The opportunity to finally own a home is something most Americans dream of all their lives. Whether it’s children playing house or teenagers decorating their rooms with posters, even if mom and dad yell at them to stop, it’s necessary to have a space of your own. And nothing makes that clearer than the housing haze that comes along with the college experience. Everyone has horror stories about crazy roommates, and many people who were finally able to stop sharing dorms or apartments had to make do with tiny studio apartments. In general, there’s not much fun in having a cramped living space, but when you also pay most of your monthly salary to maintain it, things start to feel a bit overwhelming.
So when it comes time to transition from renter to buyer, there are a lot of thoughts going on at the same time. And while most might involve wallpaper and paint colors, moving logistics, or whether or not to invest in new kitchen appliances, at the same time there should be a focus on home security. After all, once the opportunity finally exists to have your own place, it is crucial to take care that it remains intact. With an unstable economy for many other Americans who aren’t as fortunate to own, it’s hard to know which neighborhoods will see crime and which won’t; in fact, rates have gone up across the country in general.
Before you plan additions or start changing color schemes, here are six steps to improve home security for your first place. After all, it’s worth investing in protecting something that already took a lot of time, effort, and cash to obtain.
#1 – Install a home alarm system. If there isn’t one already present, this is the most important step toward less stress and more happiness. With the added help of a simple device, leaving an unoccupied house, or going to sleep suddenly becomes much safer. More than just a way to detect burglars, alarms can also provide useful clues as to whether or not there are gas leaks or fires.
#2 – Pet (or baby) proof your space, if applicable. Sometimes, in the rush to get things right in a new home, families forget that there’s also a concern to make sure small pets and children don’t get hurt. With the fuss of moving boxes, sometimes things can get lost or left out of the mix. Be sure to keep things safe during all steps of the move.
#3 – Talk to the neighbors. They will know more about the area than you do and are an incredible source of information and often friendliness as well.
#4 – Be observant. Get used to who is out there on the weekends and who isn’t, so you can understand who should be in the neighborhood and who could cause trouble. Pay attention to your new surroundings and experience an easier transition.
#5 – Don’t leave expensive items out in the open. Home security isn’t just about keeping people out physically; it is about convincing them that there is no reason to enter in the first place. Not making expensive products easy to see is one way to do this.
#6 – Divide your boxes. There’s no need to advertise that fancy new TV, or the fact that you have a top-of-the-line Mac. The boxes will reveal this information, so make sure you don’t leave them on the curb when you’re done unpacking.