Like it or not, as someone who has just moved home, you are a sitting target for being burgled. Studies over the years have confirmed this and with your guard most probably down, criminals around the area are ready to pounce on your new home. Of course, it doesn’t have to be like this. There are ways in which you can safeguard your home and at least reduce the risk of succumbing to a burglary. Today, let’s look at some of the steps that you should take to make your home more secure when you first move in.
Safety first: How to make your home more secure when you move in
Starting with the obvious: changing the locks
This is one of those suggestions that you shouldn’t HAVE to do but unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s essential.
One of the first contractors you should be calling as you move into your home is a locksmith. Like it or not, a lot of people have had their hands on your house keys before you have. In some cases, various people may have kept a spare copy, and this naturally presents several risks.
Managing the burglar alarm
Unfortunately, not all burglar alarms are made equal. Another one of your early tasks needs to be finding out how this alarm actually works. In fact, before you even attempt to do this, make sure you have a working keycode. It’s quite amazing just how many people move house and don’t even receive the code.
Then, instead of merely asking the estate agent or previous owner, they tend not to use the security system at all. Unsurprisingly, this opens them up to a whole host of potential security breaches, as highlighted in this resource.
Hide any new boxes
No, we’re not referring to your self storage options here – you will hopefully be in the process of unpacking everything you placed away in storage to start with.
Instead, this is about any new purchases you have made. As we all know, new homeowners are a marketing department’s dream. They are happy to spend money to get their new home into the best possible shape – and this usually involves lots of new furniture and electronics.
The latter in particular is something that is music to a burglar’s ears. As soon as a potential-intruder sees that you have brand new electronic devices around your home, you become a target. The easiest way to hide this is to put the empty boxes completely out of sight. These are the evidence that your home is kitted out with new gadgets – so don’t give them any temptation whatsoever.
Be extra cautious around the garage
We’ve talked about changing locks, and there are smaller tactics that you can adopt in relation to windows and so on. Something that often gets forgotten about is the garage, though. Garage doors are traditionally weak, yet some lead directly to a house while others store expensive items.
Sure, some of you might not fall into this category but if you do, make sure you take the security of this room seriously.
It can be scary just thinking of a burglary in your new home.
May I also add, getting safety grills put up on all the windows–including the bathrooms? For this is how the burglar entered my old home when we were out of town.
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Such useful advice here. It indeed is scary and it is always better to be prepared and careful!
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Interesting post Corinne. I live on my own and have been so since almost 20 years now. My first priority is a safe and secure gated colony with guards and all.
I have never felt the need to use a security alarm as such though its a good idea in case of independent homes.
Nice point about the empty boxes of new items bought in to celebrate the house move- they can lure potential burglars for sure.
All excellent suggestions.
The alarm should have window contacts. Motion sensors wouldn’t hurt. I hate bars over windows. I prefer silent alarms with a call straight to the cops. 😉 By the time they know what hit ’em, the cuffs are on.
Keeping the garage secure is a must. We were broken into, many years ago, through a side door to the garage, then straight into the house. Now, we have no side door and the inner door has a sturdy lock. And an alarm.
Keys? Absolutely. It’s a shame the locks and keys can’t be changed more often and for less money. Though there are combination locks, now, and even electronic ones connected to apps and video surveillance cameras.
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