7 Home Safety Tips for New Homeowners
Congratulations, you’re finally a homeowner! With the state of the economy these days, buying your own home isn’t as easy as it was in the ’50s due to real estate prices rising to 14 percent over the past year. So you deserve all the congratulations you get. Buying and owning a house is a big milestone, no matter if the house is old or new. As a new homeowner, you have to ensure that your new place is as safe and as perfect as it can be for you and your family. That said, here are seven tips for the safety and security of your new home.
Change Your Locks
The first thing you should do after moving into a new home is to change the locks of all the doors. Door locks prevent home intruders from entering your house and keep you safe. You want to ensure they’re all working properly and that no one else has the keys to the locks.
If you bought a pre-owned home, you can’t be certain who else has the keys to the house aside from the previous homeowners. Changing the locks is the best way to feel secure in your new home.
These days, there are two modern alternatives to traditional door locks. One is the electronic lock that opens using a PIN code, a card key, or biometric data. The other is the smart lock that can be controlled remotely using another device, like a smartphone. However, manufacturers have yet to perfect modern locks as there are several loopholes in this technology.
Burglars also enter houses through the windows, so check whether the locks of the windows in your house are safe and secure. Consider replacing the locks with new and better ones to be on the safe side.
Inspect Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Intruders aren’t the only thing you have to keep away for the safety and security of your home. You must also make sure that your new house is safe from fire. As soon as you move in, check the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector to see if they are working.
Replace the batteries in the alarm and detector unless the real estate agent or previous owner specified that the batteries work. And even then, keep a closer eye on both devices to ensure they don’t run out of batteries in the next few days.
Trim Trees and Shrubs around Your House
Trees and shrubs provide valuable shade and fresh air, making your home more comfortable to live in, particularly on hot summer days. The greenery also adds beauty to your home.
The downside is that an intruder can climb into your fence or upstairs window through trees and shrubs. That’s why you trim them as soon as you move into your new house and keep them trimmed from then on.
You should also avoid planting wall-creeping plants anywhere near your home facade to not give intruders anything to climb on.
Add Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting for your garden home helps you navigate your driveway and entrance at night, but that isn’t its only purpose. Motion-activated outdoor lights can help deter unscrupulous characters from breaking into your home.
Bad guys prefer to sneak in the dark so they won’t be seen and get caught. The last thing they want is to be caught off guard by their surroundings suddenly lighting up.
Outdoor lights that are left turned off are one of the signs that thieves look for when choosing a home to break into since it can mean that the owners are not home. You may want to consider installing a light system that you can turn on or off remotely to make your home more secure, especially when you go out of town.
Get to Know Your Neighbors and the Area
There are reasons you’re taught to introduce yourself to your neighbors when you move to a new area. For one, it’s polite to do as you’re likely to live in the same area with them until you move to a new place.
Greeting your neighbors also allows you to build a relationship with them. A good relationship with your neighbors is essential as they can help prevent crime from happening in your home.
Your neighbors will be more likely to alert you if they notice suspicious people lurking around your property or strange occurrences happening in or around your house. They may also help you call the authorities when they see something wrong.
Update Your Bathroom Fixtures
If you’re moving into an old house, chances are the fixtures in the bathroom are as dated as the place itself. Replace the old fixtures with highly efficient ones to save water and money on your bills.
Install a low-flow aerator on the faucets in the house, including the ones in the kitchen and outside, and switch to a high-efficiency showerhead. Consider replacing the old toilet with a new one, such as the SaniPlus toilets, which use an upflush system for easy installation and come with their own macerating pump that grinds wastewater to prevent clogging.
Install a Home Security System
You’ve probably just spent a huge amount of money on buying your new home, and spending more is the last thing on your mind. A home security system isn’t a cheap investment, but you need to consider how vulnerable your new home is to intruders and dangerous characters. Adding a layer of security to your house will make you sleep better at night. Consumers Advocate.org is a good source of reviews on security systems.
Install CCTV cameras outside and inside your home, and hang warning signs to deter thieves and bad characters from breaking into your home. Add a second lock to your front and back doors to secure the entrance of your house.
If you have huge windows in your new house, make sure to cover them with curtains or blinders so people from outside can’t peak and see what you’re doing inside. Some houses have unique window shapes, but there should be custom curtain rods available for windows of all shapes and sizes.
Home Safe Home
Your home is your haven, and you should never feel that you’re not safe or comfortable to be inside it. Pull out all the stops in securing your new home. Check the house thoroughly—everything from the alarms to the surrounding foliage—and make sure everything is in order.
Change your locks immediately, and install other layers of security, like CCTV cameras and warning signs, to deter bad characters. Finally, communicate with our neighbors as they help you keep your home safe and vice versa.
