6 Simple Ways to Protect Your Home (Without Overcomplicating It)

Written By Jeremy Alvarado

Protecting your home doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming.

Between the right hardware, technology, and a few good habits, you can make your home dramatically safer today.

At WillowCraft, we believe safety should feel simple. Hopefully after reading this post, you’ll understand just how simple it can be.

Here are the practical steps I walk clients through during a home security assessment.

Start with a plan…and a system

Before buying any gadgets or cameras, take a walk around your property.

Ask yourself: If someone wanted to get in, how would they try? Look at your driveway, side entrances, and ground-level windows.

And then make a plan to secure those areas.

According to the FBI, 83% of would-be burglars check for a security system before deciding whether to break in, yet only about half of U.S. homes have one. Just installing a system instantly puts you ahead.

Start with data and logic. When you understand your property’s weak spots, you can secure them efficiently without spending money where you don’t need to.

Reinforce the front door

It sounds simple, but 34% of burglars come right through the front door (Bureau of Justice). That’s one out of every three break-ins.

Here’s the fix:

  • Always use a deadbolt, not just the handle lock.

  • Replace factory screws in your strike plate with 4” screws that anchor deep into the frame. That single swap can be the difference between a kicked-in door and a stopped intruder.

Secure windows and secondary entrances

Your ground-level windows are another favorite entry point. Keep them latched, and consider adding glass-break sensors if your security system supports them.

They’re small, affordable devices that alert you the second a window breaks, long before someone can actually step inside.

Use cameras strategically

Cameras aren’t just for catching someone in the act; they’re for deterring them in the first place.

Place cameras so they cover:

  • The driveway or main approach to

  • Front and back doors

  • Blind spots or side gates

Most intruders take one look at a visible camera and move on.

If you have firearms, make them part of your plan

If you own firearms, they should be intentionally integrated into a safety and practiced response plan.

Practical steps:

  • Store firearms unloaded in a locked safe or cabinet accessible only to responsible adults.

  • Keep ammunition stored separately.

  • Decide ahead of time where a firearm will be kept in a home-defense scenario and who is responsible for it.

  • Practice the plan responsibly (with un-loaded training, verbal walk-throughs, and professional instruction).

Owning a firearm without a plan isn’t enough. WillowCraft can help you build a household plan that fits your home and family, plus provide home-defense training that focuses on safe handling, decision-making, and protecting the people you love.

You got this. Support is here if you need it!

Home security doesn’t have to be complicated. A few smart adjustments, plus the right mindset, can sometimes offer all the protection you need.

If you’d like a professional walkthrough of your home, WillowCraft offers free security assessments and custom safety plans with transparent pricing and installation options.

Jeremy Alvarado