subject: Making the Move: Home Security Considerations for New Residents [print this page] Making the Move: Home Security Considerations for New Residents
Moving into a new house is exciting, nerve-wracking, expensive and entirely unpredictable. Things that you never thought could go wrong often do, and new issues seem to present themselves on a near-hourly basis. Among the new considerations that reach the minds of new home dwellers is security. Being in a new neighborhood can be a bit scary on its own, mostly for lack of knowing anything about the place you find yourself. Has the neighborhood had crime problems in the past? Did anyone ever rob the house that you just bought or rented? These questions aren't easily answered, but taking some precautions and doing some research can pay off in the long run.
Doing some fact checking on your new or prospective property can take some time, but is often easier than most people think. Usually it just involves a few phone calls and a few visits that usually turn out to be positive anyway. First, call your local police precinct (not the emergency number) and inquire about property crime in your area. Many departments have a Community Relations Officer or Community Liaison whose job it is to dialogue with residents about crime trends in the area, and to find solutions. These officers can often tell you about the crime statistics for your specific block, or even a particular property in some cases. Another option is to find out about a neighborhood watch program, or even just taking the effort to talk to "established" neighbors. Older folks that have lived in the area for years usually have a good grip on what's happening, and it can be a great way to make an introduction with your neighbors. It also indicates that you're concerned about security, and will incite neighbors to keep an eye on your property for anything unusual.
It's also incredibly important to do a thorough security inspection on a home before and after the purchase. Change all locks after the purchase of a new home, including those on sliding glass doors. This is especially important if renters previously occupied the home. Make sure that all the windows lock, and take care to not leave them open when you're away. Consider installing outdoor motion-activated lighting to make your house unattractive to thieves. Finally, it might be appropriate to have a professional inspect the security and recommend home alarm system options.
Home alarms have come down greatly in price, and they're now extremely reasonable for the "average" homeowner. Features like door and window alarms, glass-break frequency detectors, as well as motion sensors/detectors are now common in standard system installations. Extras such as video surveillance and pool alarms are now easy add-ons thanks to cheap and easy wireless technology.
