Keep Your Home and Family Safe

   The holiday season can bring dangerous people and situations to your own home. Criminals are looking to turn a quick buck and the holiday are a perfect opportunity for them. As a home inspector, I have intimate knowledge of the inner workings of a home as well as peoples tendencies. I have outlined some small steps to help keep you and your family safe this holiday season. 

1.   Install working motion lights around the home. Position them so windows and doors will be bright.
2.  Trim bushes and shrubs around windows and doors.  This should work with the motion detectors so that criminals cannot hide around your windows and doors
3.  This next one will sound silly to most, but lock all your doors and windows.   You would be surprised to know that the majority of homes I inspect have 1 or more windows left unlocked.
4. Leave porch lights on through the night. If you are worried about your energy bill we recommend a new LED light bulb.
5. Do not leave window shades open and do not leave expensive belongings in clear view.
6. Alert your neighbors or someone you trust when going away for a few days. Have them check in periodically.
7. When out, leave the impression that someone is home. Leave a light on a timer, leave a car locked in the driveway.
8. Have a monitored alarm system and USE IT! Just having the alarm will not help if it is not armed!
9. Make sure all exterior doors are secured with a secondary lock. For a main door this is usually a deadbolt. For a sliding door this could be a slide lock.
10. Make sure you have 2 lines of communication in the home. This could be a home phone and a cell phone to dial 911.

Follow these tips to help keep you safe this holiday season.  New Start Inspections wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!