4 Ways to Stay Safe as a New Homeowner
4 Ways to Stay Safe as a New Homeowner
Just moved into your new home? Take these simple safety steps as you settle in.
Change the locks. Have you ever made extra keys for your home for the dog walker, your best friend, or as a loaner to give to visitors? You’re probably not the only one. Even though sellers surrender the keys at the sale, there’s no guarantee they remembered to retrieve all of them. Get your own set of keys that no one else has but you.
Be smart about your empty boxes. Putting boxes from your new TV on the curb might send a signal to potential thieves. Instead of putting boxes out in plain sight, break them down and place them in a trash receptacle or store them inside until pickup day. Better yet, take them to your local recycling center as soon as possible.
Keep your name to yourself. You might want to tell the world about your new purchase by putting your name on your mailbox, doormat, or elsewhere, but be smart about what you reveal. On your mailbox, use just your last name or your last name and first initial. This keeps strangers from knowing too much about you and your family.
Sign up for the neighborhood email list. If there is a local group email list, becoming a member of it is a good way to stay informed about neighborhood happenings, from car break-ins to block parties.
