Buying a new home is an ecstatic and stressful experience. Naturally, people spend a lot of time planning and decorating their new home. Indeed, that’s the fun part. But taking security measures is equally important at the same time. Therefore, your home and family’s security should always be your priority.

This article will discuss some essential security measures to follow before you move to your newly purchased home.

1) Consult a professional security expert before you move

Ensuring your new home is safe and secure is always the priority for homeowners. This goes especially when you are moving into an older flat or bungalow. Doing it all by yourself might not be the best option. Moreover, your insurance provider may not think you are an expert anyway. Most insurance companies, in general, do not accept DIY solutions when it comes to home security matters.

Before you move in, make sure you consult a professional to do a health check-up of your new home. This should include inspecting the working condition of all the devices used like the smoke and CO detector, any dangerous material used, electrical wiring, and other relevant problems.

It gives you a sense of relief when you know that everything is fine with your new home, and you can plan your move with peace of mind. The only important thing is to make it happen before you and your family move in, or else it could be messy for you to move your items around the house.

2) Install a burglar alarm system

Homes without a security system are more vulnerable to domestic burglaries. When buying a new home, people want to have a safe environment for their families. And installing a security system will help you achieve the high-security standards in your new home.

A homeowner may always not have the best knowledge about security systems. This is where you should consult a professional to seek advice on your home security. Some people try to take advice from their friends or family and end up buying something that doesn’t meet their home requirements.  

We interviewed Ash Antony of  FHA Security, a multi-award-winning and highly rated and reviewed security service provider operating in England. We asked him about how important it is to ensure security measures before moving to your new home.“Sometimes, when people buy an old property, they inherit a security system with the new house. In such a situation, you should always get your security codes changed. You don’t know who might have your codes and can anytime misuse them to break into your house.” said Ash. He also added, “Whether you have a new security system installed or have an existing one you are taking over, the system must be grade 2 standard and meeting insurance requirements. Your security installer company must be either an SSAIB or NSI certified.”

3) Install security cameras indoors/outdoors

In addition to your security system, you can always look at adding camera systems. It is worth putting up outdoor cameras at your property as it will allow you to keep an eye on your home anytime from your smartphone.

There are two ways to go about it.

·       Adding indoor cameras if you wish to keep an eye on any particular rooms or pets.

·       Installing outdoor cameras to monitor any unwanted activities outside your property.

The cameras should be high-definition camera systems with night-vision enabled. The range of options available now includes localised recording, day and night recording, remote viewing through smartphone apps. Ash recommends hard-wired, zero maintenance professional grade CCTV systems. They have one-off costs and need very little maintenance going forward.

4) Change locks

It is advisable to change your locks if it is an existing or old house before your move. You may not know who might have the keys to your home and surely don’t want unexpected people to barge into your home.

Also, this is an excellent time to inspect the quality of the locks. It is always good to have sturdy locks that are not easily breakable. At this time, you can look at the best options for your home that would ensure maximum security and safety for your family.

Alternatively, you can also look at getting a smart lock for your home. This is one of the best ways to ensure that only reliable people can access your property. You can share the code with your family members, or you can give access to your family and friends from the smartphone app.   

5) Perimeter Protection

Perimeter protection is one of the best ways to ensure complete security within your home. It allows you to protect all the entry and exit points within your home, including doors, windows, garage doors, or your backyard.

It uses motion detectors like curtain sensors, glass break detectors or door or window contacts attached to the entry/exit points. These detectors are then connected to your security system and trigger an alarm whenever somebody is making a forced entry or breaking the window or back door glass.

You can always speak to security companies like FHA that offers security solutions with perimeter protection.    

6) Inspect the HVAC system

HVAC is an integral part of every property, and you must be doing a maintenance check of the entire system. You need to make sure that it is in good working condition and doesn’t trigger a safety issue for your family. If not properly maintained, these systems can cause serious health hazards like emitting dangerous fumes or causing oil leakage.   

If it is not in good condition, then you might look at replacing it with a new system that is more safe, secure and efficient.

7) Get to know your neighbours

When you move to your new home, one of the things you should do is meet your neighbours. Getting acquainted with your neighbourhood is a smart move and can help you in the long run.

Having good relations with your neighbours can make your stay more enjoyable. You can get a lot of information about the area and can take details about the local services around you. You can also rely on them, especially when you are on vacations and you want someone to watch over your home in your absence.

Moreover, you can also join your local neighbourhood watch group as a part of your security measures.

8) Find out local emergency services in your area

Before you move to your new home, get familiar with the emergency services in your new location. Keeping this information handy and updated will help you in times when you need it. Get in touch with your neighbours or go online and find out the details from the official website. If possible, keep it documented in your diary or your mobile phone for your reference.

9) Insurance Company

Buying a home is a big financial move and ensuring that it is protected is always a wise decision. Before your move into your new home, make sure you have already home insurance in place that protects your home and contents.

There are many ways to go about it.

a) You can speak to multiple insurance companies and go through their policies. Then, compare all the policies and see whatever is best for your property. You can also use a comparison service – please note, all insurance providers are not on comparison websites.   

b) You can always check with your mortgage company. Mortgage companies usually offer you an insurance policy; however, it is not always mandatory to go with the suggested company. You can always look for other companies that offer better deals.

c) If you have existing home insurance, check with them if they can transfer the same policy to your new home. Because home insurance premium always varies from property to property. Therefore, your new premium might be on the higher side depending on the area of your new property, crime rate, types of locks, security systems in place and other factors.