Safety Features For Your New Home

By: Robin Noble

Moving in and setting up your new home is an exciting time. The first few weeks in a new home are spent personalizing a space to make it truly feel like a place to call home. Although your mind might be on the possibilities of what your home could be and the memories that you will undoubtedly make there, it’s also a time that some homeowners overlook the most important aspect of homeowning: the security of your new space. Hopefully, your newly built home already contains quite a few upgrades to your previous home’s safety features, but in the case that it doesn’t, here’s a list of features you may want to feel entirely secure in your new space.

Take Care of What You Can’t See

Make internet security a priority: Most of the “security” features in our home that comes to mind are the ones that we can physically see. What we don’t see, we don’t often think about. Are you paying attention to your devices and WiFi, for instance? Think about how often you use your home’s wireless network to shop online or check a social media site. Your WiFi is a gateway to your personal and financial information. 

Schedule routine air quality checks: Perform routine checks of the issues you either can’t see or quite often can’t see immediately. No matter how new your home is, and sometimes because it’s newer, you may be at a higher risk of some dangerous naturally occurring gases. Make sure to schedule a time to test your air quality.

Take Precautions for What Might Never Happen

We can always hope that our new homes are safely built and positioned to be more protected if or when disaster strikes. As unlikely as it can seem, dangerous situations can arise, so it’s best to take every precaution to keep you and your family safe.

In case of a fire: First and foremost, make sure that every person residing in your home understands an exit plan in the case of a fire. Keep a fire kit in every bedroom, this can include collapsible ladders for upper-level floors of a home. Keep fire extinguishers in your home in or near:

• Kitchen
• Garage
• On every floor
• Near heat sources
• Bedrooms

Make sure to check that your extinguishers are fully functioning and up to code. 

Check smoke detectors once a month: This may seem excessive, but it could save your life. Making sure to check your smoke alarms once a month means you can be certain that, in the case of a fire, or a carbon monoxide leak, you and your family will be alerted of any threat. 

Keep Your Home Secure from Outside Threats

Choose a security system or provider: Every new home should have some form of a security system in place. Not every home will need professionally monitored security or even a home-automated system. This will all depend on what system features make you feel at ease, what is simple and effective to use, and what might be necessary for your neighborhood. Choose a system that makes sense for you. 

Security for doors: One of the simplists and best ways to keep your home safe from intruders is making sure that all entry doors have secure locking mechanisms. Although your new home should have the benefit of strong door frames, and new hinges, make sure that each entry door has a functioning deadbolt. You might even think about upgrading your system further by adding a smart lock system, or a video doorbell. This way, you’ll be able to intercept any suspicious activity even while you’re away from your home.

Utilize motion activated lights: Hopefully, you’ll only need motion activated lights when you take your family pet outside after dark or an unwanted pest decides to dive into your garbage in the middle of the night. On the off chance, however, that an intruder tries to near your home under the cover of the night, you’ll be the first to know. 

Feeling secure in your home might come quickly, other times, it might take some time to figure out what’s best for you and your loved ones. Remember that you don’t have to build a perfect fortress immediately. Just being aware of what you can do to boost your home’s security can alleviate the stresses of what could happen.