Staying safe in your new home

CONGRATULATIONS, you’ve secured your property. It’s been a tough market to find the right home (or investment) so when you do manage to get the right one across the line, it’s a big deal.

In among the packing, unpacking, cleaning and everything else though, one thing that can easily fall out of mind is securing that new home for you, and not for everyone else.

What do I mean by this? After all, your new home is secure right? That’s what the 2m fence, security screens and deadbolt are for.

Well, yes and no.

While a seller will generally make every effort to hand over all keys, remotes and codes in a neat and tidy bundle, the fact is that it can be very easy to lose track of what keys do what, and who has them over time.

It might be the spare key that was buried in the garden in a safe spot (that everyone promptly forgot the location of). It could be the extra sets for the kids that disappeared at school over the years or even the one for the mower man/cleaner/pool guys that no one thought to pick up when they changed over.

Whatever the reason, that’s potentially a lot of keys to your home that no one is thinking of.

Thankfully this is one conundrum with a pretty simple solution – rekeying your new home. It might feel a little painful and like yet another expense as part of the move, but it’s definitely one that can save potential headaches down the track (or even just provide that added peace of mind).

With a professional locksmith onsite, you might even go the extra step and have everything keyed alike – one key to rule them all. And no more leaving home with the front door key and forgetting the screen door key at home.

For the especially tech savvy, going digital on your home security is becoming far more affordable, though probably worth sitting down with the previous owner (or at least getting a good set of instructions) if you are updating an existing system.

Don’t forget to make sure any profiles are reset with new passwords and credentials.

This can include smart locks, as well as security systems and cameras, many of which now have remote access.

Then you can feel safe, secure and ready to enjoy your new home all the more.

Tom Quaid is the REIQ Zone Chair for Cairns