When you move to a new home, it’s like you meet someone new. It’s going to take some time before getting to know them. However, this process needs to be formal in some ways. You should know some things about your home right away before even unpacking. Other things should be made a standard part of moving since they relate to security and safety.
Here are some safety tips every homeowner should know.
Table of Contents
1. Be Safe Regarding Fires
Don’t take chances regarding smoke detectors. Walk through the new home and be sure to identify where smoke detectors are found. Test all of them, or simply change all of their batteries right away. This way you will know the batteries are fresh and you can start a regular testing schedule.
Keep several fire extinguishers in strategic locations like your kitchen. Make sure each member of the household knows how to use them and where they are.
Learn multiple escape routes and make sure you have a designated meetup location in case of an emergency such as a wildfire catching your home on fire.
2. Change Locks After Moving In
One of the first things you should do after moving in is to change all of your locks. During the process of selling and buying a home, numerous people could have access to keys, including contractors, appraisers and real estate agents. To make sure you maximize safety, replace all locks as soon as the home sale closes. Ideally do this prior to moving in or beginning renovations.
3. Practice Electrical Safety
Don’t overload outlets with more appliances than they are designed to power. A single spark can start an extremely serious fire. Use safe power strips with surge protection. Unplug unused appliances. Don’t use appliances which have damaged cords. Homes are required to be built with ground fault interrupters in every outlet located near water sources like bathtubs, bathroom basins or kitchen sinks. These may not be in older homes, but you can have these installed or install them yourself.
4. Practice Porch and Deck Safety
Porch and deck safety is crucial to overall home safety. Visually inspect balconies, porches, decks and similar structures twice per year. Inspect for rotting wood, split wood, missing or loose screws or nails and anchors where porches attach to buildings. Inspect for loose or damaged planking and support beams and wobbly guardrails or handrails.
If porches move when people jump or walk, they may require more support. Elevated decks need to be braced at columns as well as where columns and beams connect. Get permits from local building departments when you repair or build decks or porches. This makes sure decks or porches meet safety codes and get inspected by local building inspectors.
5. Be Careful Regarding Social Media
This might not be obvious home safety advice. Be careful about what you end up sharing on social media. If you were to post about being away from your home, this could let intruders know your property isn’t occupied. It’s advisable to share vacation posts or photos after you’ve returned home.
Conclusion
It’s important to practice safety as a homeowner. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself or damage your house. For this reason, it’s important to make sure your house is safe from wildfires, you need to change locks after moving, practice electrical safety and more. With these tips, you’ll find yourself headed towards a safer future where you can maintain a feeling of security.
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Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.
