Skip to main content

The Ultimate Home Security and Safety Checklist Every Family Needs

Whether you’re planning on moving, are in the middle of a move, or are simply looking to upgrade your current setup, home safety and security are extremely important. In the United States, a home burglary happens every 23 seconds — but you can take a few simple steps today to ensure you don’t become a statistic. Review our checklist to see how secure your home currently is, and what you can do to make it even safer.

Home Security

Protect your home from burglars by ensuring that your home is equipped with helpful security features and technology. Make sure: 

  • All doors are secured with deadbolts
    • About 58% of burglaries involve forcible entry, which can be deterred by strong locks. All locks should ideally be changed before you move into a new home, and all deadbolts must be in working order.
  • All windows and sliding glass doors can be locked or secured with dowels
    • This is especially important if you live on the ground floor or if your windows or sliding glass doors are accessible from the street.
  • A neighbor or nearby friend has a copy of your house key
    • This is very helpful if you lose your keys or need a trusted person to access your home.
  • Each member of your family has a key
    • This can prevent lockouts and other inconveniences or emergencies.

 

  • Your valuables are secured in a safe
    • The average victim loses $2,416 in a burglary. Keep items like passports, fine jewelry, and birth certificates in a safe that is fireproof, waterproof, and anchored to a wall.
  • Your home is equipped with a security system
    • Consider surveillance cameras, doorbell cameras, and/or motion sensors.
  • Your home has flood lights and motion-sensitive lights
    • Strong, bright lights can be a deterrent to thieves looking to slip into your home undetected.

  • Your indoor and outdoor lights are on a timer
    • 65% of burglaries happen during the working hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Timed lights can prevent burglaries if you’re out of town or away most of the day.
  • You have exterior signs or decals stating your home is monitored 
    • Burglars are often deterred if they suspect they could trip a security system.
  • Your doors and windows can be locked remotely 
    • Many security systems have features that enable you to control locks or even your garage door from your smartphone. 
  • Trees, shrubs, and bushes are trimmed to minimize hiding spots for burglars 
    • Landscaping features should not obscure your windows or your yard, as they provide an ideal hiding space for would-be burglars.

Home Safety

Make sure you and your family are prepared in case of emergencies, natural disasters, or daily accidents. 

  • You have a first-aid kit handy
    • Your kit should include basic items like band-aids, gauze, and ice packs, and should be easily accessible.

  • You have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
    • These come standard in most homes, but check often that yours are in working order. One in four smoke alarm failures are caused by dead batteries. 
  • Fire extinguishers are available throughout your home
    • 52% of house fires are caused by cooking. Be sure you have portable fire extinguishers available in your kitchen and other areas of your home.

  • You have basic emergency supplies like batteries, flashlights, candles, canned goods, and bottled water
    • Keep your home filled with light sources and stocked with food and water in case of a power outage or storm.
    • If you want to make sure you always have emergency supplies on hand, refer to the list here to stock your supply kit.

  • You have an emergency escape plan
    • Every member of your family should know how to escape in case of an earthquake or fire, and where the meeting point is. 
  • Your home is covered by basic insurance policies
    • Depending on your location, this could include flood, fire, rental, and theft coverage.

 

  • Your home is child- and pet-proof
    • If you have a young child or pet, you’ll want to make sure wires and outlets are covered and out of reach. 

Download and print our Ultimate Home Security and Safety Guide to begin to prepare your home.

 

The post The Ultimate Home Security and Safety Checklist Every Family Needs appeared first on Freshome.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SKÅDIS: 5 ways to make the IKEA pegboard even better

IKEA introduced its own pegboard system, SKÅDIS, two years ago and I’d say it’s one of the best systems IKEA launched in recent years. I love how super customisable it is, with a growing range of accessories that help keep things organized. It works everywhere, in your wardrobe to bathroom . Probably anywhere you have a flat surface to hang it up. Photo: IKEA.com SKÅDIS pegboard system See it on IKEA.com But no matter how perfect a system, you can trust IKEA hackers to improve on the SKÅDIS. And they’ve settle these 5 issues you may have faced with the handy IKEA pegboard. Read on for their fixes. 5 IKEA SKÅDIS issues and fixes #1 Expensive hooks? You’ll need quite a number of hooks and accessories to fill up the SKÅDIS pegboard, and Kenyer was shocked at how quickly they all added up. So he figured he could make his own hooks to save cost. Photo: Kenyer Over at Instructables , he shows us how to twist copper wires into the SKÅDIS hook shape. It works s...
Post a Comment
Read more

KALLAX desk ideas: Three ways to set up a workstation

Three great ideas for a KALLAX desk . #1 Compact, minimalist desk for laptop I put together a KALLAX desk for my laptop for just under 25 euros. Just a KALLAX 2×2 is needed. No other materials required. IKEA item used: KALLAX 2 x 2 (77 x 77 cm) KALLAX 2×2 | IKEA.com All you need to do is assemble 3 of the pieces in a U shape. That is all.  If you want to strengthen the structure you would need to drill a couple of holes in order to use the long middle shelf of the KALLAX unit as a back reinforcer. Easy and it works. ~ by Fabio Tudela #2 KALLAX standing desk I choose to stand at work because it makes me feel infinitely more productive. Our department recently moved into a new building and we had the opportunity to design our own spaces. Items Used: VIKA AMON / TORNLIDEN table top x 2 (discontinued, replaced by LINNMON ) KALLAX 4 cube x 2 KALLAX drawer unit x 2 8 – 3″ locking casters / wheels 1 – 6′ zinc brace I had a few VIKA AMON tables ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Amped up KURA bed with drawers and safety rail

We saw other KURA beds with storage drawers underneath on this site. So, we also wanted the same — to make space for LEGO s and wooden trains under the bed. We installed the additional headboard panels because the configuration of the room and the location of the windows in the room meant that we wanted the children’s heads on the right and the ladder on the left. The KURA plans did not seem to allow this configuration, though I have seen online that there are models of this bed from 2003 that allowed more options for setup. Additional safety features Safety rail panel for the lower KURA bed helps our two year old feel secure, as he just transitioned from a crib directly to this bunk. Likewise metal handles on the ladder. They added a lot of confidence for both the five-year-old and the two-year-old when climbing up to the top bunk. We are aware that the bunk is now even higher than before and both children are under 6. Use caution and common sense before making these modifi...
Post a Comment
Read more