Five Simple Steps to Ensure Home Safety
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015
There is no surefire way to burglarproof your home, but there are a number of actions you can take to make your home less attractive to thieves. Unfortunately, many people refuse to even think about protecting their homes from burglary until an incident occurs. At that point, they feel frightened, confused and violated and do not always make rational decisions. Why not allot a few minutes of your time and have a closer look at your home? If you have not yet done so, do these simple steps to discourage any uninvited guests.
Find a better hiding spot for your spare key – Hiding a spare key under the doormat or flower pot, or in the mailbox is not the way to go. Sure it’s comforting to know that if you lose your keys or lock yourself out, there’s always an extra set you can rely on. This, however, also makes it very convenient for burglars. Those are the first places they will look into, if they even have to, because they have already seen you or a family member keep it there. It is better to not have a hidden key at all, but if you must, find a not-so-obvious hiding spot and move it to another location every so often.
Proper lighting is essential – The importance of a well-placed lighting cannot be stressed enough. There are inexpensive timers for indoor lights which can be set to come on at dusk, whether you are home or not. Similarly, consider investing in outdoor solar lighting or motion lights that are triggered by sensors when somebody approaches your home. Other than discouraging burglars, such lights are great for conserving energy, and help to prevent slips and falls, too.
Never let strangers know that no one is home – Take the time to stage your home to make it look like someone is always there. This involves everything – from making sure the newspaper and mail are collected daily, to arranging for yard maintenance and snow shovelling should you be gone for more than just a few days. Nothing says “come rob me” like an unshovelled walkway leading to a dark house with no cars in the driveway. Also, offer to take care of your neighbor’s home when they are away and they will most likely return the favor.
Lock all doors and gates – This may seem obvious, but it needs to be said since we all tend to forget at times. Make it a habit to lock all doors whenever you come or go, and you will eventually remember to do it every time. Since many burglars enter a home through the backyard, outfit any gates leading to the rear of your home with a good quality lock.
Invest in a Home Security System – Home security systems come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges these days. Alarm companies will install a basic system throughout your house for a very small cost. Just start simple since you can always enhance it later on. As an added bonus, most include fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. On top of that, you will also be rewarded with a significant discount on your homeowner’s insurance premium. If money is no object, think about investing in a state-of-the-art “smart” system which you can control through your mobile phone or tablet from anywhere in the world.
Upscale communities are the usual targets of professional thieves. Fact is, no neighbourhood is exempt. Home burglaries can and do happen everywhere. So, do what you can to keep your home from becoming a statistic.
Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!
About Allison James
Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.
