Home Security Tips

This list addresses the products that keep your new home and property secure. Many of these items will be new considerations for first time homeowners.

• Secure, updated locks: Replace, repair, or supplement any locks that don’t function properly. Deadbolts (the type of locks that are separate from the doorknob) are recommended for all exterior doors since they are harder to break than other styles of locks. For maximum assurance, have pre-existing locks rekeyed. Move-in is also a great time to install a video doorbell, which respectively improve your ability to control and monitor visitors like movers, maintenance people and unfamiliar new neighbors.
• Functional windows: Check to see if any of your windows have broken locks, or if they can easily be forced open. Many first-time homeowners think they need to completely replace a window with a faulty locking mechanism, but it’s actually possible to buy and install replacement locks. You can also add window bars in highly vulnerable areas, like a basement, or insert metal rods in the tracks of sliding windows to make them harder to shimmy open.
• Extra keys: Make enough key copies for each independent household member, plus extra(s) to be held by someone you trust in the event of an emergency or lockout.
• Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors: Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are the first line of defense against some of the most dangerous and destructive household incidents. They’re also required for most home insurance policies.
• Safe: You need a place to keep valuables and documents like passports, birth certificates, property titles, deeds and more. Choose a safe that’s fireproof, waterproof, and tough to carry away or tamper with, i.e. heavy, easy to hide, and anchorable into the wall or floor.
• Home security systems: An all-inclusive home security system is the best way to monitor and respond to security breaches in real time. The most thorough and convenient-to-use systems include features like surveillance cameras, motion sensors, glass break detectors, integration with home automation devices and remote access via smartphone or laptop, as well as 24/7 professional monitoring. If you’re not interested in professional installation, there are plenty of scalable DIY Security options.
• Window covers & privacy protection: These items might seem like a home decor decision, but they’re also a safety consideration. Window treatments shield your family and valuables from prying eyes. Buy blinds, curtains and/or shades for bedrooms, bathrooms and any common areas that can be seen into from the outside.
• Lighting: The right lighting prevents everyday accidents by illuminating those unfamiliar parts of your new home. It also gives the impression that the home is occupied, even when it’s not. Make sure there are working lights where you need them, including those dark stairways, hallways and exterior doors. Motion detector lights and smart light bulbs that can be automated are great options for deterring potential break-ins.