Just bought a new house or plan to move into a new home? Moving into a new home brings a lot of excitement to the family. Amid all the exhilaration, it’s important not to overlook the safety aspect. You must take some necessary security measures to ensure that your new home is a safe place for your family.
As a local San Diego locksmith company, keeping people secure and protected is our expertise. Here we share some tips on how you can make your home safer after moving in.
1) Change or rekey the locks
Before moving (or immediately after) into a new home, change or rekey the locks on all exterior doors. Changing the locks is important because you never know who might have a key to your new home – previous owners, tenants, or even contractors may still have access – which is a serious security threat.
You don’t have to buy expensive lock hardware. Rekeying is a simple process of changing the lock mechanism to work with new keys. With old keys made useless, you have the peace of mind that only you and your trusted family members have access to your home. It is a cost-effective alternative to replacing your locks. A lock can be rekeyed in about 15 minutes. Rekeying of all the locks at single-family homes usually takes just a few hours.
High-security locks for homes can also be a great way to increase the safety of your home.
2) Secure doors & windows
The doors and windows of the house are there to act as an entry barrier. Weak doors, windows and lock hardware pose great risk to your security. Check that all your doors and windows are secure. A common weak point is a window slider without lock. For better security, install deadbolts and latches. All sliding doors and windows should be secured with bars or locks. For added strength against break-ins, security film can be added to windows. Door chains and reinforcement should be installed too.
3) Install a security system
For safety of your family, consider installing a security system at your new home. A professional locksmith will walk through your home and prepare a security system to keep it protected. It can include keypad locks, digital locks, motion sensors, door and window sensors, and surveillance cameras. A security system can help you keep an eye at your home even when away. When your home is guarded with a security system, it works as a deterrent for potential intruders.
4) Get a safe
Jewels, gemstones, firearms and important documents need a safe or vault for safekeeping. Buy a safe to keep your valuable items. Also, keep them hidden from plain sight.
5) Install exterior lighting
With proper lighting, you can deter intruders and burglars. Get exterior lighting installed around your home. You can also have motion-sensor lights installed. Clear visibility at night can be a great deterrent to potential intruders. It also helps better surveillance with security cameras.
7) Maintain your yard
Install a fence around your house. With iron fence and mesh, you have an additional layer of protection. Don’t let the bushes grow into a jungle. Overgrown bushes and trees provide the cover burglars want for undisturbed work. Trim your trees and maintain your yard regularly.
8) Know your neighborhood
When you move into a new neighborhood, get to know you neighbors. Acquaint yourself with your neighborhood. Get to know what’s around you. Being aware of your surrounding help you stay alert. Staying connected with your neighbors provides you a sense of belonging and your neighbors tend to watch out for you too.