Buying a new single family home is an exciting milestone and it opens the door for a fresh start, new neighbors and a different community. While a new home may be unfamiliar at first, you don’t need to be in the dark regarding the safety and security of your new surroundings. We’ve compiled some easy steps to ensure the safety of your house and your family’s security, as you transition into your new home and neighborhood.
The Yard:
● Trees can provide inadvertent access to a higher floor entry. Look to make sure that there aren’t any trees conveniently adjacent to a balcony or window ledge. If there are some – have them trimmed once you move in.
● Overgrown bushes and landscaping give intruders more hiding places. Check the property for potential hiding places for intruders. Keep greenery well trimmed.
● Plant roses or thorny plants under windows and fences to make breaking in harder for intruders.
● Make sure that the property is well lit at night. If there is not enough street lighting, consider installing motion detection lights.
The Exterior:
● Check the doors for sturdiness. Make sure they are made of solid wood or metal, and they are not worn from age or use. Many intruders enter households by kicking in the front door. While a new door maybe expensive – it is an important investment in your family’s safety.
● Replace the locks of your house. This will ensure that you are the only one with copies of your key.
● The house number should be clearly seen from a distance. Police and other officials may use this to find you and help more quickly in an emergency.
● Install anti-lift devices for the windows so intruders cannot use them to enter your home. You can use through-the-frame pins for vertical sliding windows, and wooden sticks or dowels for horizontal sliding windows
● Sliding glass doors should also have anti-lift devices to keep them from being lifted out of the track. You can use through-the-door pins or upper track screws.
Garage and Tool Shed
● Keep the garage door closed so intruders cannot use it as a means of entry. Many intruders enter households through doors in the garage because they are less likely to be locked or reinforced.
● If you have a tool shed, make sure it is also well secured. Otherwise, it may provide tools for intruders to use when breaking in.
Install a Security System:
● A home without a security system is three times more likely to be broken into, and losses due to burglaries average $400 or more.
● Alarms will immediately and effectively alert you to an intruder, so you can keep your family and home safe.
● Surveillance cameras will help you keep an eye on all areas of your house.
● Yard security such as a lawn perimeter alarm will also deter intruders before they even get close to your home.
● Certain security systems allow you to control your house locks even when you are far away. This eliminates the need to keep spare keys, which can fall into the wrong hands.
These steps will help to ensure a safe and smooth transition as you settle into your new home and neighborhood. SafeMart’s professional security systems are convenient and easy to activate, without engaging in long contracts, costly support visits, or lengthy installation. SafeMart’s customized security systems let you control the security of your home from your mobile phone or computer, so you’re always in control of your safety.
This was a guest post from Sam McBride who writes the home security blog for SafeMart.com.