Despite what some people say, appearances matter.  When it comes to hardening your home, looks say a lot about whether a house is occupied or not.

Credit: WAVY TV

In this picture, one house appears unkempt while the one next door appears well-maintained.  If a thief was scouting the area, he would conclude that the house with the un-mowed grass was unoccupied, meaning it would be an easier target.  If a house had several days worth of newspapers sitting in the driveway or a trashcan sitting on the curb on a non-trash day, the same conclusion could be drawn. Consider another possibility;  a house with a clean, well-maintained yard, no newspapers or flyers laying around, a security system sign along with decals on the windows, a “Beware of Dog” sign by the back yard, and working exterior lights.  If there is an automobile parked in the driveway, high-quality locks, and door reinforcement so much the better.  In other words, a house that appears to be occupied. Which one do you think is more likely to get broken into? Appearances matter folks.