As summer comes closer, the number of people buying and selling their homes increases. Approximately half the homes sold during the year are sold during the summer months. No matter what time of year you buy a new home, it’s important to consider how you can keep your family and valuables secure. Do you know how to keep your new home safe?
When you’re moving into a new home, you may be more of a target to burglars. Open doors, people moving in and out, and boxes and other items in open view let people know you are moving in or out of a home. With your focus elsewhere, it’s easy to let security of your new home slide as you getting settled. But burglars won’t wait, so we’ve got a few tips to make your new home safe and secure as you transition.
1. Change the locks
When you move into a new house, you receive the keys, but do you know how many other copied keys are out there? Contractors, neighbors, and even the old owner’s relatives may have had keys to the home. To help keep your new home secure, change the locks and add dead-bolts to the ground-floor doors for extra security.
2. Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
There’s no way to tell how recently the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors were replaced. It’s better to put a few new batteries in to help detect these environmental threats than to be without them when you need them.
3. Examine the windows
Examine all windows, especially on the ground floor to make sure they have working locks. When you’re not home, it’s a good idea to close and lock the windows, as the summer months have an increase in the number of burglars who enter through open windows.
4. Make sure outside lights work
If there are motion or outdoor lights, make sure they are in working order. Whether they need a new bulb or to change the position of the light, a good motion light outside your home at night may help scare off potential burglars.
5. Consider changing the landscaping
If your new home has large bushes in front of the windows or any other large trees or landscaping that may help hide a burglar trying to break into your home, it might be a good time to consider removing those items from your yard.
6. Get a security system or continue the service on an existing system
If the house already has a security system, contact the installer or service provider to find out how much it may cost to continue the service. 24/7 professional monitoring, along with the other tips here, is another strategy you can take to protect your new home from intrusion and environmental threats.
It can be very exciting to purchase and move into a new home, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. A monitored security system, along with the tips above, can help you secure your home and secure your life. For more information about monitored alarm systems, contact us today.