prevent potential theft.

Install Motion-Sensor Lighting

Automatic lights that activate when someone passes by your home can help ward off intruders while providing peace of mind if you ask neighbors to keep an eye on it while you’re on vacation or away at work.

Installing motion-sensing lighting is relatively straightforward if you use one that connects directly to a light switch. Just be careful not to touch live wires using ladders or pry bars and make sure all switches are out of reach of thieves.

Begin by turning off power to the light you intend to add a motion sensor to. Mark hot wire and neutral wire using a non-contact voltage tester before installing your new switch. Be sure to take photos of your wiring setup if troubleshooting or fixing later occurs.

Assess Your Vulnerabilities

Burglars can quickly determine whether or not a home is inhabited by looking for signs such as trash cans, newspapers and overgrown lawns; also they seek easily accessible entry points such as unlocked doors or windows.

If you reside in an apartment building, it is crucial that you assess and make necessary security upgrades to prevent criminals from breaking in through windows or doors. Furthermore, speak to your landlord about installing a smart security system including door/window sensors, video cameras and motion detectors as a preventative measure.

Renters should invest in a safe to protect valuables from burglars and fire. An inventory should also be taken to help file insurance claims and recover stolen items should a break-in occur; installing one can be an affordable DIY home security upgrade option for renters.

Get a Safe

Renters face unique security challenges in their rental units, but there are simple changes they can make to increase safety without breaking the bank.

An investment in a safe is one way to protect valuables like electronics and jewelry when living in an apartment. Placing it discreetly within a closet or other secure place will prevent burglars from discovering your items and possibly taking them for themselves.

Door frame reinforcement kits offer another cost-effective DIY tip, making it more difficult for intruders to gain entry. Metal plates and longer screws strengthen a weak strike plate, making it more difficult for intruders to gain entry through weak doors. You could also add window bars for further reinforcement of windows.