Atlanta is a great place to live. We have many very safe neighborhoods for you to choose from when you are searching for a new home. When you find that perfect place, it’s a good time to take steps to keep yourself, your family, and your possessions safe, wherever you choose to live. Some security tips for your new home will help you enjoy living in Atlanta even more.

Change the Locks

As soon as you get the keys to your new home, change the locks on all of your exterior doors. Those keys may have been duplicated by the previous owner or anyone else that had access to them. To feel safe in your new home, you’ll want new locks and new keys.

While you’re at it, upgrade your doors and your locks. One of the most common ways burglars break into a home is to kick open the door. Make it harder for burglars by replacing hollow-core exterior doors with solid wood or metal doors and installing a deadbolt with a bolt length of at least one inch.

Turn on a Light

Burglars don’t like to be seen and they will be less likely to try to enter your home if there is a light on inside. Use timers to turn on a lamp or two throughout the house, so it will be well-lit even if you’re not home. Buy and install outdoor lighting with infrared motion sensors and install one near each point of entry. Be sure to replace any burned-out lightbulbs and put your porch lights on timers.

Discard Expensive-Looking Packaging

Did you buy a new TV for your new home? Don’t leave the intact box by the curb for trash pickup, even if it’s scheduled for that same day. If you just drop the empty cartons by the curb, thieves will know that you have expensive electronics for the taking. Instead, break down the boxes and bag them up until trash or recycling pickup, or cart them off to the dump so your pricier purchases remain a secret to passersby.

Take in the Mail

One sure sign that you’re not home is mail piling up in your street-side or porch mailbox. Check your mail every day when you are home, even if it’s just advertisements and sales pieces. Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail if you’re going to be away for a while. You can also ask the post office to hold your mail until your return.

Maintain Your Yard

One of the simplest security tips for your new home is to maintain the upkeep of your yard and landscaping. Homes with overgrown hedges or unmowed grass are vulnerable targets. The uncut shrubbery protects your house and a potential burglar from being seen from the street, so it’s easier for thieves to sneak into a house without being detected by a neighbor or passerby. Consider planting thorny bushes and plants near windows, as well as covering the ground near windows with gravel. Thorny bushes will deter criminals from getting near the windows, while the loud crunching sound of someone walking on gravel will prompt you to investigate the activity.

Install Security

Perhaps one of the more obvious security tips for your new home is to install security cameras. Use a doorbell monitor to check out people who approach your front door. Use outdoor security cameras for other points of entry to your house. You can watch anyone who comes near your house and even review recorded footage or provide it to your local law enforcement if necessary.

You can also install an entire security system. The National Council for Home Safety and Security says that a home without a security system is three times more likely to be broken into than a home with one. Even if you do not actually install the system, get a sign that says your home is being monitored by security cameras. Just the presence of a sign can deter potential thieves.

Contact Fox Moving and Storage Atlanta for Help Moving to Your New Home!

Whether you’re moving within the Atlanta area or are moving to Atlanta from another state, the professionals at Fox Moving and Storage Atlanta are here to help. We are locally owned and operated, with the experience and expertise you need for a successful move. Fox Moving & Storage Atlanta can help you with any and all of your moving needs. We will also offer you a free quote. Simply give us a call today at 678-250-8208 and find out how we can help you.