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Potential homebuyers value few things more than the security of the house, and that’s why thoughtful upgrades that bolster home security can not only increase the value of your home but potentially make it sell faster. Proper security and privacy can help negate the effects of nosy neighbors and less-than-ideal neighborhood conditions. People with children looking to buy a new home almost certainly want a home that feels safe and secure.

From smart technology to old-school security systems and low-budget solutions like strategic landscaping, here are some ways to make your for-sale home more attractive.

Smart Total Home Security System

When it comes to boosting the value of your home with security upgrades, bigger and more comprehensive is often better. Total home security systems have come a long way in the past couple of decades, and the best new smart varieties not only provide 24/7 monitoring and alarm capabilities, but they also allow you to arm and disarm and view live (and recorded) video directly from your mobile device. Many home security systems even allow you to link them to other smart home devices such as light bulbs and garage locks.

Locks, Lights, and Cameras

You can choose to secure your home with modern tech or the old-fashioned way. Both could make your home more attractive to potential buyers, but smart lock features may help a little more. The best smart locks offer a variety of entry methods and feature codes, biometrics, or Bluetooth functions that can be configured remotely on the fly. Smart lighting and cameras are also good, but if you want to save money, some simple outdoor floodlights (there are budget-friendly lights for less than $10) will do the trick.

Plant-Based Security

Not every piece of home security has to be smart — in fact, it doesn’t even have to be electronic. While home security elements can boost the value of your home and possibly make it sell faster, something else may be even better at that: landscaping. Combine the two and you have a real winner. Privacy or security hedging — adding shrubs, trees, or bigger plants around the perimeter of your home — is a solid idea. The cost to hire landscapers for your yard or garden in Scottsdale is $2,141 – $6,429. This means that this security feature could be even more cost-effective than smart tech.

A Good Old-Fashioned Gate

Here’s something that may come as a surprise: “Adding a gate to the front of your property is about more than mere aesthetics — believe it or not, simply adding a gate can boost your home’s value by as much as $50,000 or more,” according to Realty Times.

Gates add curb appeal, privacy, a layer of safety for kids and pets, and yes — mega home security. If you’re looking to make your home really appealing, install a gate that has an automatic function. While manual gates are okay, they won’t add as much value to your home.

Some Timer-Related Trickery

Every homeowner wants to appear to be at home when they’re away. It’s one of the best deterrents to burglars and other potential miscreants. It’s pretty easy to use modern light timers to create this illusion, and it ends up being a fairly inexpensive way to add just one more layer of extra security to your property.

Being able to tout upgraded security measures in a home listing can draw more eyes to your home. Depending on the added security features, they may even be able to make up for some drawbacks. Even if there are no real security concerns in your neighborhood, having new security features in your home will signal to any potential homebuyer that they are buying a modern, updated home that the previous owners (you) truly cared about.