It’s been said that a person’s home is their castle, but what good are a castle without a moat, a drawbridge, and some trusty guards on the parapets? Make sure your home security is fit for a king by following these five simple steps:

Change Your Locks

One of the easiest and most important, yet often overlooked, ways of securing a new home is to change the locks. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the market for upscale Banff homes for sale or fixer-uppers in rural Jacksonville, everyone everywhere should make replacing the locks a top priority upon moving in. It doesn’t matter if you trust the previous owners, either; you never know who else might have a copy of an older key.

Install a Security System

If you’re really serious about protecting your home, yourself, and your loved ones, there’s really no two ways about it: you need to install a security system. It might sound like a lot of work, but many modern home security systems are extremely affordable and surprisingly easy to install. Both hard-wired and wireless versions are available, and either can be further enhanced with a few simple exterior motion-sensor lights.

Protect Your Wi-Fi

When most of us think about home security, we think first and foremost about protecting our physical belongings. One important detail we sometimes forget is how much more damage online data can do. If you use a wi-fi router to connect to the Internet, the truth is that your personal information—including banking, credit, and SSN data—is at risk. After moving in, make sure to rename and hide your wi-fi network, turn on encryption, and make use of high-quality anti-virus and firewalls. You may want to consider using a VPN for extra online privacy.

Erect Perimeter Fencing

Having a fence surrounding your property is one of the best and easiest ways of increasing your sense of security. Even a plain wooden or chain-link fence can act as an effective deterrent for potential trespassers, with the added benefit of preventing pets or small children from wandering off. It can also block nuisance animals like raccoons and the like from rifling through your garbage, digging up the yard, or chowing down on a homegrown garden.

Lock Down the Garage

When it comes to home security, it can be all too easy to focus your efforts entirely on shoring up the house itself, so much so that you forget about alternative entrances. Like what, you ask? Like the garage. Trespassers don’t always come in through the front door, which is why it’s so important to make sure you have a sturdy garage door and that you always keep it firmly shut. Additionally, treat the door to your garage as if it were any other door leading outside by adding and/or changing the locks.