Moving can be crazy. Boxes and possessions are thrown about in the house. Your first urge might be to start setting up and decorating, but before any of this make sure the home is secure. An unprotected and vulnerable household can be a target for burglars.
As soon as you get settled into your new home, take a walk around and make sure exterior lights are installed and working properly. Lights on the outside of your house and in the yard or surrounding area can greatly reduce the risk of your new home being burglarized because there is added visibility to your property.
Test all the fire alarms and change their batteries to ensure they will protect your family and home in the case of a fire. Another great step is to make response plans in case of a fire to figure out where you and your family will exit the home. Here are more tips on how to protect your home from fire.
Advertise that you just installed a home security system (even if you didn’t) to ward off potential burglars. Having an alarm system can greatly reduce the likelihood of your home getting broken into and can even cause a burglar to flee when the alarm sounds before they can take anything. Even just the sticker or sign on your property advertising the system’s presence can prevent burglars from entering in the first place.
If you don’t have a fireproof safe, get one and place all your personal and financial documents, jewelry and cash in it as soon as you get into the house. Don’t leave these items packed up in boxes because they are easy targets for burglars.
When moving to a new place, you may have purchased new valuables such as electronics—don’t leave these boxes next to your trash, advertising that you bought a 60-inch flat screen television, as you may just be inviting the unwanted by showing off what you have inside.
Most importantly, walk around the home and make sure all locks work and all windows are shut before you spend your first night in the house. A shocking statistic is that almost 33.1 percent of all burglaries are through an open or unlocked window or door. By simply locking your doors, you are reducing the chance of burglary.
