7 Top Tips Every New Homeowner Should Know

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Congratulations on owning a new home! Whether it’s your first or not, buying your own home is a crowning achievement for anyone. As a new homeowner, there are a few things you must do to ensure that your new place is safe, comfortable, and perfect for you and your family. Here are seven tips every new homeowner should keep in mind.

Replace the Locks

Door locks are your first line of defense against intruders. You want to make sure that the locks on your entryways are secure and can’t be tampered with easily.

When you’re moving into a new home, you’re won’t know for sure whether you’re the only one who has keys to the house. To be safe, change the locks on your entryways the first day you move in.

Windows are also potential entry points for burglars, so make sure all your windows are secure. Test the locks, and replace them if necessary.

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Test the Smoke Alarm and Carbon-Monoxide Detector

Intruders aren’t the only dangers you need to look out for in your new home. About 354,400 home fires happen every year. Make sure that your new home won’t be another statistic by checking your smoke alarm and your carbon-monoxide detector as soon as you move in.

If your real estate agent didn’t say if the batteries on the alarm and detector are new, replace them with new ones to err on the safe side. Test your alarm and detector, and replace the batteries periodically. Also, make sure you have a working fire extinguisher at home.

Trim Trees and Shrubs around Your House

Trees and shrubs provide a way for intruders to climb into your property or home. If you have an open window on the second floor of your home, burglars will probably use the greenery around your home to climb inside.

You don’t need to cut down the trees and shrubs around your house. They provide valuable shade and fresh air, not to mention, make your property look more visually pleasing. What you need to do is to trim the greenery regularly.

For wall-creeping plants, however, it’s better to move them away from the walls of your home or get rid of them altogether. That will prevent criminals from using them to get into your house.

Install Outdoor Lighting

Add motion-activated outdoor lights to increase the security of your home at night. Not only is outdoor lighting immensely helpful for navigating around your driveway and entrance, but it’s also an effective deterrent against intruders.

Criminals love to take advantage of the cover of night to do nefarious deeds. Motion-activated lights can catch them off guard and discourage them from going through with their evil intentions.

Update Your Bathroom Fixtures

Old houses usually don’t have updated bathroom fixtures, so it’s up to you to replace them. Outdated fixtures use a lot of water and may break down at any time. Avert a potential disaster by replacing the house’s old fixture with highly efficient new ones.

For faucets and showerheads, use low-flow models that save several gallons of water every month. If the home comes with an almost-antique commode, consider replacing it with a water-saving upflush toilet. This is easier to install as compared to a standard model and comes with its own macerating pump, which grinds wastewater to prevent clogging.

Install a Home Security System

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You’ve probably spent a massive amount of money to purchase your new home, and the last thing on your mind is to spend more. However, a home security system is a worthwhile investment to keep your property safer and more secure so that you and your family can sleep better at night.

The first step is to install CCTV cameras outside and inside your home. Surveillance cans are some of the most effective deterrents against intruders as no sane criminal will want to get their faces captured on cam. Next is to hang warning signs on your property to add another deterrent.

If you love animals, consider getting a pet too. Many intruders abandon their plans of breaking into a home when they hear the bark of a dog inside. When you get home, you can reward Fido with   for protecting your home.

Get to Know Your Neighbors and the Area

Being friendly with your neighbors has many benefits. First, it’s always nice to have friends. Second, it makes for a peaceful life in your new neighborhood. Lastly, it helps increase the security of your property. How?

The answer is simple. Good neighbors look out for one another. If you and your neighbors get along, they’re more likely to help out and call the police when they notice something is wrong.

Getting familiar with the new neighborhood like you would the back of your hand is also immensely important for your safety. You’ll know which streets are the safest and which alleys and corners to avoid. Also, when you know your area and the people in it well, you’ll immediately know when there’s something or someone suspicious lurking in your neighborhood.

Home, Sweet Home

Your home is supposed to be a haven, where you feel safe, secure, comfortable, and loved. As a new homeowner, you want to build that atmosphere and ensure that you’ll live a happy and peaceful life in that home for years to come.

The tips above can help you with that. By increasing the safety and security of your property, you will help create the home you’ve always wanted.