Safety is crucial when shopping for a home
Personal and home security is a concern no matter how old you are, whether you are single or married, have children or do not. Protection of self and property is a fundamental component of feeling safe, and this is especially true in the home, so keep safety in mind as you are shoping for a home.
Generally speaking, criminals will select the house that presents the least risk of being caught. Homes with easy access, substantial cover and good escape routes tend to be more common targets. Evaluate points of entry to the home. Solid-core or metal doors are preferable, as are keyless deadbolt locks.
Also check to see if there are windows near the doorknob; a thief could smash the window, reach in and unlock and open the door.
Look at the condition of the door jamb … should it be replaced? Do all the locks on the windows work? Sliding-glass doors and sliding windows should have functioning latch locks, but a through-the frame pin is a decent hindrance to a potential thief, as is a charley bar.
An unsecured garage is also a common access point. Does the entrance to the house from the garage have a good door with a solid locking mechanism?
If the home does not have heat- or motion-activated lights outside, consider installing them. A potential thief may be dissuaded from entering your home simply based on the fact that the automatic lights around the property remove their cover as they approach.
You might consider a security system. If the home is not prewired or does not have an existing system, you could spend a substantial amount to get one installed, although most insurance companies offer an attractive discount for such a setup. New wireless technologies are another option that can provide similar coverage for less cost.
If there is an existing system, determine if all windows and doors are monitored and see if the installed equipment includes a motion sensor and a battery backup. Some systems can even detect smoke, heat, fire and carbon monoxide.
Fences not only cut off easy escape routes, but also can provide a degree of privacy and restrict unwanted access. Additionally, if there’s a lot of pedestrian activity in the neighborhood, a property without a fence may get pass-through traffic. If you have children, a fence provides a safe area for them to play.
With an enclosed back yard, you may even consider getting a dog. While big dogs are usually more intimidating and more of a stereotypical watch dog, any barking dog can be effective at giving warning that something is out of the ordinary. Plus, you can hang a Beware of Dog sign, which may act as another deterrent.
Everyone has different definitions of and expectations about safety. After all, what’s “safe” to one person may be far too risky for someone else.
One thing’s for sure, though — everyone wants their home, possessions and most of all, lives, to be as secure as possible.
You may not be able to find a home that offers every conceivable security feature, but you can make improvements. Anything that makes your home less of a target will reduce your risk and give you increased peace of mind.
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