Entering a new house means getting a fresh start. When it comes to security, however, you’re in the position of inheriting someone else’s past. Before you can even think about decorating, there’s one important set of procedures to go through, none of which involve decorating
Day 1: lock and key control
The people who previously occupied your new house were probably perfectly reasonable. Most of them were probably quite lovely, in fact, from your perspective. But you have no idea who still has copies, and some of those keys may still be unaccounted for. The previous owners provided keys to real estate agents, tradespeople, neighbors, house cleaners, and more, and some of these folks had their hands on more than one copy of the key. Some keys were definitely returned, but some definitely weren’t, and you have no idea how many copies of your house keys may be floating around.
Rekeying all of the exterior entry points is a must on move-in day. Rekeying is where the innards of a working lock are modified to accept different keys, essentially rendering old keys useless. It’s much more cost-effective than changing the whole locks, and it accomplishes nearly the same goal.
Take the opportunity to check deadlock rating as well; Grade 1 or 2 deadbolts offer noticeably more protection than the lower-grade Grade 3 or 4 locks developers sometimes use to save money. This is also a good time to check the strength of the strike plate screws while you are at it.
Hiring a professional to do this is much more cost-effective and safe than trying it yourself. An Australian locksmith company can advise you on which locks are worth rekeying and which you should upgrade to a better rated deadbolt if your doors can physically accommodate it. The former is not a bad option, but DIY keying kits can’t tell you if the door frame is compromised, or if the lock cylinder needs more substantial reinforcement.
If you’re interested in smart locks at all, this is the perfect time to invest. They offer much flexibility in terms of issuing and revoking access, and they often come with CCTV feeds and other features to keep you on top of security in your new home.
Day 1: locate your emergency utility shut-off valves
Before you get too settled and start moving stuff into your new space, you should familiarize yourself with the main water shutoff valve, the circuit breaker panel, and the gas meter, if your house uses gas.
A ruptured pipe somewhere in your house that you have no idea how to turn off is the kind of predicament that can quickly become expensive. Knowing where the shutoff is will only take thirty minutes, while not knowing could cost you thousands of dollars in damage and hours of damage control
If your electric panel doesn’t have labeled breakers, take this opportunity to make labels or, if that seems too tedious, at least note down which circuits control which rooms. You’ll be glad you did when you wake up to find your fridge unplugged at the worst possible time.
Day 1: test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Change the batteries in all the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Don’t waste your time trying to figure out if the old batteries had a charge in them or not; just throw them away and put new ones in. While you’re doing this, also check the manufacture date on the unit itself. Most smoke detectors only last for about 10 years, after which you can’t just change the battery, you’ll have to buy a whole new detector. Carbon monoxide detectors generally have a five-year lifespan.
Map out an evacuation escape plan with the people you live with. This process should take about ten minutes, but in the event of a fire or a gas leak, having a plan in place could help everyone get to the nearest safe place.
Week 1: secure windows and second entry points
In terms of residential security, burglars are most likely to target ground floor windows and use them as an escape or entry point, if they can’t find an unlocked front door. Secure these with additional locks or put tensioning devices on them to resist being tampered with
Sliding patio doors need tensioning devices such as dowels or security bars placed in their tracks, to prevent them from being forced open.
Ground floor windows are just as important as the front door, and they require the same sort of treatment as sliding doors.
Week 1: secure your WiFi and devices
If the home you bought had a WiFi-enabled video doorbell or any other form of smart technology preinstalled, change the admin password on it right away. Default passwords for all kinds of devices are all over the internet, and it doesn’t take much for someone standing by your front gate to exploit this.
Change your WiFi-router admin password, and your WiFi password if that’s the network your new smart devices are using. When setting up a home automation or internet of things system, set it up anew with secure passwords rather than using whatever was on the device from before.
Week 1: meet your neighbors
This advice is completely free, which is rare when it comes to security advice, so take it. Get to know your immediate neighbors because they can help keep an eye on what happens nearby. Neighborhood watch groups have moved onto social media in recent years, and there’s a good chance some already exist in your area, which might spare you a few sleepless nights.
A neighbor who knows you and your usual routines can be more helpful than a bunch of people who just see you and your car passing by from their porch. And that neighbor can call the police if he sees suspicious activity around your house when you’re not there, or respond appropriately if your security system raises an alert.
The first forty-eight hours in a new house are always the most important in securing it for the long haul. These are just the bare-bone basics, most of which you should be able to complete within a day, and the ones that cost more money can be completed for fairly little cost compared to the potential damage they help prevent.