There aren’t many things in life more exciting than moving into a new home with your family. It means that you’ve chosen a place where you’ll create some of your most important memories and a safe haven for the most precious people and things in your life.
It’s no wonder then that you’ll want to make this place as secure as humanly possible. Here are several excellent tips on how to make your new home safer for everything and everyone in it.
Meet Your Neighbors
Knowing who lives in the houses surrounding yours has many benefits. Not only can you make friends that way, but it’s essential that you know exactly who belongs in your neighborhood and who doesn’t.
On the other hand, when your neighbors know what you and your family look like and when you’re not around, they’ll be alarmed if they notice a stranger in your yard and let you or the police know. After all, they’ll probably be grateful if you do the same for them.
In addition, being friendly with your neighbors may also mean you’ll have somebody to turn to in case of any emergency and that they won’t hesitate to open their door for you in the middle of the night if the circumstances demand you to knock at that hour.
Light It Up
When your house is dark, it’s likely that nobody’s home and this is something any burglar, vandal, or even maniac will see as a welcome sign. This is precisely why you need to make your outdoor lighting one of your priorities from the day you move in, or even sooner.
Try to make your front and backyard as bright as it can be during the night, but don’t forget your pathways, sheds, or your garage as well, as any dark places might become a hiding spot for those with ill intentions.
Perhaps installing motion-activated lights would be a smart option, too, as an attempted intruder will probably be startled by the lights suddenly turning on.
Similarly, you can opt for a smart outlet, which would allow you to switch your outdoor lights on or off on a timer so that it looks that you’re there even when you’re not.
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Get Insurance
While there are things you can do to protect your home to some extent, there is always that chance that, despite your best efforts, somebody might still come in. In such cases, it’s wise to invest in good home and contents insurance, to stay on the side of caution, and make sure you get the best for your investment.
Look for a company to protect you from the effects of anything from theft to natural disasters to damage caused by animals. Some insurance companies go as far as paying for counseling services after a stressful event.
What you also want is reliable customer service, which means that they’ll answer your calls within less than a minute when you call them and who’ll kindly provide you with any information you need at the time you need it.
Finally, don’t hesitate to ask about the company’s claim satisfaction ratings, as those will tell you all you need to know about how they conduct their business and if you can truly count on them.
Install an Alarm System
Trying to prevent burglars and other criminals from entering or damaging your home in any way is something you should do to the best of your abilities. If you install a quality alarm system, you might achieve that with more ease.
In case that seeing a camera doesn’t ward off a potential thief, the sound of an alarm surely will. Plus, it will make your neighbors react. Nowadays, most alarm systems also let the authorities know there’s been a break-in.
If none of those work, having security footage of somebody entering your home, stealing freshly-arrived packages from your porch, or breaking into your car to take your car audio system might help the police catch them and maybe even get your things back.
Let’s not forget that modern security cameras can be connected to an app on your phone or laptop, giving you the chance to see what goes on in and around your home in real-time, wherever you are. That footage can also be stored, in case you need it later.
To top it off, many up-to-date security systems let you control your lights, smoke alarms, and other similar devices remotely, and they come with the option of alerting you if your door has been left unlocked.
Adopt a Dog
People tend to perceive dogs solely as pets, companions, or faithful friends, which makes this last piece of advice something they don’t usually consider, as there are other ways to make your home a safer place. However, dogs can contribute greatly to your home and family’s security.
They’ll bark when something is out of order and when they see or hear a stranger, which can make that person panic and give up on causing any issues around your property.
A dog’s loyalty is something you can count on since they will go out of their way to protect their family and that is something families with children can certainly appreciate.
Adopting a dog can bring a lot of love into your household, and you could end up with a more dedicated and efficient protector than you could ever hope for.
It’s completely normal that you want to feel safe in your home and it’s not strange to take any precaution necessary to ensure you are.
Before you make any moves, though, reflect on you and your family’s lifestyle and daily habits, so that you make the best decisions with regards to the safety of your home and those who live in it.
